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I bought one of the preliminary test sets of Def's rear spindle spherical bearings (RSSB's for short) and was finally able to install and test them.
Install:
I needed to get the old bushings out, and press the new bushings in. I'm lazy, and my spindles were already bolted up to the car, so I had to figure out a way to get everything off without too much fire or a press. The result was a couple sockets and a large bolt.
Screwing around at work:
"Mini-press" in action:
Use a bunch of lube between washers to prevent things from heating up too much. Lube on the threads also helps a ton. It all makes torqing everything much easier.
7/8" or 22mm socket in slip fit into the upright:
Pressing the new RSSBs in was just a matter of reversing the socket order.
For the lower shock mount, I needed to burn stuff, since I didn't have anything that'd fit over the shock bushing:
The heat actually made the bearings nearly a slip fit, and that was somewhat of a concern for me. I ended up using 300deg metal epoxy on the bearings in addition to press fitting them in. I used a lot of heat on the mount itself, and was able to lightly tap the mount bearings in with a rubber mallet. When the spindle cooled, it was all nice and tight, with some added security from the epoxy.
End result:
Review:
These things work wonderfully. The stock bushings bind up a great deal, and will work against motion in any direction away from their set position. With them tightened (set) at normal ride height, they'd fight with the spring on compression, and against droop, "helping" to lift the inside wheel on turns. Now, with only the lower arm bushings left, there's virtually zero "spring" from the bushings, and very little resistance to suspension movement. This helps my tender springs to do their job a great amount more.
For performance, it's tough to say, as I also swapped spring rates all around. There is noticeably more control in the car, and the rear seems to "bite" quite a bit more. Even Jenna, a novice driver, was able to notice the added stability in the rear end in comparison to previous times driving the car. My favorite feature is the replacement of the tweaked stock bushing for the shock mount. Making compression adjustments in the rear is now 10 times easier.
In the end, I would highly recommend going to spherical bearings over bushings (especially stock ones >.<). They really free up the rear end suspension, allowing the dampers and springs to do what they're supposed to. In the end, that means more traction, as well as more precision in adjustments (where they aren't "dulled out" by bushing bind).
Install:
I needed to get the old bushings out, and press the new bushings in. I'm lazy, and my spindles were already bolted up to the car, so I had to figure out a way to get everything off without too much fire or a press. The result was a couple sockets and a large bolt.
Screwing around at work:
"Mini-press" in action:
Use a bunch of lube between washers to prevent things from heating up too much. Lube on the threads also helps a ton. It all makes torqing everything much easier.
7/8" or 22mm socket in slip fit into the upright:
Pressing the new RSSBs in was just a matter of reversing the socket order.
For the lower shock mount, I needed to burn stuff, since I didn't have anything that'd fit over the shock bushing:
The heat actually made the bearings nearly a slip fit, and that was somewhat of a concern for me. I ended up using 300deg metal epoxy on the bearings in addition to press fitting them in. I used a lot of heat on the mount itself, and was able to lightly tap the mount bearings in with a rubber mallet. When the spindle cooled, it was all nice and tight, with some added security from the epoxy.
End result:
Review:
These things work wonderfully. The stock bushings bind up a great deal, and will work against motion in any direction away from their set position. With them tightened (set) at normal ride height, they'd fight with the spring on compression, and against droop, "helping" to lift the inside wheel on turns. Now, with only the lower arm bushings left, there's virtually zero "spring" from the bushings, and very little resistance to suspension movement. This helps my tender springs to do their job a great amount more.
For performance, it's tough to say, as I also swapped spring rates all around. There is noticeably more control in the car, and the rear seems to "bite" quite a bit more. Even Jenna, a novice driver, was able to notice the added stability in the rear end in comparison to previous times driving the car. My favorite feature is the replacement of the tweaked stock bushing for the shock mount. Making compression adjustments in the rear is now 10 times easier.
In the end, I would highly recommend going to spherical bearings over bushings (especially stock ones >.<). They really free up the rear end suspension, allowing the dampers and springs to do what they're supposed to. In the end, that means more traction, as well as more precision in adjustments (where they aren't "dulled out" by bushing bind).
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