I would love to install the ES kit on my hatch, but being I just moved to west bubbaf#@k Florida in a somewhat "ritzy" neighborhood I am not liking the prices. 400+ to install bushings to me is outrageous being the poor man that I am. From searching the threads all I see is a hard time installing them. I cannot go over 1 weekend w/o my car being I need it to go to work. Anyone know of the proper tools I would need. I checked ebay and it came up with this http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=2427671722 Would this make my task any easier? I read bumbah's write up and it seems he had a hell of an experience. But this needs to be done soon, my steering wheel shakes like no other, on the road..New tires and proper alignment. I replaced the lca bushing at a shop which neccessary being it was to a point where I could hear metal banging ;/. And I was informed that replacing the front end bushings would be the solution to the shakes. Any info. is greatly appreciated

92 Hatchback, if that helps

 

That kit wouldn't do you any good if you don't have a hydrolic press available.

I have the ES kit on my car and I used a press to put them in. I live on a military base so we have a "hobby shop" that has lifts and all kinds of tools - including a press. If you took the parts off your car that needed the bushings pressed out/in and took them to a shop, I'm sure it wouldn't cost that much for them to press them. It's really a simple process when you have use of a press.

hih

 

I've removed/installed some bushings at home with a rotary tool, and some other very basic tools (pretty similar to how bumnah did it). It was definitely a pain in the ass, and took a pretty long time to get it done. But you don't have to install the whole kit at once. You could just pull out, say, your front control arms, do those, and put them back. That wouldn't take too long, and you could use your car all week, then next weekend, do your rear CAs, etc, etc.

As for bushing removal, a dremel tool is your freind, as is a small chisel or sharpened screwdriver, and various bashing implements. For installation, many of the bushings can be pressed in with a clamp, or with a bolt, nut, and apropriately sized washers.

If you have a shop nearby with a press, and you bring them the pieces off the car, it wont cost much. A pair of control arms couldn't cost more than $25 I'd imagine, its a breeze if you have the press. I would still reccomend doing it bit by bit though, just because it would be a lot of work to totally disassemble your suspension, take it to the shop, take it back home and put it back on all in one weekend.

 

Thanks for the info guys, I guess I'll do just that; Bit by bit. Hopefully it will solve this damned shaking problem.

 

Seriously, if you got a quote for $400 I would jump all over it. I was quoted $800-$1000 from shops with lifts, air tools, and a press. I decided to do it myself with nothing but hand tools. It's a pain, but I had other cars to drive. I learned a lot, and I felt a great deal of accomplishment when I finished. It probably made the biggest difference than any other of my suspension mods. Anyways I would never install another one on someone elses car for less than $800.

 

But you can DRASTICALLY reduce that price by bringing in the parts off the car... With a press, and all the parts off the car, installation of the ES master bushing kit would probably run $100-$150. If you have you have access to a press, (fawk u Josh :fawk: ) it'll probably only take you an hour to do all the suspension arms once theyre off the car and prepped.