What can be done as far as bushings go for the front suspension to make it as smooth as possible with aftermarket shocks/springs? (Illuminas). It's a 97 and I live in pothole-ville Canada, there must be some wear and tear after 8 years...

 

Stick with stock bushings if you want a softer ride. Most everything offered from aftermarket is gonna be poly and that gives a much stiffer ride.

 

What should I be looking for to find out if they're shot?

 

Cracking, creaking.

And for the record, the aftermarket poly bushings aren't that harsh.

If the OEM suspension is 1 and a full race suspension would be a 10, the bushings took my H&R/Tokico setup from a 5 to 5.25 on the scale. It's barely noticeable.

 

Replace the strut mounts with new OEM. Mine (on winter susp) are currently toast and my strut moves about 1/4" up & down at will.