is the noise transfer with the solid aluminum bushings really bad?
is it worth the extra money for the polyurethane subframe bushings?
Its all depends what you consider bad. This is a 100% personal preferance call. Your best bet it to get a ride with someone who has alum bushings and judge for your self.
Personally I would never street drive a car with alum bushings, but then again alot of people would say I’m a pussy for saying that so. Its really up to you.
but then again, would it be a terrible idea to insulate these solid bushings with a tiny gasket, much like the ones found on the tops of the struts/shocks?
just to slightly reduce this?
Jesse… any comments?
I’ve got polyurethane inserts in the rear and there is significantly more vibration/noise, but also much better response engaging each gear.
I would guess aluminum might be a tad extreme for a daily driver for most…but hey like Hurricane said - personal call.
Im going to re done mine next year the subframe, was wondering the same thing about aliminum vs poly thing to…maybe some people that have ridden in both can shed some light on it!
Definitely something I’d be interested in hearing as well…as I’m trying to figure out what to use on my car.
I’m wondering where people are getting these S13/S14 polyurethane subframe bushings from… I’ve never seen them for our cars. I’ve seen them for Z32’s (Energy suspension has them).
I need to do mine as well, since I hate these subframe inserts I have now.
Also, I think the solid aluminum bushings are a bit too harsh for street driving.
Could you not use r32 skyline bushings? In my understanding they share most components of the rear subframe with the s13
Hey guys I have solid aluminum subframe bushings… the ones that uhave to drop the subframe and pop the old ones out for.
Personally i notices maybe a 30% diffrence as far a ride comfort. But it is alot louder, you hear the diff doing everything, you hear any play in the upper or lower arms, driveshaft, half shafts and so forth (if there is any play), i havent really noticed a huge diffrence in road noise, but you hear every noise in the subframe, but i also have pillow ball RUCAs.
They have practicly eliminated wheel hop, and gear enguagement is amazing.
i wouldnt really base your opinion off my car, but i like em. If you really want i can take you for a spin in mine if u wana meet up some time and you can hear what im talking about.
All I could find is this:
SPF2687K Rear Cross-member Insert Enhancement Mounts
SPF1800K Rear Cross-member Supplement Washers
SPF1799K Rear Cross-member Supplement Washers
And they are all subframe insert kits… not replacement bushings.
Only thing I could find (on google) were the MMR Direct polyethelyne (not polyurethane) bushings for the S13/S14’s. It’s basically a hard plastic that won’t break, so you get stiffness of aluminum bushings but won’t get the squeaks/creaks that you normally would with the aluminum ones. However, they are just as hard and the ride will be just as harsh.
I’ve heard you can use Z32 poly bushings and you have to either remove a bit of the length, of get a different nut. I think i’ll go this route when I do mine.
i heard energy suspension is bad.
some of the busings fucked up or something
read this on zilvia
just had a quick glance, i could be totally wrong.
i dont mind the full aluminum at all… but my car is not for testing… i have some serious play in my rear wheel bearings right now and other stuff going on that makes other noises…
Nismo sells a subframe poly bushing set for both S13 and S14.
Ahh… I didn’t even think of searching for Nismo stuff 
S14
S13
imo, these are well worth the money
cant be anyworse then having full track set up in the rear
also i have energy suspension inserts for 10 bucks brand new if anyone wants em
The only bad thing i have heard about energy suspension is their T/C rod bushing. It used to be a one piece and did not allow any flex or deflection causing the bending of the tension rod brackets. This was corrected by making these bushings 3 piece.
Nismo bushings!!! yea anyways… so yea i got these for my car cause my bushings are shot… i’ll let you guys know how they feel once they’re in. i’ve heard there just the same as stock…
Jon
keep in mind, they’re talking stock 20 years ago, not stock 200,000km later when you’re driving it now, so the difference should be fairly drastic regardless.