Nolathane LCA Bushings (Review)

[Heylin]

Recently had to replace the front LCA bushings on the Legacy (2004 GT Spec B), decided to do front rear and front front as well.

Went for Nolathane ones <$200 for the lot).

Despite many internet forums about NVH (Noise, Vibration, Harshness) they were actually quieter and smoother than the worn factory ones.

Braking and Acceleration is more stable, there is less front to rear cycling in suspension, cornering more crisp and straight line handling is improved.

Well worth it over paying the $260NZ for a pair of factory control arms just to get the squishy bush that will die in 50,000 kms.

[sobanoodle]

 Heylin said:

Recently had to replace the front LCA bushings on the Legacy (2004 GT Spec B), decided to do front rear and front front as well.

Went for Nolathane ones <$200 for the lot).

Despite many internet forums about NVH (Noise, Vibration, Harshness) they were actually quieter and smoother than the worn factory ones.

Braking and Acceleration is more stable, there is less front to rear cycling in suspension, cornering more crisp and straight line handling is improved.

Well worth it over paying the $260NZ for a pair of factory control arms just to get the squishy bush that will die in 50,000 kms.

Did the same replacement on my BH5 - exactly the same outcome. Feels somewhat softer than worn stock ones, but then crisper/more responsive at the same time.

[DacerX]

considering that you can get rubber genuine ones for like 40 each i dont see why

[sobanoodle]

Each to their own, that\'s probably why.

[loner]

 DacerX said:

considering that you can get rubber genuine ones for like 40 each i dont see why

Are you being facetious, or do you really not know what the benefits are?

[Timmah]

 loner']

[quote name='DacerX said:

considering that you can get rubber genuine ones for like 40 each i dont see why

/quote]

Are you being facetious, or do you really not know what the benefits are?

What is the benefits? I only know that going Nolathane you get NVH.

[loner]

 Timmah']

[quote name='DacerX said:

considering that you can get rubber genuine ones for like 40 each i dont see why

/quote]

Are you being facetious, or do you really not know what the benefits are?

What is the benefits? I only know that going Nolathane you get NVH.

Less alignment changes under load... no other reason to use hard bushes.

[sobanoodle]

Waiting for Rosssub to join... he\'s got heaps of that red stuff in his :

 Timmah said:

I only know that going Nolathane you get NVH.

Yeah right...

[gotasuby]

I\'ve done it to. One of my better suspension mods. And I\'ve done a lot.

[Timmah]

 sobanoodle']

Waiting for Rosssub to join... he\'s got heaps of that red stuff in his :

[quote name='Timmah said:

I only know that going Nolathane you get NVH.

/quote]

Yeah right...

Stick it on a Tui add? Really, I\'m not as clued up with cars when it comes to computers (for example) even though I know my car in and out very well.

Friend has Nolathane bushes in his BE and going over bumps you hear what I thought was an unhappy strut..

[sobanoodle]

 Timmah']

Waiting for Rosssub to join... he\'s got heaps of that red stuff in his :

[quote name='Timmah said:

I only know that going Nolathane you get NVH.

/quote]

Yeah right...

Stick it on a Tui add? Really, I\'m not as clued up with cars when it comes to computers (for example) even though I know my car in and out very well.

Friend has Nolathane bushes in his BE and going over bumps you hear what I thought was an unhappy strut..

That "friend has" story... don\'t know what you hear, I have the following on my BH: Whiteline/Nolathane sway bar bushes, Whiteline steering rack bushes, Nolathane lower control arm front/rear bushes - none of that said NVH bs.

(typical topic development for this forum ;D)

[Timmah]

 sobanoodle']

Waiting for Rosssub to join... he\'s got heaps of that red stuff in his :

[quote name='Timmah said:

I only know that going Nolathane you get NVH.

/quote]

Yeah right...

Stick it on a Tui add? Really, I\'m not as clued up with cars when it comes to computers (for example) even though I know my car in and out very well.

Friend has Nolathane bushes in his BE and going over bumps you hear what I thought was an unhappy strut..

That "friend has" story... don\'t know what you hear, I have the following on my BH: Whiteline/Nolathane sway bar bushes, Whiteline steering rack bushes, Nolathane lower control arm front/rear bushes - none of that said NVH bs.

(typical topic development for this forum ;D)

Yeah the \'ol "friend" could actually have a stuffed strut for all I know and he thinks it\'s his fancy bushings.

I\'m still convinced it\'s the strut because it\'s the same noise my passenger rear strut makes going over good bumps.

In fact I finally found what the noise sounds similar to:

[Guest]

Loren what dacerx means is why 260 for arms when bush is nix. Well thats how I read it. Hes well aware of benefits he sells it.

[Rosssub]

I\'ve done every bush in my car, a mix of Whiteline and Nolathane. Best mod I\'ve done, if I ever buy another car it will be the first thing I do.

OEM Replacements from Subaru:

Rear Lower Front Link (#10) - $304+gst each (comes as full link) X2

Rear Lower Rear Link Inner Bush (#15) - $43+gst each X2

Rear Lower Rear Link Outer Bush (#8) - $37+gst each X2

Rear Upper Inner Bush (#13) - $37+gst each X2

Rear Upper Outer Bush (#14) - $50+gst each X2

Total including GST - $1079 + Freight

Nolathane:

Rear Lower Front Link bushes (#10) - $183 set

Rear Lower Rear Link Inner Bush (#15) - $108.30 pair

Rear Lower Rear Link Outer Bush (#8) - $63.89 pair

Rear Upper Link Inner Bush (#13) - $58.98 pair

Rear Upper Link Outer Bush (#14) - $173.36 pair

Total -$607.53

http://www.clubsub.org.nz/forum/index.php/topic,41249.0.html

[DacerX]

 evowrx said:

Loren what dacerx means is why 260 for arms when bush is nix. Well thats how I read it. Hes well aware of benefits he sells it.

Thats pretty much what i was mean, and yes i know the benefits as i sell the stuff, doesnt mean that i would want to spend retail on it.

[loner]

 DacerX']

[quote name='evowrx said:

Loren what dacerx means is why 260 for arms when bush is nix. Well thats how I read it. Hes well aware of benefits he sells it.

/quote]

Thats pretty much what i was mean, and yes i know the benefits as i sell the stuff, doesnt mean that i would want to spend retail on it.

Yes they are expensive, and I wouldn\'t use them on a road car. I\'ve replaced the rear lateral and trailing arm bushes

on the my STi and there is a huge improvement... especially when launching and under very hard brakes. The

rear wheels would bounce really horribly with the standard bushes... but no more.

[Heylin]

 DacerX said:

considering that you can get rubber genuine ones for like 40 each i dont see why

Subaru tried to sell me the whole Arm at $130 each (so $260). Even so $40 each per bushing = $80. For an extra $60 I also did the fronts, plus ive got something that

a) performs better for longer

b) enhances the cars handling

They are actually quieter than worn stock one, which to me say they are equivalent NVH to new stock ones.

If it was just a regular old family car mabey the $40 each replacement option would be the go, but for something thats running a bit more power under the hood, the added handling \ stability helps IMO.

[DacerX]

If you like them and they feel better then they are doing there job for your car and what you want to get out of them. And thats the main thing