1nsight

I recently purchased a roller, blown coolant seals.

I am planning to build as budget track car. I already have a 2nd Gen FC motor built by Mazmart awhile back, and stand alone ECU situated.

My question is would it be worth the money to purchase aftermarket suspension links or to just replace the bushings in all the arms?

Anybody with a track only car have advice for me?

dannobre

iTrader: (3)

Are the stock bushings blown? If they aren't then it is unlikely that you will have issues with them where they need replacing soon

The stock bushings are fairly stiff and if they are intact you won't get a lot of improvements going to aftermarket ones

Loki

iTrader: (1)

The only issue I foresee is the camber adjustment bolts might be seized, front and back. It's a common issue on street driven RX8s. The remedy involves replacing the bolts and bushings.

1nsight

Going to refresh the suspension either by new bushings or new aftermarket arms.

What what I want to know are new arms necessary or are bushings enough.

NotAPreppie

The bushings in front lower control arms (where the camber adjustment bolt gets seized) are a giant PITA to remove. I just replaced the whole arm.

1nsight

Good to know.

The car is gonna be on jack stands for a long while there is no rush to have them swapped out.

If there is no large performance increases to aftermarket arms I will stick with the stock.

I have a long list of WHILE I GOT THE CAR APART. this is the first item and the least expensive if Im just replacing the bushings.

NotAPreppie

I'm not aware of any aftermarket control arms. Just replacement bushings for the factory arms.

dannobre

iTrader: (3)

If the stock bushings are OK.... best to leave them alone.....

There are aftermarket control arms....but before you start doing that kind of stuff figure out what they are going to accomplish...
Otherwise you will spend a lot for little to no gain...and a lot more hastles

1nsight

Well the car has 100k and has been sitting for 6 months. I dont know if the bushings are particularly good or bad cause a visually they could look fine but I wont know until 8 months from now when i finish the car.

How could replacing the bushings go bad? Its not difficult to do. Its also not expensive Racing Beat sales a Energy Bushing kit for like 100 dollars.

Im not really asking if I should replace Im asking if those who have setup their track cars with aftermarket arms found the performance increase to be worth the extra cost. I understand dont fix whats not broken.

Steve Dallas

You can source adjustable aftermarket arms with Heim joints and poly bushings. I think MSM sells the set for around $1600. Jap Speed and Megan also sell versions, which may or may not be the same. There is supposed to be some performance gain from the added articulation and negative camber adjustment, but without doing something up front to increase negative camber, I imagine the gain would be small.

Obviously, the bushings and ball joints on the OEM links can be changed out, if you are up for it. Personally, I would probably just replace the links with bushings and joints already installed.