S2000 Under The Hood S2000 Technical and Mechanical discussions.

DIY Compliance Bushings

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Old Mar 8, 2012 | 02:25 PM
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Default DIY Compliance Bushings

Couldn't find a post about replacing these with the Mugen bushings ($100 for the pair)... Im sure the Mugen Bushings are the same as factory, however you can not order a compliance bushing from Honda, you must buy the entire lower control arms. These bushings wear out, crack, and break over time making caster not adjustable very far and the car too lose caster in corners. You can feel it in the steering at full lock, the wheels feel like they shift over. What happens is the metal of the cam bolt seizes to the metal of the compliance bushing and the bolt will not come out, which will not allow you to remove the control arm and replace the bushing. You will need an alignment when done. This is not hard to do, granted you have or have access to things such as a press and such but it is somewhat time consuming.

Things needed
Saw Zaw
Blades for cutting heavy metal
Basic Tools
Shop Press

Before you get started here, you need to order Replacement Cam Bolts from Honda, The top cam bolt eccentric nut is not required to change, there's no reason for you to put a wrench on it, if you do you will strip it. You will also need access to a press if you don't have one. It would also be wise to mark all the eccentrics in the location they were prior to disassembly so that the alignment will be closer for you to go to a rack.

New bushings
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Broken Bushing
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Disassemble the suspension

Front Lower control arm bushing camber bolt remove, sway bar end link remove (make sure the car is level as in both sides are off the ground), Coilover Bolt, and the 2 bolts that hold the ball joint to the hub. Now for the Compliance Bushing, take the small long bolt out. The cam bolt with eccentric will most likely be seized to the bushing, there's no point in even turning it, it's not threaded to the top nut with eccentric.
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Now take the saw zaw with a metal cutting blade and cut above the compliance bushing and below it so the control arm will be free.
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Pictures of the top cam nut
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Random pictures of the old parts put together
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Now take the arm and press the bushing out. I pushed the rubber out first and then the metal ring. This allowed me to re use the metal ring to press the new bushing in. I would not press the new one it but the rubber. I just made the distance the metal ring stuck out even on both sides.
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New Bushings In
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New Cam Bolt
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And then re-asymbyle make sure to put the eccentrics on the sides they cam off of not 180 off. Then Get a alignment and enjoy.
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d1eb6ffb.jpg (259.2 KB, 261 views)
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Old Mar 8, 2012 | 04:51 PM
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Great job. Added to FAQ
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Old Mar 8, 2012 | 05:09 PM
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Cut 3 arms out in the last two weeks myself.
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Old Mar 8, 2012 | 06:09 PM
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From: Hernando MS
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Originally Posted by Billman250
Cut 3 arms out in the last two weeks myself.
LOL this is your idea
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Old Mar 9, 2012 | 12:49 AM
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BTDT










And all by hand......

Drive your S2000 year round, through rain, snow and salted roads and you will end up doing this.
According to Honda NL, this is normal, as you're not supposed to drive through rain

About the front lower compliance bushing: I hope you lined it up right.
There are 2 triangles (arrows) molded in the rubber, that are supposed to go north-south (or east-west - no picture to check and I forgot) to have the "compliance" in the right direction.
The rubber in the compliance bushing isn't a uniform shape, it has thinner parts that allow more movement in one direction.

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Old Mar 9, 2012 | 04:01 AM
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Yeah great bit to add.. What subframe is that looks different I guess maybe since its out of the car.
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Old Mar 9, 2012 | 04:52 AM
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I can see your arrows Learnerspermit your bushings are in correct "timing"
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Old Mar 26, 2012 | 07:53 AM
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I'm having trouble pressing new compliance bushings in. When I press down on it, it gets cocked. Any suggestions?
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Old Mar 26, 2012 | 09:29 AM
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Your fixtures need to be parallel and spread across both faces evenly when you press. If you're uneven at all the part will tilt.
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Old Mar 26, 2012 | 10:33 AM
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I have it setup as press plates, LCA, new bushing, old hollowed out bushing, a steel bar. So, just try it again and make sure that everything is square?
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