Full bushing kit install.

jake_tim · Post by **jake_tim** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 4:07 pm

Ok, so I'm starting to get tired of the random squeaking. I'm going to start looking at bushings, I'm almost positive that mine are shot. I know the companies to use, but how hard is the install generally?

-Jacob

bone-yard-racing · Post by **bone-yard-racing** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 4:40 pm

Not hard but kind of irritating prothane LCAs are way easier though

hansken_yo · Post by **hansken_yo** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 8:31 pm

If you have a press (aka, the proper tools) it is time consuming, but doable.

jake_tim · Post by **jake_tim** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 10:42 pm

I'm gonna change my brake pads and make sure those aren't the problem. Can you rent a bushing press?

latief · Post by **latief** » Sat Sep 06, 2008 12:22 am

Be prepared for a rough weak of work ....

http://forum.2gn.org/viewtopic.php?t=32009&highlight=

http://forum.2gn.org/viewtopic.php?t=32586&highlight=

http://forum.2gn.org/viewtopic.php?t=32926&highlight=

if you don't have the right tools, and a garage to work on it, take to a shop.....trust me, it stops being fun after a couple of hours..

some people have less problems, but these are what to expect if you are doing this for the first time...

and please whatever you do, get the prothane kit ..........

good luck !!!

jake_tim · Post by **jake_tim** » Sat Sep 06, 2008 12:58 pm

how much do you think it would cost for a shop to install them... jsut an estimate?

latief · Post by **latief** » Sat Sep 06, 2008 1:46 pm

jake_tim wrote:how much do you think it would cost for a shop to install them... jsut an estimate?

Depends on the shop,

the problem is not how much they will cost, but will they be able to invest time and patience to do them correctly.....

I would think a friend/ shop is the best thing, where you could be involved in the process....

as for money, i have no idea....but it should not be too bad....

other guys could probably chime in on this one....

good luck

speedracer · Post by **speedracer** » Sat Sep 06, 2008 3:11 pm

$50-$60 per hour of labor + shop supplies, minus the the bushings you will supply. I have no idea how many hours a well equipped and experienced shop would take. All the bushings are easy except the control arms like everyone said.

hecrov · Post by **hecrov** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 2:29 am

they charge me $200 here in PR it was a good shop..that was for just taking and putting them in

OB · Post by OB » Sun Sep 07, 2008 4:18 am

I plan on doing mine in portions. A few here, a few there, make a week long deal out of it so as not to get burnt out. I hear the LCA ones can be very frustrating. I can take my control arms to my shop and use the hyd press if needed so no worries.

LilSparkPlug · Post by **LilSparkPlug** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 2:00 pm

speedracer wrote:$50-$60 per hour of labor + shop supplies, minus the the bushings you will supply. I have no idea how many hours a well equipped and experienced shop would take. All the bushings are easy except the control arms like everyone said.

What shop do you go to that labor is that cheap? Jesus the lowest here is $89/hour. Usually between $150-200 to do them.

jake_tim · Post by **jake_tim** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 4:51 pm

$89 dollars an hour seems insane.

I'm not really mechanically inclined, so ill probably just have a shop do it. I'm the guy that took 9 hours to install new springs, yes, its horrible.

LilSparkPlug · Post by **LilSparkPlug** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 8:56 pm

Thats what most places around here get, the Infiniti, Lexus, Porsche, Maserati dealers are up over $150 an hour. No one local to you has done them before? They really aren't that difficult.

OB · Post by OB » Sun Sep 07, 2008 10:55 pm

Here in CA local rates are between 95-130 per hour. My shop charges 98 and we're considered cheap (they mark up the shit out of parts to make up for it haha).

latief · Post by **latief** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 9:22 am

I would think that this will cost you big money at a shop (relatively speaking)........

sway bars front and back will be around 15 to 30 minutes labor.....

taking out the front control arms, burning out the old bushings, pressing in the new ones 'correctly' and reinstalling will be at least 1-1.5 hours for these aftermarket bushings... don't forget, that this is very different than changing to stock bushings where you press out then press in new ones...

you have to press, then burn out rubber, then clean up the area, and re-use the metal parts, and press in the multi-piece bushings...etc, the tricky part here is the patience of the mechanic, and his will to corporate, and read instructions on this.... i have seen a case on this forum where a shop could not figure how to install the ES bushings, and just installed regular ones.. instead....

finally, rear trailing arms, and control arms you need to burn-out bushings, press and reinstall...they are much easier than the fronts, but still need accuracy, and patience... so i would think 30-60 minutes ...

so total would be 3 hours at least..... X $80 (at least) ...$240 before tax just for labor, and assuming everything goes good (no rusty broken bolts or anything like that).....

you will need an alignment also, and the price of the kit which will be around $200 for both....

it all depends on the shop, their level of experience, and their will to work with you, as apposed to trying to rob you..... i had someone quote me $200 to remove a broken bolt two months ago... so it all depends....

my advice is either 1) friend working at a shop, or 2) DIY project, but gradually and not at once, because it will take for ever....trust me, i have done this as my first suspension job, and it sucked big time.. just read my thread above, and that is only half of the story!!!!!

good luck

LilSparkPlug · Post by **LilSparkPlug** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 11:56 am

Any mechanic that burns out bushings instead of pressing them out....shouldn't be a mechanic. The LCA bushings (and all the other suspension bushings on these cars) press out very easily. If you at a shop with a hydraulic press and you burn something out....IMO you have issues.