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Saber
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« on: February 25, 2009, 04:21:27 PM » |
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I just installed the new bushings today. They indeed made a difference in the ride characteristics, but they were not a very easy install as I soon found out.
On of the other folks here installed these bushings and also used hardware obtained from Home Depot. So naturally I followed his pictoral soon to find out, the CV Shafts do not permit enough clearance to install the bolts from top to bottom.
Needless to say I learned that Scion has chaged a few things on the 2006's and I figured that I had better share them with you guys so you are aware of what they have done. Mine is a late 2006, (really 2007), model. These models have a larger sway-bar in the front and they have been slightly reconfigured to improve the handling abilities of this vehicle.
Did they still use the crappy soft rubber gooshers? Yes they did, but when you take them out they perform a neat little trick of mis-aligning the hole for the bolt to go through. Plus because the stock sway bar is a little more substantial, it pops up just close enough to the CV Shaft that you cannot manuver the bolt with all of the new goodies on it to go through the lower control arm. So you are forced to go from bottom to top to get all of this relocated properly.
I am also a former Mechanic, so there also needs to be a slight change in the hardware required to do this job, and it will require the use of a 4 inch C Clamp to get the job done correctly. Once you have the bolt, washers and bushings in place with your Nylon Lock Nut only finger tight, clamp the lower control arm and the sway-bar together. Apply a little extra pressure to it and remove the nylon lock nut. While holding this in place place a lock washer under that nut then replace the nut tightening it just enough to compress the lock washer, then release the C Clamp. Once you have done this, the bushings will be compressed enough to where you are very unlikely to ever have to re-tighten them.
For those of you who are doing a little extra romping around, I would suggest adding some blue Lock Tight to the threads during this point of the assembly. I would have rather installed a hole bolt and castle nut with a cotter pin, but I could not find anything like this available.
As for the stockers, who just wanted to have the crappy gooshers replaced, (mine were cracked and nearly history), following the install will serve you fairly well, unless of course you run into the same issues that I did, then I suggest that you read this section over fairly carefully.
As for Energy Suspension, well all I have to say is that you produced a great product and its too bad that Toyota did not contract with you folks from the get-go on this part. I would have made such a huge difference in their product's ride it's unreal! Keep up the good work guys, I also own a TC and we will be talking again!
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