Need advice on Sub-Frame Bushings

[T-town SHO217]

Hey guys,

Okay so, I am looking at getting some new sub-frame bushings and was curious on your reactions...aluminum or not. Those of you who have them, are they worth it, benefits and so on... I know I could probably to a search on this topic but I want to ask one more quick question...

If I install the aluminum bushings will that create more wear then common on other parts of the vehicle (i.e. motor mounts)? Are then any other adverse affects of using them?

Thanks in advance for the advice!

 

[revhardSHO]

Aluminum subframe bushings are an excellent upgrade. The difference in handling and front end tightness is very noticeable. The steering is much more precise also. You will pick up some NVH in the cabin, but its totally worth it for the handling gains. Highly recommended here

 

[n8rsk8r]

I have a set that will go on after my transmission rebuild, I say go for it!

 

[sideSHO]

When I put in the ASFBs after my clutch job,I was blown away!
It made the car feel like a go kart in the way it reacts to a turn of the wheel.
It also atays super flat in the turns,another plus.
It will add some NVH,and in my case it cuased extra wear on my motor mounts.
Might as well get some re-inforced motor mounts while you're at it.
Great mod for the money in my book.

 

[gosho89]

Aluminum subframe bushings are an excellent upgrade. The difference in handling and front end tightness is very noticeable. The steering is much more precise also. You will pick up some NVH in the cabin, but its totally worth it for the handling gains. Highly recommended here

I drove for over 3 years with aluminums and grew tired of NVH in the cabin.
To eliminate this I install the Police Bushings on the back corners below the steering rack. With the combonation of both aluminum and Police Bushings I found no differance in handling on the track or during spirited driving. I feel this is the best of both worlds.

my .02 cents worth

 

[T-town SHO217]

Great, thanks for all the advice...so what I am sensing is that if I am going to do this I might as well go ahead and install the reinforced mounts also?

 

[LOUDSHO92]

Well if you need new motor mounts, now would be the time to do them. Well with SHOnut mounts and the aluminum bushings you might get a lot of noise in the cabin as mentioned earlier.

I went with Gen 3 subframe bushings. I used the rear ones I think they are, I would need to check. They are a Delrin bushing and a good compromise I think. THe handling improved but I didnt get any noise. In fact after Vadim drove my car he though I had aluminum bushings, which I didn't. I like them and it is worth it.

 

[qiksho]

Depends how you drive your car and the roads in your area.

It's a love/hate relationship for me. I love the way the car handles, but I have much more road noise now and much more vibration into the cabin of the vehicle.

I had NEW police bushings in before and liked them better for the way I drive. If I autocrossed alot I would definately want the AL SFB though.

 

[K-Dawg]

Aluminum SFB = good.

 

[Dave Kegel]

I suggest using the Gen3 rear bushings. I've tried all kinds, and like others grew tired of the NVH from the other bushings (in my case, delrin). The Gen3 bushings are very solid, with a large surface area to grab the unibody. Much nicer than the police bushings, which to me seem like stock bushings painted blue.

Dave Kegel

 

[T-town SHO217]

Again, thanks guys for all the input, I will keep you posted on my decision!!

 

[SHO--ripper]

I like my ASB's

 

[shojuan]

I drove for over 3 years with aluminums and grew tired of NVH in the cabin.
To eliminate this I install the Police Bushings on the back corners below the steering rack. With the combonation of both aluminum and Police Bushings I found no differance in handling on the track or during spirited driving. I feel this is the best of both worlds.

my .02 cents worth

Aluminum front and a pair of rear GenIII bushings in the rear ought to provide the same benefits. Maybe I'll try that out one of these days.

 

[Mr Anonymous]

I'm someone who could never feel/hear any difference in NVH with aluminum over stock, but the aluminum do make an unbelievable difference in handling. SFB's only take a short time to change, you might want to try a set of alumnum bushings and see how you like them. If you don't you can almost certainly resell them for what you paid, and go with 4 gen III rear bushings. Those also work nicely.

Oh, and moved to the Suspension section...

 

[TimZ]

Aluminum front and a pair of rear GenIII bushings in the rear ought to provide the same benefits. Maybe I'll try that out one of these days.

It's generally not considered good practice to mix solid and flexible bushings on the same part. Bad things can happen if you allow one end to flex and not the other.

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

I'm someone who could never feel/hear any difference in NVH with aluminum over stock, but the aluminum do make an unbelievable difference in handling.

Try adding reinforced or solid motor mounts

Ive had ASFBs for about a year now. And I too, could not hear/feel much of a difference in NVH when I went from stock to Aluminum.

But then I added my urethane motor mounts :ruhroh:

I have since swapped out the rear subframe bushings for stock rubber bushings. HUGE improvement. My ride is quiet once again, and the handling is still crisp

 

[platoribs]

Try adding reinforced or solid motor mounts

Ive had ASFBs for about a year now. And I too, could not hear/feel much of a difference in NVH when I went from stock to Aluminum.

But then I added my urethane motor mounts :ruhroh:

I have since swapped out the rear subframe bushings for stock rubber bushings. HUGE improvement. My ride is quiet once again, and the handling is still crisp

Please clarify something for me, are the ASFB different for front/rear?
Do only rear GenIII SFB fit GenII's?
I've got two SHO's, both with OE SFB's, could I buy a set of ASFB, and a set of rear GenIII SFB's and do both?
I guess that really the same question asked two ways, but you get the pic.
Thanks

PS I'll be doing the reinforced motor mounts at the same time.

 

[qiksho]

I would contact brian king as he is the one that has the ALSFB's produced at his local machine shop as far as differences between the front and rear.

When I put mine in about a month ago I don't remember seeing a difference, however they are marked front and rear. As far as the Gen III bushings I believe you can use them on all four corners, but I am not positive, as I have never used them.

I put new stock bushings in my 93 and the difference between the worn out ones and the new ones is dramatic. I also found going from half shot originals to ALSFB's on my 92 was way too harsh. When I redo my suspension this summer I will probably put stock, or gen III on the rear, as I hear that helps with the road noise.

Hope that helps,
Brandyn

 

[LOUDSHO92]

The ASFBs are the same front and rear.

The reason for only the rear subframe bushings is that those are the improved ones. From what I understand, the fronts are the same as the stock Gen2s, but for the Gen3s rear they used a Delrin bushing. This is an upgrade over our stock ones. You would then 4 sets (4 corners) to do a gen2 upgrade.

 

[SHOtimer]

The ASFBs are the same front and rear.

The ALSFB I got from Mr. King were front and rear specific..

Doug