Hello, my 2000 Maxima needs to have both lower control arms replaced due to cracked bushings. I'm considering having ES bushings installed instead of replacing both with new Moog's. I already have ES bushings in my trailing arm and my stabilizer w/o any issues. My Maxima has KYB Excel-G's all around with H&R sport springs so nothing too exotic. Anyone able to provide long-term feedback on the ES control arm bushings? I'm not looking to improve handling, instead, I value long-term reliability paired with no new noises. Thanks in advance

 

i would say any ES bushing has at least as much longevity than an OEM bushing if not more. I am in your camp with using quality parts and getting longevity, so you have my vote to go for the ES control arm bushings, but maybe look around here in any threads where people used them and see if there were any updates over the years,

i remember reading a few members give feed back on a scale of effectiveness and impact/change the control arm bushings didn't do much improvement wise as other handling modifications and other ES bushings., so they were not that common and popular from what I remember, but if you have the Trailing Arm bushings with ES, just go for it. always go with Black too i think they are superb to red.

 

Thanks for the feedback Prophecy99. First thing I did was search here for feedback and while there are some positive and negative experiences referenced, they were from many years ago. Ideally, someone with 50-100K miles on the ES LCA bushings will hopefully chime in regarding their experiences

 

I had ES bushings. Pulled them off after about a year due to movement of the control arm (the OE bushings are bonded so the arm cant move fore/aft. The ES bushings are simply slipped in) allowing metal on metal contact between the arm and large washer on the front bushing. Im not the only one that had this issue. The OE bushings are perfectly fine if you dont allow oil leaks to happen.

 

slvr2KSE5
Thank You as that's the type of feedback I've been looking for. Much appreciated.

 

I've been running ES bushings for over a decade with no issues, took a lot of the slop out of the steering. as long as you properly lubricate them they work fine.

I also replaced the pink links when I did the front bushing install



the only Energy Suspension bushings I had issues with was the subframe bushings https://www.energysuspensionparts.com/7.1116

 

The pin link bushing is crap, just like on a 4th gen. Don't use it. Mine failed in a few years time.

 

I've had no problem with mine. all their bushings have lifetime warranty as well. I have all their suspension bushings and motor mounts plus Nisformance uppers which t hey don't carry anymore

 

The cross member bushings failed too.
Lifetime warranty means I'd have to replace it, repeatedly, for the rest of my lifetime.

The engine mounts are still going great at least.

 

the suspension bushings made a good difference in the feel of the car so I stuck with them.

 

i think Cmax around here said his ES engine mounts got some play after a decade or so, and may have even replaced them with ES again, i loved the engine mounts when I did them, felt like a new car.

 

Mine were installed in 2008. Mileage wise, less than 50k.

 

every 10 years i could live with. engine mounts are easy.
lucky. mine made noise after about 5k miles.

 

all the bushings are pretty easy. I only had a hard time with the rear trail arm bushings. I took the whole rear beam to a shop to have them pressed in. next time I'm making my own install tool.

for some reason the front beam to chassis bushings they make aren't to great, I kept those factory.

 

The ES LCA Bushings I installed were great and were still in excellent condition once I damaged the LCA hitting a culvert at 45-50 mph. They had been installed for approximately 4 yrs. They transmitted a little bit vibration than the rubber bushing but it wasn’t horrible. I want to now why you seem to be eating up LCA bushings? A possible oil leak?

 

red or black version?

 

red. same failure mode as yours. only the RH side though. LH looked perfect.

no odd fitment or tension with new control arms with bonded rubber bushings.