Whiteline Caster Bushings?

[squirlz]

This may be a stupid question but i dont know the answer. Which way do the bushings go in? Does the off center whole go to the inside or outside of the control arm? I thought they came with directions but mine did not. Also i checked the website and could not find the answer. Forgive me for a stupid question but without being on the alignment rack i dont know which way to put them on, i would rather only install them once.
Thank you.

[hpro123]

Outside. You need to "move the end of the control arm" a bit forward so that caster is increased. You can achieve this by having the offset on the outside.

[squirlz]

That makes sense, but to me moving it from side to side was toe but that can be offset by the tie rods. I was a little confused.
Thank you for the response.

[dr.fowler]

I gotta say that it's been a night and day difference since I put those in. I still don't get how these bushings advance the caster, but they made a major difference in my car's handling and in overall stability. It's definitely a fun mod. You get them in yet?

[Dudeman258]

Where is the best place to pick these bad boys up?


Dudeman

[Shawn B]

Originally Posted by Dudeman258

Where is the best place to pick these bad boys up?

Dudeman

The Whiteline and Superpro caster bushings are the same thing. I *believe* that Superpro manufactures them for Whiteline. I also recall that veilside180sx confirmed that information. And he knows his sh*t.

You can buy the Superpro units from Forum Vendor Chuck at Bolt-In-Bars.

I have them also, but I installed them when I changed out my entire suspension, all at once. Struts, springs, dust boots, Progress RSB, Superpro caster bushings, etc...etc.... I am also pretty clueless on suspensions, therefore I cannot really tell you what effect they had on my suspension.

I bought them because they were inexpensive, and Choaderboy2 (Mike Kojima) raved about them as a superb modification. So, I figured good enough for Mike, might as well do them.

Installation was relatively easy, even for a mechanically inept guy like me. The only bitch was that one of the OEM bushings would not let go of the lower control arm. We (I was helping a friend do the work) had to remove the arm and get brutal on that bastard to get it off. IIRC, that involved a BFH, some penetrating WD-40 type stuff, a vise, much cursing, and a peice of spare metal pipe.

[squirlz]

I got mine in and it was fairly easy, but i also had the whole control arm out and did ball joints, and replace both bushings at the same time. I do not know the difference, my 200sx had Tein S-Techs (it was like that when i bought it) on it with stock shocks so i have nothing to compare to. I also just put the stock suspension back on to get it on the ground until the rest of my suspension parts show up.

[Shawn B]

Originally Posted by squirlz

I do not know the difference

Well then, like me, you'll just have to trust Mike Kojima's expertise and review of the product, and he loves them.

There is a thread within the Suspension Thread on the product. It is Mike and bunch of really, really suspension-smart dudes discussion the bushings. The thread is from the other forum, from the Racing Section.

I really could not even properly evaluate my own suspension, except that I like it and I know for sure that folks with real expertise rate it as a "very good" basic set-up for DD and auto-cross. I have AGX, Hyperco Gen II, Koni bumps, Progress RSB, Superpro caster bushings, Cusco FSTB, AT RSTB, OEM dust boots, B14 wheels and ES100 tires. It "feels real good" to me by my ignorant "seat of the pants" evaluation. It is a thousand times better than stock from a performance standpoint and bottoms-out less than stock. It is harsher than stock, but I don't give a flying rats ass, the "bang for the buck" performance was what I was after.

However, Mike Kojima and Dave Coleman actually tested my suspension set-up in SCC and they liked it quite a bit. Chriscar, Kojima, and a bunch of other really smart folks worked with the Hyperco Engineers to develop the springs specifically to work with the (relatively) cheapo AGX's, as well as CSK's.

Sorry to ramble, but that is my entire point in most threads on suspension subjects. I want to know what the experts think. Most folks, including myself, are not knowledgeable or experienced enough, nor do they have the test equipment, to properly evaluate suspension components.

Originally Posted by squirlz

my 200sx had Tein S-Techs (it was like that when i bought it) on it with stock shocks

Holy ultra-uber-no-travel-beyond-crappy-suspension Batman!

Did that set-up suck as bad as I think it did?

Originally Posted by squirlz

I also just put the stock suspension back on to get it on the ground until the rest of my suspension parts show up.

A brilliant decision to go back to stock for now. The "engineer" for those Tien travesty of stupidity springs should be kicked in the scrotum and summarily fired.

What set-up did you decide to buy?

[Dudeman258]

Thanks for the extended info Shawn, I didn't realize these guys were so highly regarded, time to throw em in the old b13. Also heading to read your bit on them, its been a while since i did my complete read-through of your thread (shame on me).

Edit: Well just went around the block reading about these bushings. Looks like chuck no longer sells these, so I have to find them elsewhere, too bad. I hate navigating these sh*tty websites!

Dudeman

[squirlz]

I had the stock suspension from the GXE so i just put it back on for now. The Teins could not have been worse, a total ricer ride, but it did look good sitting still.

I ended up going with GC coil overs (325F, 300R), Tein Pillow Ball mounts, AGX's, ME Rear mounts, Koni bumps, Bolt on Bars bump steer eliminator kit, whiteline caster bushings, ES control arm bushings, ES rear trailing arm bushings, Cusco FSTB, and stock sway bar off of the 200sx for now. I am still waiting on the Cusco mounts and STB so thats why the stock in on for now. You can see the progress in the link in my sig, it is not done yet and i do not want to drive it until i finish some other things up and get the suspension on.

Edit: My sig is not working for some reason, here is the link any way.

[Dudeman258]

Ok I HATE to ask this, but can someone give me a link to where you bought the bushings? I looked for a few hours, at this point I'm stumped. The Superpro site is very poorly put together. If I look up Sentra etc, i get to a bunch of part numbers, yet none of them coincide with any of the numbers on the forum. Especially the black 90 compound that mike expressly suggested (of course that was Whiteline)...Any help greatly appreciated! Thanks guys.


Dudeman

[squirlz]

I got mine from JGY because they had them in stock. If they do not wait until they do. I have heard horror stories about them getting items off of back order but i did not have any issues at all. Fast shipping and great service, even though the lady taking the order new -6 about cars.

[Dudeman258]

Cool, thanks for the heads up. Those are not as rigid as the black 90 compound though are they? Just trying to figure if it is even possible to get the tightest ones anymore...

Dudeman

[Shawn B]

Originally Posted by Dudeman258

Thanks for the extended info Shawn, I didn't realize these guys were so highly regarded, time to throw em in the old b13. Also heading to read your bit on them, its been a while since i did my complete read-through of your thread (shame on me).

Edit: Well just went around the block reading about these bushings. Looks like chuck no longer sells these, so I have to find them elsewhere, too bad. I hate navigating these sh*tty websites!

Dudeman

I love to discuss suspensions when there is a base-line of intelligence in the thread. The base-line being that folks are doing things that are educated, and I created/assembled the Suspension Thread for just that reason. I abhor folks asking "y0 wut sPrinZ dRop iT liKez iTz hoTTz i wAnt 2 slaMz mY riDe tiZZite."

And thank YOU in return. You just pointed out another item to be updated in the Suspension Thread. If Chuck no longer sells the Superpro bushings, I would like to find a source to cite in the thread to point folks in the right direction.

Maybe Serban or Greg V should/could/or do carry either the Whiteline or Superpro bushings?

Originally Posted by squirlz

The Teins could not have been worse, a total ricer ride, but it did look good sitting still.

I ended up going with GC coil overs (325F, 300R), Tein Pillow Ball mounts, AGX's, ME Rear mounts, Koni bumps, Bolt on Bars bump steer eliminator kit, whiteline caster bushings, ES control arm bushings, ES rear trailing arm bushings, Cusco FSTB, and stock sway bar off of the 200sx for now. I am still waiting on the Cusco mounts and STB so thats why the stock in on for now. You can see the progress in the link in my sig, it is not done yet and i do not want to drive it until i finish some other things up and get the suspension on.

Edit: My sig is not working for some reason, here is the link any way.

Muhahahahahaha on the Tiens comment.

Nice new set-up, very, very thorough of you.

Originally Posted by Dudeman258

Ok I HATE to ask this, but can someone give me a link to where you bought the bushings? I looked for a few hours, at this point I'm stumped. The Superpro site is very poorly put together. If I look up Sentra etc, i get to a bunch of part numbers, yet none of them coincide with any of the numbers on the forum. Especially the black 90 compound that mike expressly suggested (of course that was Whiteline)...Any help greatly appreciated! Thanks guys.


Dudeman

See....that is helpful information once again. I really do not have the time to search out every little bit of suspension information.

If we (yes, we) find out a new source, I'll credit you and the person who provides it. It sure as hell won't be "my" information, it will be a contribution to The Suspension Thread from you and this thread.

I'm really just a glorified librarian. ......

[Dudeman258]

Thanks for your cooperation and endless support Shawn.

Ok here is what I have come up with, excuse me if this is redundant but I just want it to be sorted.

So it appears only a handful sell the caster bushings.

The three retailers I have found (with help from squirlz and Mike) are:

JGY:

(Part #: KCA303) (70 rate compound)
JGY: http://www.jgycustoms.com/serg20/suspension.htm
@ $49.25 (Pair+ship)

Tien, The current distributor for Superpro (Whiteline) bushings:

(Part #: SPF1340K) (80 (+- 3) rate compound)
http://www.tein.com/products/superpro_price_05.html
@ $58.00 (Pair+ship)

Global Performance Products:

(Part#: KCA303M) (90 rate compound)
http://www.globalperformanceparts.co...9_794_839.html
@ $83.21 (Pair+ship)

I have yet to find more (will update if I do!).

Now the other thing that has clearly been nagging me is: Are either of these the "Race" edition of the busings. Apparently the bushings came in three compounds (70,80,90):

Originally Posted by choaderboy2

I would get the new issue black colored harder 90 durometer KCA303M. The NVH issues are hardly any greater. This is harder than the Energy bushing. Best of all, its easy to install. Its not on the web sight yet so you have to ask for it.

Seriously, I think every tuned SE-R Street or otherwise needs some of these.

Originally Posted by choaderboy2

The one I was involved with is a higher 90 durometer. This came out of testing on SE-R Cup cars. I did run the dog car on an Autocross course quite a bit to judge turn in. (sometimes lots of caster is not good for autrocross for complex reasons, but its usualy way past the 3.5-4 degrees you get with these) The new part number is KCA303M. The old KCA303 is 70 durometer and so is the SPP.

Originally Posted by octotat

i have confirmed with superpro the duro rating of the spf1340ak is 80 +/-3

so it would fall in the middle of whiteline's kca303 (70 duro) and kca303m (90 duro)

-chuck

Ok so there we have it. All three types and the prices seem to coincide with the compound , not happy about the price of the "RACE" bushings, wonder if it is really worth it (Mike suggests it so..)

One last note, Mike did mention that they do not list the race bushings on the website. Superpro has a lot of listings on their online catalog: http://www.tein.com/products/superpro.html

Here is a screenshot of the page for the Sentra bushings:



As you can see they have a few different variants of the bushing including:
SPF1339K : 1 x Offset 1 x Standard bushing, to adjust caster settings
SPF1340AK: 2 x Offset bushings, Increase positive caster both sides
SPF1340K : 2 x Offset bushings, PS increased DS decrease caster

Difference between the last two?? Maybe you can see what I don't Shawn..?

Let me know if anything is missing. I really don't want to drop $90 on these bushings but its looking I might have to.

Dudeman