Front Control Arm Bushings Flawed - Rear Bushing - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

Acree · 09-25-2013, 12:31 AM

Intro:
I'm making this post to get feedback from the community. I cannot be the only person out there who has noticed this or had this problem.

I recently started working with a well known coilover company to test and provide feedback for their upcoming product line. Information on that will be released when the company deems fit.

The Problem:
The front control arm rear inner bushing is compromised. The control arm sits as far back towards the rear of the car as possible. This means that the bolt going through the front bushing is pointed toward the rear of the car and outward, instead of straight down like it should be. I unfortunately did not take pictures of this the last time the car was on the lift, but I will Friday.

How can you tell?
The front wheels sit further back in the wheel well instead of being right in the center of the well. It's visibly noticeable on my car, especially since the car was lowered and I'm still on stock wheels. After the alignment, the car measured 4.5/4.6* caster. Stock is 5.5/5.6. If you are able to get up under the car, the bushing looks like you roasted a marshmallow on a stick, and then pulled it off the stick. The same "gooey" looking center is what the center of the bushing looks like.

Misc
My car has 17k miles on it and one track day. There is absolutely zero reason for the bushing to be compromised like it is. I will have a picture as soon as I can and post it up in this thread.

Acree · 10-03-2013, 08:31 PM

Bumping this up...

Rayme · 10-03-2013, 09:30 PM

So did the bushing melt? How low did you drop the car?

Acree · 10-04-2013, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rayme

So did the bushing melt? How low did you drop the car?

The bushing is compromised, not melted. The car is only 1" lower than stock. The bushings failed before the coilovers were out on. It was simply more noticeable once the car was lower.

goke186 · 10-04-2013, 03:58 AM

any noise related to the bushing being failed? i have a clunking noise coming from the suspension (not sure where) whenever i hit even a small bump, it's either a blown strut or a bushing....

nos145 · 10-04-2013, 10:08 AM

innnnnnteradasting... post updates plz

Acree · 10-04-2013, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goke186

any noise related to the bushing being failed? i have a clunking noise coming from the suspension (not sure where) whenever i hit even a small bump, it's either a blown strut or a bushing....

No noise that I have noticed related to the bushing. But again I have coilovers and track pads on the car.

ZionsWrath · 10-04-2013, 04:22 PM

Curious on the pics?

Going to be working on some maintenance next month, would check mine. Stock but have 20k miles.

Opie · 10-04-2013, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acree

The Problem:
The front control arm rear inner bushing is compromised. The control arm sits as far back towards the rear of the car as possible. This means that the bolt going through the front bushing is pointed toward the rear of the car and outward, instead of straight down like it should be. I unfortunately did not take pictures of this the last time the car was on the lift, but I will Friday.

Show me a picture to be sure, but....if the bolt going through the front bushing is pointed back, it is bent. The bolt does not flex or move, it is threaded into the unibody. It is definitely not a bushing problem. If the mounting bolt is pointed back, something happened that bent it, it is not a flimsy part.

Rayme · 10-04-2013, 05:19 PM

If it's the front bushings your talking about (your post mentions both, a bit confusing) then you can easily take a picture off lift with the wheels turned
I checked my bushing following this and they look like new. The rear are harder to inspect but I got no symptoms of shot bushings.

09-25-2013, 12:31 AM	#1
Acree Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Drives: 13 CSB BRZ Ltd Location: United States Posts: 1,035 Thanks: 147 Thanked 530 Times in 286 Posts Mentioned: 39 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Front Control Arm Bushings Flawed - Rear Bushing Intro: I'm making this post to get feedback from the community. I cannot be the only person out there who has noticed this or had this problem. I recently started working with a well known coilover company to test and provide feedback for their upcoming product line. Information on that will be released when the company deems fit. The Problem: The front control arm rear inner bushing is compromised. The control arm sits as far back towards the rear of the car as possible. This means that the bolt going through the front bushing is pointed toward the rear of the car and outward, instead of straight down like it should be. I unfortunately did not take pictures of this the last time the car was on the lift, but I will Friday. How can you tell? The front wheels sit further back in the wheel well instead of being right in the center of the well. It's visibly noticeable on my car, especially since the car was lowered and I'm still on stock wheels. After the alignment, the car measured 4.5/4.6* caster. Stock is 5.5/5.6. If you are able to get up under the car, the bushing looks like you roasted a marshmallow on a stick, and then pulled it off the stick. The same "gooey" looking center is what the center of the bushing looks like. Misc My car has 17k miles on it and one track day. There is absolutely zero reason for the bushing to be compromised like it is. I will have a picture as soon as I can and post it up in this thread.

10-03-2013, 09:30 PM	#3
Rayme The Answer Join Date: Sep 2012 Drives: Mazda 2 Location: Moncton, NB Posts: 1,233 Thanks: 488 Thanked 661 Times in 315 Posts Mentioned: 6 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	So did the bushing melt? How low did you drop the car? __________________ \| Roof wrap thread

10-04-2013, 05:19 PM	#10
Rayme The Answer Join Date: Sep 2012 Drives: Mazda 2 Location: Moncton, NB Posts: 1,233 Thanks: 488 Thanked 661 Times in 315 Posts Mentioned: 6 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	If it's the front bushings your talking about (your post mentions both, a bit confusing) then you can easily take a picture off lift with the wheels turned I checked my bushing following this and they look like new. The rear are harder to inspect but I got no symptoms of shot bushings. __________________ \| Roof wrap thread

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
White line KCA434 front lower control arm bushings	brillo	Suspension \| Chassis \| Brakes -- Sponsored by 949 Racing	6	08-02-2015 01:37 PM
Front Control Arm Bushings.	feldy	Suspension \| Chassis \| Brakes -- Sponsored by 949 Racing	4	03-02-2013 06:35 AM
NEW Scion FR-S Front and Rear Carrier/Stay Bushings \| TWM Performance	TWMPerformance	Transmission and Driveline	0	02-25-2013 06:31 PM
WORKS Rear Upper Control Arm Bushing - Inner Camber Correction	86_ZN6	Brakes, Suspension, Chassis	0	02-06-2013 01:20 AM

10-03-2013, 08:31 PM	#2
Acree Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Drives: 13 CSB BRZ Ltd Location: United States Posts: 1,035 Thanks: 147 Thanked 530 Times in 286 Posts Mentioned: 39 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Bumping this up...

10-04-2013, 10:08 AM	#6
nos145 Cognite Join Date: Oct 2011 Drives: 2013 Whiteout FRS Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 245 Thanks: 121 Thanked 57 Times in 52 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	innnnnnteradasting... post updates plz

10-04-2013, 04:22 PM	#8
ZionsWrath Thanks Join Date: Apr 2013 Drives: BRZ Location: NY Posts: 4,163 Thanks: 5,989 Thanked 3,100 Times in 1,498 Posts Mentioned: 38 Post(s) Tagged: 3 Thread(s)	Curious on the pics? Going to be working on some maintenance next month, would check mine. Stock but have 20k miles.

User Name		Remember Me?
Password