| If they had put solid bushings everywhere, they'd last forever, but people would have complained about the harsh ride. My car has quite a few solid bushings everywhere, but I put them there purely for a performance benefit. It is hardly a stock ride, and certainly would eliminate a large portion of the market than Nissan was after. Getting 80k out of a set of tension rods is not all that bad for a road car. It's all about maintenance over the life of the car. My '92 E34 BMW has multiple control arms with silicone filled bushings that need replacing periodically. I've not seen an instance of a failed tension rod bushing causing a car to go careening off the road. Occasionally there will be a pull, and a somewhat sloppy feeling, but I'd hardly call it a liability issue. Most people don't even realize there's a problem until I show them the silicone dripping from the bushing. After I've installed new bushings, they're amazed at the difference. As for the ES replacements, they have redesigned their bushings to address the issue of the failing lower control arms. They are now a 3pc design that allows for axial travel, reducing the stress put on the LCA. They work perfectly well.
Petz #2 "What's the point of having the car if you don't drive it?" - Mrs. Guapo 08/20/05Jeeeesus Christ - my Dad (after a ride in my Z) 12/26/04 People have the right to freedom of expression. However, people also have the right to point and laugh- aliaZ 04/06/06 |
00:59:10 06/02/07
