Gadgetech

My car has 190k miles on it and from talking to my Mom (previous owner) it hasn't had the bearings replaced nor bushings possibly. The car tends to wander around and follow ruts in the road and the steering wheel has a little play in it. I checked the lug nuts and they seem okay and she recently had new shocks and struts replaced. I just got the car so this may be normal but I'd imagine with that many miles on the clock it needs some attention that her garage didn't take care of. She had it serviced at a Goodyear and I'm not sure how thorough that particular shop is, maybe they can give me a detail of work done. I'm new to dealing with a car that has this many miles and while I'm not afraid to try the work myself, I'm unsure where to start.

Gadgetech

Wow, a lot of views but no opinions?

ZombieHuntr

190k?! Stay from from Goodyear. They are a tire shop. Not a mechanic shop. Find a real automotive repair shop. Sheesh...... anyway, at that milage definitely start lookin at replacing all the rubber bushings in the suspension. Energy suspension makes a master bushing kit for our cars for around 150-200 bucks or so. It will definitely tighten up that loose feeling. But it will also stiffen up your ride a good bit to. If you don't want a rougher ride, just start replacing the bad bushings one by one with OEM pieces.

ZombieHuntr

Oh, and asset of subframe connectors and a upper strut tower brace will also help a lot considering its a vert

SKAR

Check the front end and good tires are a good idea.

Gadgetech

Yeah, I don't have a great opinion of Goodyear, I'll be looking for an Indy. Thanks for the info I'll check that out. Tires will be due in probably 4k or so and this is just a project so I am probably okay with stiffening it up, it handles like a dog now.

ZombieHuntr

if you go with the energy suspension kit, choose black bushings instead of red. they tend to squeak less.

for some reason, once the lube that is used to install the bushings starts to wear down, the red ones start having a slight squeal. I've personally never experienced this squeal with the black ones. I don't know why it's like that. Alot of my friends that are in the import crowd have experienced the same things with their civics, integras, etc....

craig71springsport

Check the up and down along with pushing the car side to side. That will give some indication on the suspension in terms of possible squeaks. It'll let you hear the shocks/struts if they have anything to say. Replace all your fluids, give the tyranny and coolant system a good flush. Thermostat maybe too, if its in easy reach. This might sound like alot but its good to be thorough.

SKAR

The black bushings have graphite in them which makes them quieter.

Id do tires before bushings, bushings install will cost about the same as tires if you can't do it yourself.

Gadgetech

A guy that I work with and I can get in his Dad's garage and lift it up so bushing changes shouldn't be too bad. I'm up for doing it myself.