Rear suspension bushings-Daily Driver

[Sarki]

After returning home from a 3K mile road trip in my 02 Daily driver w/200K miles on the odometer, thinking it’s time to replace rear suspension bushings.
Felt a bit of side to side movement in the rear at highway speeds, nothing serious but enough to notice.
Will probably do the front upper & lower control arm bushings as well but starting at the back.
Normally stick with OEM but see many have gone Whiteline or Energy Suspension.
Can you guys that have replaced the rear bushings chime in with your thoughts & experience regarding which bushings you went with and if you’re happy about selection.
Again, this is my daily driver so looking for comfort and durability more than anything else.
Thanks!

 

[Brian.]

Daily driver here too (wifes), and I did the Whiteline route where ever possible after watching Timmy and Seans videos. So, SO much better ride than the loose and worn out OEMs, easily the single best thing I've done to improve the ride quality. We have 2 years and ~10k miles without issue or complaint.

If you're a DIYer and cost conscious, then OEM isn't for you. If you're not going to press out and in the bushings yourself, then Maybe going OEM might be a better option from a cost perspective (vs hiring a shop to do the press work).

The link in my sig has all the info on what I did as well as links to the pertinent videos.

 

[Sarki]

Daily driver here too (wifes), and I did the Whiteline route where ever possible after watching Timmy and Seans videos. So, SO much better ride than the loose and worn out OEMs, easily the single best thing I've done to improve the ride quality. We have 2 years and ~10k miles without issue or complaint.

If you're a DIYer and cost conscious, then OEM isn't for you. If you're not going to press out and in the bushings yourself, then Maybe going OEM might be a better option from a cost perspective (vs hiring a shop to do the press work).

The link in my sig has all the info on what I did as well as links to the pertinent videos.

Exactly what I’m looking to hear Brian!
Watched Timmy’s video on this already and do my own stuff so good to go.
Another project for the 20 ton HF press helps recoup the cost after buying it for the rear axle shaft seal replacement��
Looks like Amazon has a complete Whiteline bushing kit for just under $175 so if going with Whiteline I’ll go that route.
Will take a look at the links you have listed as well, the more info the better.
Thanks for the input!
BTW……I’m a T100 guy as well. Started with a 96 SR5 Auto 4x4 and now have a 95 SR5 4x4 5 Speed manual……THE best trucks!

 

[mtbtim]

Exactly what I’m looking to hear Brian!
Watched Timmy’s video on this already and do my own stuff so good to go.
Another project for the 20 ton HF press helps recoup the cost after buying it for the rear axle shaft seal replacement��
Looks like Amazon has a complete Whiteline bushing kit for just under $175 so if going with Whiteline I’ll go that route.
Will take a look at the links you have listed as well, the more info the better.
Thanks for the input!
BTW……I’m a T100 guy as well. Started with a 96 SR5 Auto 4x4 and now have a 95 SR5 4x4 5 Speed manual……THE best trucks!

Since you mentioned my videos, I figured I'd post them here.


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[Brian.]

Don't forget the panhard bar bushings, I still had a slight side to side sway with all the rest of the bushings done (well, not body, those are still OEM) that was resolved when I did those 2.

 

[RandyBobandy]

White lines and energy suspension are great in the rear and easy to install, no noticeable increase in harshness like people say they get with poly front bushings

 

[brillo_76]

Yes I have a few bushings in need of Replacement. Good to have some feedback on the rear axle alternative bushings.



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[Twisted Sid]

I'll go against the tide here and say if it's a daily driver, go with rubber for comfort. I had polys in the rear and just swapped over to rubber and the difference in road noise and harshness is very noticeable. I want to swap the front control arms over to rubber (energy suspension now) because I don't want the hard ride in the front

 

[Sarki]

White lines and energy suspension are great in the rear and easy to install, no noticeable increase in harshness like people say they get with poly front bushings

Thanks for chiming in as any harshness was one of my concerns since this is my DD.
Big thanks!

 

[Sarki]

I'll go against the tide here and say if it's a daily driver, go with rubber for comfort. I had polys in the rear and just swapped over to rubber and the difference in road noise and harshness is very noticeable. I want to swap the front control arms over to rubber (energy suspension now) because I don't want the hard ride in the front

Interesting……yeah ride harshness is the enemy as that gets tired real quick.
Doing my best to find the right path forward as I usually put 15-20k miles per year on 4TR and another 10K on veh #2.

 

[Brian.]

Thanks for chiming in as any harshness was one of my concerns since this is my DD.
Big thanks!

That's a hard thing to identify. Everyone has different experiences, different levels of tolerance, and different levels of vehicle build. I would Never use the term "harsh" to describe my 4runner with Poly bushings all around, my wife either (and yes, I've brought this up with her while driving specifically because of all the comments I've seen).

But, just because I don't think it's harsh, doesn't mean you will feel the same way. Just because Twisted Sid thinks it is harsh, also doesn't mean you will feel the same way. Only you will b able to decide. For me, it was simply a money thing, I could do every bushing (they all more than needed it at 192k miles) with poly for less than just the front or just the rear in rubber. It's no more harsh than my 2018 Ford Transit van (roughly the same), less so than our now-sold 2018 Mazda3 or the VW Jetta TDI before it. Really hard to compare to my old T100 as the Substantial difference in handling takes most of the attention, but it may be a little firmer (not harsh, just firmer) than that with it's 2 decade old OEM bushings.

 

[RandyBobandy]

If you’re really worried about harshness you can do poly in the uppers since the factory bushings aren’t replaceable, and poly in the pan hard with oem rubber in the lowers which will probably contribute the most to harshness. Toyota only sells new upper control arm assemblies and aftermarket rubber is junk so I’d put poly in those.

Harshness is definitely subjective, I have full poly suspension and poly motor and transmission mounts and to me it’s real smooth and I daily drive it, others would say that setup isn’t even street drivable

 

[Sarki]

Appreciate all the feedback and thoughts regarding ride quality.
Like most who have offered their feedback, I’m a car guy through and through so feedback from the road is important to me. I’m not looking for a marshmallow type ride.
Totally correct, each person has a different definition of harshness. I lean towards the more feedback the better, just want to avoid anything jarring or excessively harsh as that gets old quick when on a road trip.

 

[rdruss]

Got complete set of SuperPro bushings for the rear of my 4th gen, just finished painting lower arms tonight. I bought new uppers/lowers and removed the bushings, but not OEM. Will install come spring.

 

[JustTroItIn]

I can't speak for new OEM feel but I replaced the very worn bushings on my limited with Whiteline and have been very happy with the handling results.

 

[3bears]

folowing as I need to do my bushings this summer. prob 50 50 pavement and gravel roads so harshness would be no fun. I also have to replace one lower control arm as it is bent, from previous owner

 

[Sarki]

Pulled the trigger on Whiteline bushings. They offer all bushings for the rear suspension, total came to $175 or so.
Figured it would be a good winter project as I have 06 Saab SportCombi 2.8 w/6 speed manual for winter use.
Will update thread once I find the time to complete the install.

 

[alia176]

Again, this is my daily driver so looking for comfort and durability more than anything else.
Thanks!

I'm late to the party so I didn't read the entire thread but this statement points to OEM bushings. They last a long time, as you found out! Nothing else will be as long lasting, period.

Whitline bushings have a good rep and the cost is prolly better than OEM.

 

[Sarki]

Finished replacing the rear lower control arm bushings.
What an improvement as the originals were toast.
Next up, upper arms and panhard.
Any install tips?

 

[Brian.]

Finished replacing the rear lower control arm bushings.
What an improvement as the originals were toast.
Next up, upper arms and panhard.
Any install tips?

2nd verse, same as the first....

Panhard was the easiest of them all. I had issues with the rear control arms and getting the axle to line up nicely, so plan on using a comealong or heavy duty ratchet strap, probably a jack or two and maybe a prybar to help get everything lined back up again.

And wow, that's crusty... glad I bought a TN truck and live in GA