Rear Lower Control Arm Solid Bushing vs Rubber Bushing NVH - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

Infinity · 11-10-2019, 07:13 PM

The SPC rear lower control arms have a solid bushing they call the xAxis Sealed Flex Joint. SPC claims it performs like a pillow joint.

Can anyone with these control arms post if they have any increase in NVH over stock? Do they squeak? I rode in a friends car with several solid bushing suspension pieces and it was kind of noisy.

The Whiteline rear lower control arms come with synthetic elastomer bushings. These will most likely not make any noises. They end up being about $50 more expensive than I can get the SPCs for, though.

The SPCs also come with a toe kit. Is this necessary? No other RLCAs seem to come with one.

I know the SPC would not be legal for STX and the Whiteline would. Autocross is not really my primary concern, I am more worried about the NVH. If that ever became an issue I know there is a rubber bushing for the SPC made by DIFtech.

strat61caster · 11-10-2019, 07:17 PM

The diftech bushing is delrin, a hard solid plastic, it would be the noisiest of the three options. Sounds like a no brainer for you to spend the extra $50 on the Whiteline.

Infinity · 11-10-2019, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strat61caster

The diftech bushing is delrin, a hard solid plastic, it would be the noisiest of the three options. Sounds like a no brainer for you to spend the extra $50 on the Whiteline.

If the toe kit included with the SPCs is not needed, the Whitelines are probably the way to go.

strat61caster · 11-10-2019, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Infinity

If the toe kit included with the SPCs is not needed, the Whitelines are probably the way to go.

They are not, factory toe adjustment is adequate for all sane levels of camber and lowering.

86MLR · 11-10-2019, 10:54 PM

I got these, they work fine

https://www.sparesbox.com.au/part/su...subaru-trc0015

Infinity · 11-13-2019, 10:40 AM

I just noticed that according to CounterSpace Garage, the SPC RLCA is STX legal.

https://www.counterspacegarage.com/s...0-brz-frs-gt86

So the only question now is if the SPC units have any noticeable increase in NVH over stock?

Infinity · 11-13-2019, 10:40 AM

I just noticed that according to CounterSpace Garage, the SPC RLCA is STX legal.

https://www.counterspacegarage.com/s...0-brz-frs-gt86

So the only question now is if the SPC units have any noticeable increase in NVH over stock?

strat61caster · 11-13-2019, 12:24 PM

@Infinity they're wrong, they know it, they just never updated the website.

G-awesome · 11-13-2019, 04:44 PM

This is based on my experience but don't all polyurethane bushings squeak to an extent since it's usually thicker and fills up all the gaps in the subframe mount so it rubs and squeaks as it constantly moves around? Especially now that the weather is colder?

I have Blox Racing LCAs and the rear right side squeaks like mad and it's starting to drive me crazy now after half a year of use for daily driving. Maybe it's because it's dirt cheap LCAs and the polyurethane bushings aren't as high quality?

Once I swap with winter tires, I'll inspect the suspension and see what's up. Or I'll just throw more grease on and call it a day because I'm just too damn lazy to deal with my car sometimes.

wparsons · 11-14-2019, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G-awesome

This is based on my experience but don't all polyurethane bushings squeak to an extent since it's usually thicker and fills up all the gaps in the subframe mount so it rubs and squeaks as it constantly moves around? Especially now that the weather is colder?

I have Blox Racing LCAs and the rear right side squeaks like mad and it's starting to drive me crazy now after half a year of use for daily driving. Maybe it's because it's dirt cheap LCAs and the polyurethane bushings aren't as high quality?

Once I swap with winter tires, I'll inspect the suspension and see what's up. Or I'll just throw more grease on and call it a day because I'm just too damn lazy to deal with my car sometimes.

Polyurethane bushings need grease to be quiet, they should've included it with the arms.

kevaughan · 11-14-2019, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wparsons

Polyurethane bushings need grease to be quiet, they should've included it with the arms.

Can confirm. My Perrin endlinks squeaked a lot until it was greased up.

norcalpb · 11-14-2019, 06:55 PM

OEM uses the same cross axis design as SPC, so I doubt there’d be a noticeable NVH change.

And yes they are not STX Auto-x legal.

I have the white lines but kinda wish I got the SPCs. Pillowball/crossaxis will always handle better than polyurethane.

J95 · 12-28-2023, 09:12 AM

Reviving this thread to ask If you think theres any difference in durability/reliability for the SPC "pillowball" bushing vs Whiteline PU bushing?

I would not mind NVH but I will try to buy the most "reliable" one. Otherwise I will just get the cheapest from the two

11-10-2019, 07:13 PM	#1
Infinity Senior Member Join Date: May 2016 Drives: 2016 Scion FR-S Location: Maryland Posts: 173 Thanks: 49 Thanked 39 Times in 29 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Rear Lower Control Arm Solid Bushing vs Rubber Bushing NVH The SPC rear lower control arms have a solid bushing they call the xAxis Sealed Flex Joint. SPC claims it performs like a pillow joint. Can anyone with these control arms post if they have any increase in NVH over stock? Do they squeak? I rode in a friends car with several solid bushing suspension pieces and it was kind of noisy. The Whiteline rear lower control arms come with synthetic elastomer bushings. These will most likely not make any noises. They end up being about $50 more expensive than I can get the SPCs for, though. The SPCs also come with a toe kit. Is this necessary? No other RLCAs seem to come with one. I know the SPC would not be legal for STX and the Whiteline would. Autocross is not really my primary concern, I am more worried about the NVH. If that ever became an issue I know there is a rubber bushing for the SPC made by DIFtech. Last edited by Infinity; 11-10-2019 at 07:26 PM.

11-10-2019, 10:54 PM	#5
86MLR Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2018 Drives: 2002 VX Commodore SS LS1 Auto Location: Sydney Posts: 2,203 Thanks: 500 Thanked 2,185 Times in 1,111 Posts Mentioned: 13 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I got these, they work fine https://www.sparesbox.com.au/part/su...subaru-trc0015 Attached Images __________________ Disclaimer: This post represents the official views of the voices in my head at the time of posting. http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=133311 I'm only here for the biscuits Last edited by 86MLR; 11-10-2019 at 11:07 PM.

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11-13-2019, 10:40 AM	#6
Infinity Senior Member Join Date: May 2016 Drives: 2016 Scion FR-S Location: Maryland Posts: 173 Thanks: 49 Thanked 39 Times in 29 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I just noticed that according to CounterSpace Garage, the SPC RLCA is STX legal. https://www.counterspacegarage.com/s...0-brz-frs-gt86 So the only question now is if the SPC units have any noticeable increase in NVH over stock?

11-13-2019, 04:44 PM	#9
G-awesome Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Drives: 2015 Firestorm Scion FRS Location: Vancouver Posts: 534 Thanks: 371 Thanked 230 Times in 161 Posts Mentioned: 4 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	This is based on my experience but don't all polyurethane bushings squeak to an extent since it's usually thicker and fills up all the gaps in the subframe mount so it rubs and squeaks as it constantly moves around? Especially now that the weather is colder? I have Blox Racing LCAs and the rear right side squeaks like mad and it's starting to drive me crazy now after half a year of use for daily driving. Maybe it's because it's dirt cheap LCAs and the polyurethane bushings aren't as high quality? Once I swap with winter tires, I'll inspect the suspension and see what's up. Or I'll just throw more grease on and call it a day because I'm just too damn lazy to deal with my car sometimes.

11-14-2019, 06:55 PM	#12
norcalpb Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Drives: 2013 BRZ, 2023 Model 3 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 2,296 Thanks: 1,212 Thanked 861 Times in 570 Posts Mentioned: 15 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	OEM uses the same cross axis design as SPC, so I doubt there’d be a noticeable NVH change. And yes they are not STX Auto-x legal. I have the white lines but kinda wish I got the SPCs. Pillowball/crossaxis will always handle better than polyurethane.

12-28-2023, 09:12 AM	#13
J95 Member Join Date: Dec 2018 Drives: BRZ Location: ES Posts: 97 Thanks: 183 Thanked 14 Times in 12 Posts Mentioned: 3 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Reviving this thread to ask If you think theres any difference in durability/reliability for the SPC "pillowball" bushing vs Whiteline PU bushing? I would not mind NVH but I will try to buy the most "reliable" one. Otherwise I will just get the cheapest from the two

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