Rochester

iTrader: (3)

Like the title says.

Energy Suspension makes 2 sets of Front Sway Bar Bushings, 22 mm and 23 mm. I asked them which one for a 5.5 Gen SE 6MT, and they told me to go measure my bar.

Not that I have a problem measuring my bar...

But seriously, which one is the right set? I suppose it's possible the SE model has a thicker FSB, but I never heard of that. For those of you in the know, can you educate, please?

CMax03

iTrader: (3)

Se 23mm
GLE/GXE 22mm

PulsarGTS

iTrader: (6)

Co-sign.

Nelsito65

Telling you to go measure your bar is a little too personal, if you ask me....

Good info to have when my time comes to replace my bushings.

Gemner

iTrader: (4)

I think all 02-03 are 23mm, with the 22mm being for 00-01 non SE models. Either way it doesnt matter since yours is an SE

rroderiques77

iTrader: (45)

23mm.

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

Thank you all. I appreciate it, guys.

mist max2000

iTrader: (16)

i know im years late on this but from all ive read and seen.. gle/gxe 22mm and se is 23mm ... know that doesnt help at this point but update when you replace them if you feel anything

vball_max

iTrader: (5)

yup.

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

Struts, boots, strut mounts, rotors and pads next Spring... and I figured since the FSB end-links are prone to wear and failure, (and since the kits from Moog are so inexpensive), I'd replace the end-links and FSB bushings.

With all that happening at once, I'm sure to feel a significant change in my ride, but there's no way any of that could be identified as the result of installing ES bushings on the front sway bar.

mist max2000

iTrader: (16)

very true.. sounds like a fun spring project.... next spring my projects are stillen classic lip kit, cm headers, vfacII/widebando2,... stuff is eating at me just sitting in storage lol....damn snow

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

Guys, I'm bumping this thread because I started a similar discussion in a noob's thread, and think I blatantly post-whored it. Feel bad, but anyway... the info is better positioned here.

On EnergySuspensionParts.com, there are 2 sets of bushings. The first are the ones we've discussed here (22mm and 23mm variations, made by ES.)

But what are the second set? They aren't ES parts, they're MOOG OEM Replacements. 2slow says they are "split", so you don't have to slip it down the bar. He's a smart guy, so, um, OK.

My questions:

• Does the bar have to be disassembled to put both sets these bushings on?
• If the bar has to be disassembled, does that likely mean replace the end-links too?

And the big one:

• Little rubber bushings on the FSB... does it really matter?
• Has anyone done this, and could you tell... or was it just peace of mind?

...and these:

n3985

iTrader: (36)

The ES bushings are also split, you pry it open with your fingers and put on the bar.

General instructions:
1. Jack up car and remove wheel
2. Remove sway bar endlinks
3. 10mm ratchet to remove bushing bracket
4. Slide off bracket, slide off bushing, grease new bushing, and reverse.

They make a small difference in my opinion, nothing drastic and probably work well in conjunction with other mods.

Scottwax

iTrader: (8)

What you tend to notice with urethane bushings and upgraded end links is quicker steering response.

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

If I can feel the FSB bushings, then I'm all for it, Scott. I'm pretty sensitive to my ride.

But "upgraded"? I don't know about that... after a lot of discussion, I came away thinking MOOG end-links are basic OEM replacements, regardless of how beefy they look.

http://forums.maxima.org/5th-generat...-upgrades.html

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

OK. I ordered these just now:

http://www.energysuspensionparts.com...sp?prod=7.5125

To be installed in April, along with all the other stuff collecting in the corner this winter.

I'll bump this thread again after they show up, or after installation. $25 after shipping... it's a pretty cheap gamble on whether or not there's value.

2slow

iTrader: (6)

To continue this side conversation, each bushing is one piece, but is split to allow it slide around the bar. Some examples:





The only method to avoid these split bushings is to use a multi-piece bar like this (splined, straight center section):

2slow

iTrader: (6)

It also just so happened that I had an extra set of the MOOG bushings (I didn't realize they came in pairs). The pic is from my phone, so it sort of sucks.



http://www.energysuspensionparts.com...od=MOOG-K90587

nismopc

iTrader: (3)

Hmm...



That sure looks like an old 23mm was replaced with a new 22mm...

...reason I noticed this is because I had to return the unkown name 22mm to Federated Auto Parts and buy the Moog 23mm from Napa because Federated didnt carry 23mm.

2slow

iTrader: (6)

That was a random picture used to illustrate how sway bar bushings are typically split. In this case they were from a VW of some kind, and likely worn out judging by the differences in ID.

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

I think you made your point... they are certainly split.

2slow

iTrader: (6)

I thought that would be conclusive. And no, I didn't plan to have these on hand for this exhibition.

ridinwitha35

iTrader: (1)

Ha, I made the same mistake. FWIW, when I pulled my old ones, they weren't even noticeably worn....so throwing new ones in probably did very little, if anything.

2slow

iTrader: (6)

Mine were pretty good condition when removed; it was unnecessary, just like your replacement.

Oh, Rochester, apply liberal quantities of your favorite grease to the bushings' ID.

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

Will do. But seeing as it's winter, these will just get added to the pile-of-stuff until April, when my mechanic will be doing the suspension & brake install.

SteveB123

iTrader: (2)

Silicone grease come with the bushings.

vastmax

iTrader: (18)

all the stuff you're talking about doing is very DIY, very very simple...

CMax03

iTrader: (3)

Wow that's all good and dandy but I really encourage folks to learn to work on their vehicles themselve, cause that money spent on paying the mechanic coulda been money spent on another mod......

knight_yyz

iTrader: (40)

I work in the automotive industry and we assemble 6 different front end cradles for different manufacturers and every FSB we add to a cradle has a split bushing. Reason is, it takes 3 seconds to install, whereas a non split bushing would take to long. When every second counts in manufacturing, a split bushing saves money during assembly.

And if i am not mistaken, all the splits point towards the front of the car.

knight_yyz

iTrader: (40)

Drive the short distance to my place, and I'll help you with the install, save you a ton of money on labor. Then next time you'll know how to do it yourself.

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

That's very tempting, Ray. I wouldn't mind hanging out for a day with you and Ghost54. I'm sure Jim could be talked into driving down with a few bottles of wine. And I did just get my enhanced NY drivers license that's supposed to get me over the border without a passport.

If I didn't already have access to a trusted mechanic, I'd be all over this offer. It's still 2 months away... so I'm going to hold off on an answer for a little bit, if that's OK.

But it could be a fun day. Hmm...

2slow

iTrader: (6)

Good idea ; and I never express myself with emoticons.

With a decent set of tools, the FSM and some time (~1 day for your suspension refresh) this work isn't too bad.

knight_yyz

iTrader: (40)

I can also call a bunch of the local TO members to come by, ghost is like 5 minutes away from me so I'm sure he'd be all over this too. But ya, if you want to give me a shout in a few months when you are ready we can compare schedules if you feel like it.

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

This actually has a strong possibility to it. My wife thinks I should drive up, just because it would be a fun little adventure. She has a good point - I've never run across another modded Maxima down here in Rochester. It would be a rewarding road trip... drive up before sunrise on a Saturday, hang with other org members, mod my car, and crash at a local Marriott or something. Heck, find a nice restaurant, and the steaks would be on me.

A few months away, yeah, but now I'm thinking this would be fun.

How do you do this stuff, Knight... do you have a lift? What do you do about alignment after the strut install? And what do you do about unintended repairs? By that I mean, 3 of my 4 calipers are original.

knight_yyz

iTrader: (40)

I do it the old fashioned way. I have a driveway, and a box full of tools. LOL no garage, just a nice 3 ton jack and some good quality jack stands. I actually haven't done struts or springs, I usually refer people who ask me to do that to go to a garage because of alignment issues. But I have noticed on my car that all the times I have had my suspension apart I have never really needed an alignment.

I have no problems doing the end links, bushings, and brakes though, 99% of the time it isn't much work.

I do get nervous sometimes doing really big jobs, especially on a maxima, because if something does brake I don't have access to a bunch of jobbing shops that can deliver me parts on demand and Nissan parts departments are never open on Saturday or Sunday.

If your calipers are not seized, I usually just take the rubber seals off the slider pins, clean them up best i can, re grease them with special CRC synthetic grease, and put everything back together. I've done brake jobs on about 8 local maximas, and I've done mine at least 4 times, so it's a piece of cake for me.

There have been one or two occasions when I had to send someone home without repairing the car because of complications. One guy with a 6th gen asked me to replace his RSB. The car was only a few years old so I figured the end links would come off no problem. The damn things wouldn't budge, so he went home and bought new moogs and came back the next week. We hacked off the old ones and installed the progress RSB with no problem after that.

If you feel nervous about it, don't worry, I won't be offended if you take a pass on it.

avciugroar

Hey! The noob has a name! k?thx

I forgive you for being a *****, no harm no foul

I could use all the information given to me. I'm saving this page becuase I could use this info in the near future.

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

Oops. That's usually not something I say. Don't like the word noob... shouldn't have used it. I apologize and will try harder to avoid it in the future.

"I forgive you for being a *****." Classic. We should have t-shirts made up with that slogan.

NissanTun3r

iTrader: (3)

I replaced my fwb bushings around 130k miles and I felt no difference in steering response. This was a very easy mod though, my old bushings didn't even look that bad. Oh well it never hurts to replace an old part...

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

The ES Bushings arrived today. 23mm, in black. They came with a little tube of grease, also branded as an Energy Suspension product, which is kind of interesting. And yes, as you can see here, they're split open for installation.

For now, they just go on the corner pile, affectionately known around the house as Dad's Car Parts.

vastmax

iTrader: (18)

all their bushings come with grease...