Whiteline VS OEM LCA bushings

[Brian3676]

Anyone have the Whiteline LCA bushings? I know they do not advertise it, but from my searching and looking at specs, the GX470 is the same bushings as the 4Runner. Kit #W53312.

I'm sending my coils off to Radflo for rebuild, figured in the down time may as well rebuild my LCAs. Lots of 3rd gen write ups and results , but not much on the 4th gens. I can do OEM bushings also, they are about the same cost. My main concern is the Whiteline just uses washers, vs OEM is pressed on washers with ridges to hold the alignment. I found 1 review where someone mentioned they struggled to hold the alignment but not much else.

Thanks!

 

[SoSoRunner]

Anyone have the Whiteline LCA bushings? I know they do not advertise it, but from my searching and looking at specs, the GX470 is the same bushings as the 4Runner. Kit #W53312.

I'm sending my coils off to Radflo for rebuild, figured in the down time may as well rebuild my LCAs. Lots of 3rd gen write ups and results , but not much on the 4th gens. I can do OEM bushings also, they are about the same cost. My main concern is the Whiteline just uses washers, vs OEM is pressed on washers with ridges to hold the alignment. I found 1 review where someone mentioned they struggled to hold the alignment but not much else.

Thanks!

I don't have experience with the Whiteline lca bushings but I do have the energy suspension lca bushings, they're pretty much the same thing though. Last I checked you can't just order the oem lca bushings you need to purchase the whole lca and it's like $400. [MENTION=140870]Offcamber[/MENTION] has the WL kit maybe he can chime in.

On my energy suspension bushing kit I was required to reuse the oem liners and just remove the oem rubber part of the bushing and replace with the PU inserts. My alignment has been good, I have taken it out hard wheeling and haven't noticed anything off with the alignment.

 

[Brian3676]

I have done many many energy suspension bushing kits back in the days of working at a shop. I dont really feel like dealing with the hassel of installing them. Specially since you have to cut up the sleeve and then re use it on the 4Runners. Thats why I was intrested in the Whiteline bushings. Ill toss some OEM bushings in there before I go the Energy route.

Yes, the OEM ones are available. About $40 each. You can not get the ball joints, but I got some 555 ones that are made in Japan and from what I understand, OEM Toyotas.

 

[Brian3676]

Think I'm going to give these a shot.

http://siberianbushing.com/catalog/TOYOTA/USA/4 RUNNER/UZN210/-

My 4runner sits in the garage 95% of its life and only goes camping or to play offroad so it's really not a big risk for me other than the $100. I'll post up the results!

 

[Offcamber]

[MENTION=140870]Offcamber[/MENTION] has the WL kit maybe he can chime in.

That's correct. I used the #W53312 kit. As long as your factory bushings come out cleanly and the LCAs aren't corroded, they work really well. The tolerances are tight, but I was able to press them with a shop press. I installed them 4 months ago - including a few weekend wheeling trips and 10 days on dirt in Utah - and the alignment has held so far.

 

[SeanWN86]

Think I'm going to give these a shot.

http://siberianbushing.com/catalog/TOYOTA/USA/4 RUNNER/UZN210/-

My 4runner sits in the garage 95% of its life and only goes camping or to play offroad so it's really not a big risk for me other than the $100. I'll post up the results!

Don't bother. Get OEM arms. The first ones lasted how long?

The lower ball joint isn't available separate. And all the alternatives suck.

I'm currently saving up to do my lower arms.
Again.

 

[Brian3676]

Since I already got the other ones on the way I'll see how they do if they fail I'll try the Whitelines. Thanks for the response!

My arms are perfect shape, zero rust or corrosion. Yes, to some it's better to get new arms. This is my weekend wheeler and camping rig. I honestly dont really care about the money. $100 vs $400. I like tinkering around and seeing different stuff. If the bushings stuck and the Senki 555 ball joints fail (I'm confident they will be fine, I have used dozens of them on other cars) then I'll get some OEM arms. I have been in the car game a long time, working at dealership and performance shops. Although I dont do this anymore, I am well aware of the risks and varying options of this sort of stuff. While east coast or rust belt vehicles I know need new arms sometime, and people who would have to pay labor on this its cheaper for a new arm, that is not the case for me.

Thanks everyone for the input, I'll post up the results!

 

[DZNUTS]

The tolerances are tight

An old school truck, freeze the new bushings. The cold will cause them to shrink just enough, you may be able to get away without needing a press [emoji6]



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[SoSoRunner]

I have done many many energy suspension bushing kits back in the days of working at a shop. I dont really feel like dealing with the hassel of installing them. Specially since you have to cut up the sleeve and then re use it on the 4Runners. Thats why I was intrested in the Whiteline bushings. Ill toss some OEM bushings in there before I go the Energy route.

Yes, the OEM ones are available. About $40 each. You can not get the ball joints, but I got some 555 ones that are made in Japan and from what I understand, OEM Toyotas.

You're absolutely right the ES bushings were a nightmare to install LOL, if I were to do it over again I'd go with the WL kit. :wacko:

 

[blackoutt]

In for seeing your experience with the siberian bushings! I sucked it up and did the painful energy suspension install into OEM arms after 2 or 3 iterations of other failed garbage and am happy with it but it there's an easier way for next time I'm in.

 

[SAC-CA-Runner]

Since I already got the other ones on the way I'll see how they do if they fail I'll try the Whitelines. Thanks for the response!

My arms are perfect shape, zero rust or corrosion. Yes, to some it's better to get new arms. This is my weekend wheeler and camping rig. I honestly dont really care about the money. $100 vs $400. I like tinkering around and seeing different stuff. If the bushings stuck and the Senki 555 ball joints fail (I'm confident they will be fine, I have used dozens of them on other cars) then I'll get some OEM arms. I have been in the car game a long time, working at dealership and performance shops. Although I dont do this anymore, I am well aware of the risks and varying options of this sort of stuff. While east coast or rust belt vehicles I know need new arms sometime, and people who would have to pay labor on this its cheaper for a new arm, that is not the case for me.

Thanks everyone for the input, I'll post up the results!

Definitely curious as to how these come out. I'm looking to update my whole front end shortly since I have the NJ bearings and CVJ Axles. May swap out my SPC UCA's to either Dobinsons, Icon or TC, but my LBJ are leaking so I'm on the fence of just going TC (non-long travel) or going a route like you with replacement bushings and LBJ's since I'm a CA 4R and my LCA's are in great shape. Mod day in Oregon??? HAHA

 

[Brian3676]

Old bushings and ball joints are out. Bead blasted the arms. Primed and got 1 coat of POR 15 on. Will do 2nd coat tomorrow Nd let cure overnight.

New bushings from Siberian showed up. Look like good quality. Made in Russia. Dont see that often. Using my caliper they measure the same as OEM Toyotas did, so I assume they should press in good.

I'll post pics when I start the reassembly.

 

[Brian3676]

Well, they looked good. Got them pressed in and I found a flaw in the fitment. You can move the control arm maybe 3/16" front to back. I sent them an email. We will see what they say.

You can see the gap in the picture. This is not at the same time. That is the gap when the arm is pushed in each direction. Push back it seats against the opposite bushing collar, forward and it seats against the other collar. If that makes sense Haha.

 

[Brian3676]

Removed Siberian bushings. Installed Whitelines. Confirmed they fit perfect even though whiteline does not list them as fitting. They are not tapered like OEM style, they press in the entire way of the sleeve. Makes it slightly bit more difficult for installing, but not by much. I stuck them in the freezer for a few hours and they pressed in place nicely. I'll finish installing when my coils get back and its aligned.

As a side note for anyone installing these, make sure you install them in the correct direction. They look like they are non directional, but look close and notice that one side of the sleeve has more poly sticking out than the other.

I'm considering drilling them out for a grease fitting. Anyone else did this? [MENTION=140870]Offcamber[/MENTION] or [MENTION=134758]SoSoRunner[/MENTION]

 

[Offcamber]

Removed Siberian bushings. Installed Whitelines. Confirmed they fit perfect even though whiteline does not list them as fitting. They are not tapered like OEM style, they press in the entire way of the sleeve. Makes it slightly bit more difficult for installing, but not by much. I stuck them in the freezer for a few hours and they pressed in place nicely. I'll finish installing when my coils get back and its aligned.

As a side note for anyone installing these, make sure you install them in the correct direction. They look like they are non directional, but look close and notice that one side of the sleeve has more poly sticking out than the other.

I'm considering drilling them out for a grease fitting. Anyone else did this? [MENTION=140870]Offcamber[/MENTION] or [MENTION=134758]SoSoRunner[/MENTION]

I considered it, but decided to leave them alone and added the bushings to my maintenance list. Given the number of poly bushings, uni-balls, and Johnny Joints now on my 4Runner, I figured "What's a few more to grease, right?!"

 

[Brian3676]

Well got it all finished. Whitelines fit and work great. I got 555 ball joints from Napa under the Atrom brand. Clearly higher quality than the Moogs I had in before. The Moogs had maybe 10k on them and were already getting loose.

Truck feels solid, but my alignment is way off even with the cam bolts in the same position as they were with the OEM ones. Alignment Wednesday then out to play!

 

[Morphyne]

Don't bother. Get OEM arms. The first ones lasted how long?

The lower ball joint isn't available separate. And all the alternatives suck.

I'm currently saving up to do my lower arms.
Again.

That's not true. Moog makes great OEM replacements. I have have 50k+ on a set and am getting ready to install another on my 2nd t4r

 

[Brian3676]

That's not true. Moog makes great OEM replacements. I have have 50k+ on a set and am getting ready to install another on my 2nd t4r

Moog has always been great for me. Never had any issues with them. That said, on my 4runner the Moog ball joints didnt hold up to well. Maybe on a moderately lifted/daily driven truck they would do great. On my 3" lift off roaded 4runner they didnt do to well. The Atrom from napa is a 555 made in Japan ball joint for about the same price as the Moog. Out of the box you can see it's a higher quality part. Just something to consider next time!

 

[Morphyne]

I like the idea of 555s. Japanese made gear always seems to be better