Any interest in having SS sleeves made for LCA's ??

NickKo · Post by **NickKo** » Sun Mar 27, 2011 12:05 pm

Hello, Everyone,

Like many 2nd gen Neon owners, I am needing to replace my Lower Control Arm bushings.
They are way noisy and make the car sound like an absolute piece of crap.

I have done some research and reading on this topic:

viewtopic.php?t=52427

Reading the following thread, really got me thinking.

viewtopic.php?p=839762#839762

This is rather disturbing.

It seems that some users in harsh winter climates or in the Midwest ( read: Rust Belt ) are having issues with noises eventually returning, even after going through all the work of replacing the LCA bushings.
( Many Thanks to Jonnymopar, for taking the time to get to the bottom of the issue.)

It appears that the materials used for the sleeving in either the Energy Suspension or Prothane kits, has lousy corrosion resistance.
I can attest to personal experience with this.

Based upon this information, I am currently *discussing* having SS sleeves made, to replace the....uh, 'stuff' that comes with the E/S or Prothane kits, and offering these for sale through a well-known vendor.

Question:
How many folks would be interested in buying replacement sleeves made from Stainless Steel, to replace the sleeves that come with the LCA kits ??

Please feel free to post comments, questions, or 'feedback'.
Thanks to All !!

- Nick

hansken_yo · Post by **hansken_yo** » Sun Mar 27, 2011 1:52 pm

Have you thought of the solid LCA bushings at all?

Maddog · Post by **Maddog** » Sun Mar 27, 2011 1:56 pm

hansken_yo wrote:Have you thought of the solid LCA bushings at all?

'Solid' as in billet aluminum?

boostalot717 · Post by **boostalot717** » Sun Mar 27, 2011 2:14 pm

make the bushings out of delrin, ultem, or even mumetal. Will take the abuse alot better than stock or poly bushing, but will transmit a lot more vibrations through the steering.

NickKo · Post by **NickKo** » Sun Mar 27, 2011 3:17 pm

hansken_yo wrote:Have you thought of the solid LCA bushings at all?

Not really.....

boostalot717 wrote:make the bushings out of delrin, ultem, or even mumetal. Will take the abuse alot better than stock or poly bushing, but will transmit a lot more vibrations through the steering.

'Druther stay with polyurethane.

As for polyurethane bushings, I am going with the Prothane kit.

BUT I plan to replace the sleeves with SS material, for corrosion resistance and durability.

- Nick

JeffM · Post by **JeffM** » Sun Mar 27, 2011 4:20 pm

Interesting. I hadn't even heard of this issue...

I think the main question would be: How much would these cost?

NickKo · Post by **NickKo** » Sun Mar 27, 2011 4:41 pm

JeffM wrote:Interesting. I hadn't even heard of this issue...

I think the main question would be: How much would these cost?

Good question.

The basic material itself, is not expensive.
Plus, the 'base' price of the material, per inch, goes down with greater quantity.

Machining the parts to size, is where most of the expense is.... Much more than the price of the material itself.
Final price will depend on how long it takes to machine the material down to the right size, and the equipment used.

Once we get the first 'prototypes' made, we will have an idea how long it took for the machinist to make the parts, and what that will cost us in terms of labor.
I'll be sure to follow this up.

Thanks again, Everyone, for your input and questions.

- Nick

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 10:15 am

I want solid control arm bushings

trojmn · Post by **trojmn** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 10:43 am

Danteneon wrote:I want solid control arm bushings

interesting.... im working on something durable right now. Should be installed in the next couple weeks.

tro

NickKo · Post by **NickKo** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 10:54 am

Danteneon wrote:I want solid control arm bushings

I suppose we can discuss this......

trojmn wrote:
Danteneon wrote:I want solid control arm bushings
interesting.... im working on something durable right now. Should be installed in the next couple weeks.

tro

Cool.... Please keep us posted on your progress, and also on the results !!

- Nick

Post by **occasional demons** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 12:18 pm

IMHO, the inner sleeve (Horizontal)should not be moving to make any noise. The yoke should be tight enough to clamp it in place. The movement should be within the rubber, or slipping within the LCA bore.

A solid bushing here will cause some problems. you will either wear the bolt, or the inner bore of the LCA. It would need to be a two piece design so the inner part is stationary, and the outer can move with the LCA. It would need a way to be lubed, and keep moisture out.

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 12:27 pm

I want solid like this...

Neon4Life · Post by **Neon4Life** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 1:20 pm

^ thats exactly what i knew you was talking about. haha.

ive wanted some of those for a while or for someone to make those kind again.

JeffM · Post by **JeffM** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 4:01 pm

What is that?!...

hansken_yo · Post by **hansken_yo** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 4:04 pm

that is what i was referring to...

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 4:06 pm

Rage Tek LCA bushings.

Post by **Canada** » Tue Mar 29, 2011 11:51 am

Jason / Diablo has them in his white car. Lives them.

Post by **occasional demons** » Tue Mar 29, 2011 11:54 am

Canada wrote:Jason / Diablo has them in his white car. Lives them.

Is that like licking, and love all in one?

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Tue Mar 29, 2011 11:58 am

I know he does. And I hate him for it. And his titanium strut tower braces

heydockyle · Post by **heydockyle** » Tue Mar 29, 2011 12:26 pm

There is a vendor making them on srtforums because I was looking into them to completely eliminate wheel hop, but they are like $200.

fixitmattman · Post by **fixitmattman** » Tue Mar 29, 2011 1:02 pm

heydockyle wrote:There is a vendor making them on srtforums because I was looking into them to completely eliminate wheel hop, but they are like $200.

I had sets custom made that weld into the LCA. Was going to offer them for sale, but neon owners are too cheap. The pricetag while being comparable to the rage-teks scares people away.

Single best mod I ever did to the car, bar none.

heydockyle · Post by **heydockyle** » Tue Mar 29, 2011 1:13 pm

Yea, I looked over there and I can't seem to find that right now. But I know someone still had them because rage hasn't for a while and I was looking into buying some but said fuck it when I saw the price tag. Prothanes will be fine for me.

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Tue Mar 29, 2011 5:36 pm

I have no problem dropping $200 on those. It would be well worth it IMO.

Well, maybe a little bit of a problem

Weren't the Rage ones like $150.00?

fixitmattman · Post by **fixitmattman** » Tue Mar 29, 2011 8:55 pm

Rage teks retailed for $230 and change.

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 8:07 am

Thanks, I couldn't remember. I stand behind my $200 statement then

Post by **Canada** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 12:01 pm

If it means I never have to change them again, it would be well worth the price of admission!

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 12:35 pm

Exactly my thinking

fixitmattman · Post by **fixitmattman** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 8:17 pm

You still have to change the bearing inserts, they are a wear part. Seem to be more conditional on environment than actual km driven. Usually every 2-3 years I found that I needed to change them.

Dodge Aries K · Post by **Dodge Aries K** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 8:42 pm

SS inserts and prothane bushings would make my neon happy and not make me have to do this often as it does get driven year round. I vote YES.

NickKo · Post by **NickKo** » Fri Apr 01, 2011 7:39 am

Canada wrote:If it means I never have to change them again, it would be well worth the price of admission!

Dodge Aries K wrote:SS inserts and prothane bushings would make my neon happy and not make me have to do this often as it does get driven year round.

That's exactly my line of thinking.

The poly bushings should WAY outlive the factory rubber bushings.

Thanks again Everyone, for the continuing input ! Please continue sharing your 'feedback'.

- Nick

2GN.ORG

Any interest in having SS sleeves made for LCA's ??

Would you buy SS sleeves for LCAs if they're available?

Any interest in having SS sleeves made for LCA's ??