BalladeSports

DIY: Ballade Sports Spherical Compliance Bushing install

Hello Everyone,

Just wanted to share a complete Do It Yourself from start to finish compliance bushing installation. For this application we are using our own Ballade Sports Spherical Compliance Bushing in replacement for the OEM rubber bushing.
(Note: This DIY will apply for stock/other compliance bushing replacements as well)

It is a well known fact that stock bushings wear out and can freeze, leaving our caster adjustment stuck or un-adjustable. Unfortunately Honda does not allow us to purchase an OEM bushing alone without purchasing the entire arm. So here is a solution we came up with along with a write up on how to install this part.

Hope this information proves useful. Thanks for viewing.

Ballade Sports
13851 A Better Way #11D
Garden Grove, CA 92843
714-902-9027
www.balladesports.com



Tools needed:
14, 17, 19 sockets
17mm wrench
19mm wrench
1/2" ratchet
Pry bar



Step 1: Remove the two 17mm bolts attaching the bolt joint to the knuckle.



Step 2: Remove the 17mm or 19mm bolt attaching the bottom shock perch. Please note, the stock shocks have the nut welded onto the shock perch, and with that being said, loosen the BOLT and not the nut to avoid tearing off the weld. Most aftermarket suspension will have a separate bolt and nut, so please keep that in mind. (Bolt size may vary depending on stock or aftermarket suspension).

Thank you Car Analogy for pointing that out.



Step 3: Remove the 14mm bolt sway bar end-link bolt.



Step 4: Remove the 17mm bolt attaching the compliance bushing.



Step 5: Remove the 17mm bolt attaching the control arm bushing to the subframe.



Step 6: Use the pry bar to ease the removal of the control arm.



Step 7: Press out the existing compliance bushing. If you don't have access to a press and tools needed for this step then contact a mechanic shop for this service. In this photo we used the inner Race of an OEM S2k Wheel Bearing to press out the stock bushing and a hollowed out S2k Wheel Bearing to serve as our cup to hold the control arm.




Step 8: Press in your new spherical compliance bushings.





Step 9: Re-install the control arm and follow the same procedure of the removal process.

Note: It is important to have the car re-aligned after installing your new compliance bushing.

1MR

Hi guys,

My name is Matt Rojana, I am currently test driving for Ballade Sports. I have recently installed the Ballade Sports spherical compliance bushings on my S2000 and had the chance to test them out at the recent S2K Challenge at Buttonwillow Raceway park. With my compliance bushings due for a replacement, Ballade's spherical unit allows end-users to be able and replace and improve the factory bushing without having to purchase a new lower control arm from Honda. My stock compliance bushings were torn, which is what we suspected to contribute to my caster adjustment being uneven with 7* caster on the driver side and 5* caster on the passenger side. I had originally planned to go with the entire spherical bushing kit, but time was scarce so I opted to begin with just the compliance bushing and install the rest after the S2K Challenge event. After the product was installed, I quickly took it to my alignment specialist and the caster issues were quickly resolved. The adjustability and the free-range of motion now allows me to align the car to my desired spec.

After driving an S2000 with full spherical bushings, I had expectations for more noises and much stiffer street driving conditions, however I am happy to report that the compliance bushing alone, even being solid vs rubber, did not increase noise, nor compromise ride comfort while daily driving. On track, steering inputs felt crisp and a noticeable less "slop" on corner entry and turn in. Overall I'm satisfied with this piece, it's a great step to begin with, without having to give up the comforts of your street car. Also nice knowing that I can always complete the spherical package later on down the road with one step already knocked out. I can definitely recommend it for both track and street/daily driving applications.

Here is a video of my lap at Buttonwillow:
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBLSpftzCEQ&feature=youtu.be[/media]

starchland

What is the service life? Seems there is no dust boot or grease nipple. Can it be added?

BalladeSports

The service life on our compliance bushing is very long. Since the bushing is so large we didn't feel the need to add a rubber grommet or dust boot. Expected service life should be 3 plus years with out any maintenance.

gptoyz

nice work guys!!!

I'm always excited about shops willing to fill a much needed void in the market!

Just about the only plug and play spherical/monoball option for the compliance bushing...a la carte!

@starchland...service of any spherical should be way more user friendly than the factory rubber or any solid bushing option. I'm guessing it would be remove c clip, poke bearing out, replace with new bearing, put c clip back in and set eccentric back to position - done!

gptoyz

nice work matt!! the most impressive part of the lap is that I know that the car is very steerable it's not a time attack car in disguise of a street car; rather a street car capable of some crazy times; with a pretty damn good driver @ the helm!

btw, with the spherical kit does that mean once you find your sweet alignment, you can just index the eccentric cam adjusters and realign by just putting the adjusters back in place?

S2kAndTheAnt

Have you guys considered selling sets of already installed bushings in the control arm with the possibility of trading in the old control arm as a core? Just a thought.

BalladeSports

Yes we have thought about this service, however the problem lies with possibly receiving bent control arms as core exchanges. Sometimes arms look completely fine but are bent by a couple degrees. This is why we wrote this DIY to show how easy it is to install if you have access to a hydraulic press. Simply press out and press in.


Ballade Sports
13851 A Better Way #11D
Garden Grove, CA 92843
714-902-9027
www.balladesports.com

Bullwings

Blacktrax is doing this service using your own control arms - IE, you ship out your control arms to them, and then they ship them back to you with the sphericals installed - you don't have to worry about getting someone else's bent control arms. You get your own bent control arms back (if anything) LOL.

They claim to do measurements to ensure specs of the control arms, not sure how simple or difficult this is to do, or what tools are needed.

https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/topic/110...al-suspension/

gptoyz

Agreed

It's very difficult to tell a marginally bent control arm compared to a good donor.

And if it's bent, it will of course affect caster and camber values.

Also depending on the degree of wear and condition of the existing bushing it will affect the time it takes for removal.