Originally Posted by chimchim
Ok... I'm finding some really informative stuff with askjeeves.com.
Conclusion is: URETHANE BUSHINGS ON TRAILING ARMS IS A BAD IDEA because it binds when the suspension needs to flex in a way other than the (obvious) axis.
http://www.ef-honda.com/ben/EFsustune.html
http://www.performanceforum.com/wesv...g/bushing.html
Not only that, it looks like the way the Civic trailing arm bushings are set up, ANYTIME YOU LOWER YOUR CAR FROM STOCK HEIGHT, YOU STRESS THE BUSHING. The reason is, the bushing can't rotate, so the resting height preloads the bushing. This makes me wonder if everyone who has lowered the car (and that's almost everyone here) is stressing their trailing arm bushings. Especially on older cars, that means ripping, which is what's happening to me.
http://web.ask.com/web?q=how+do+I+cl...vic&qsrc=0&o=0
Aside from some squeaking, urethane bushings are fine in the trailing arms. Yes, when you lower your car the bushings are stressed, but, if you "clock" the bushings, that is turning the bushing relative to the lowered height of the car, they will work fine with no undue stressing.
