Melted Bushings

[Krion]

Originally Posted by B T

No word from Whiteline or ACE on this matter

Did you fix the issue by going back to the standard bushings?

[Summerwolf]

I am willing to bet this is out of the norm for either company. It is interesting to see the responses here though ranging from thinking ceramic coating is a cure-all for heat to wanting to blame the manufacturers immediately. While parts failed, it is a bushing in a part of the car that almost retains heat while also being in close proximity to heat. Stuff like this happens when you track a vehicle and / or drive it aggressively for long periods of time. Bushings wear out, all of them do. This is a severe instance, and definitely a new one on the forum, but it does not mean it is a call to burn ACE and whiteline at the stake. Obviously there are many members with products from both companies that have not had this same kind of issue. I'm not sure who is running both the swaybar and the header in conjunction, and this may simply comedown to a compatibility issue between two companies that design completely different products. Just saying.... take a step back and maybe not instigate a witch hunt quite yet.

[JazzleSAURUS]

Originally Posted by Summerwolf

I am willing to bet this is out of the norm for either company. It is interesting to see the responses here though ranging from thinking ceramic coating is a cure-all for heat to wanting to blame the manufacturers immediately. While parts failed, it is a bushing in a part of the car that almost retains heat while also being in close proximity to heat. Stuff like this happens when you track a vehicle and / or drive it aggressively for long periods of time. Bushings wear out, all of them do. This is a severe instance, and definitely a new one on the forum, but it does not mean it is a call to burn ACE and whiteline at the stake. Obviously there are many members with products from both companies that have not had this same kind of issue. I'm not sure who is running both the swaybar and the header in conjunction, and this may simply comedown to a compatibility issue between two companies that design completely different products. Just saying.... take a step back and maybe not instigate a witch hunt quite yet.

Yep, this happens all the time, this platform is VERY spoiled for choice with different components designed in some dramatically different ways. That simply means that this will happen.

I think in looking at this, I'd be tempted to replace the bushing, reinstall the header and confirm clearances, then see what play the components have to gain extra clearance 'here and there'.

My guess is that repairing the ceramic coating on the header, and making a small shield you can tack weld to the sway bar bushing bracket with a small strip of DEI reflect a gold would resolve your issue.

#justRacecarThings

[imnotsureaboutbrz]

Originally Posted by B T

maybe we could get @AceHeader-MT to weigh in on this?

or @CSG Mike

[mkivsoopra]

I've melted the sway bar bushing and steering tie rod boot on the track too, with a different setup. My issue was an exhaust leak.

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by imnotsureaboutbrz

or @CSG Mike

I'm pretty sure nobody would dispute that my car is driven hard. My bushings are just fine. I'm on OEM.

[CSG Mike]

I took this picture last week while doing some maintenance on my 17. Ace A/350 w/ CSG double ceramic + flex fuel tune.

[B T]

Originally Posted by Krion

Did you fix the issue by going back to the standard bushings?

I just replaced the bushing with another one from Whiteline. I'm guessing it must have been an exhaust leak spilling gases directly onto the bushing. I found one bolt at the collector to frontpipe location missing on the bushing side. I did not ever hear any exhaust leak, but I'm posting this as the cause for now.

New exhaust bolts and heat wrap installed. I'll have a track day in early November and report back on any further damage.

[Qc86]

I had the same problem on my 2017. Gruppe s ceramic coated headers and overpipe and my oem bushing starts melting (not as much as you tho). When ill install my new front swaybar amd engine mount ill do a heat shield for it or either gonna wrap the exhaust. I have no exhaust leek btw. Not much track i inly did 4 run of autocross but sometimes i drive my car 7-8hours straight and i drive it hard so might be that