The Verdict.

Thill has 15 turns, 11 of which are left-handers. After just two track days, the right rear, outer side bushing in the lower H-sport adjustable arm failed. Heck, I wasn't even able to finish the second day! I do drive it hard, but what's up with that?

Do I really need to use urethane bushings? If so, that kinda sucks.

Does anyone make better bushings to fit those arms? Seems to me the stock H-sport bushings are garbage. Might be ok for play time, but not when pushing the car 95% or more.

By the way, the first symptom showed up when the car acted like it wanted to step out while pushing hard into left hand turns, but it held the line ok, probably because I'd just stomp on the gas pedal. LOL

Phil

 

Thanks for the post Monkey. I have been planning H-sport upgrades myself. Maybe there is something better. Have you done Thill opposite (clockwise) direction? I am thinking of going Sept. 24th.


Andy

 

Andy, I have not done Thill backwards, but I want to. We've been trying to get a motorcycle day run backwards for some time, and one organizer just did it recently and riders loved it.

I don't think there is anything wrong with the H-sport bars, just the bushings don't seem to hold up well, or maybe it's a fluke? The bars themselves are beefy as hell, I like 'em.

The 24th is NCRC, eh? I'm a member (#997) and plan to be there, too. We should hook up...

Phil

 

Monkeyboy,

How long have you had your H-sports? Maybe contact H-sport and ask for the bushings to be replaced or go with urethane. Could be a defective bushing, then you won't need to replace them with urethane.

 

That would be great! I am member #770 car #373. It's great to get some more MINIs in the club.


Andy

 

Hmmm, I have the h-sport rear adjustable lower control arms, I've done 6 track days so far with them. Should I be concerned?

 

You mean the competition rear camber links?

DANG! I just ordered a set!!

What was your camber settings?
did you have both upper and lower links?

thinking now I should of gone with the heim joints!

see below: Thilll turn 11, I/m currently running with NASA folks.

 

Kmickey, Check out NCRC. Sept 24 clockwise at Thill. NCRC is a great club. Lots of events, great people, not enough MINIs:smile:

Andy

 

Monkey Boy,

Have you talked to H-Sport yet about the bushing failure?
This is the second such failure I've heard of.
Although I've ordered a set of control links, I don' t think I'll install them just yet. I have a track day at Infineon on 8/22 and 9/11. A failure like yours at turn 10 would likely send you into the concrete wall.
I'm trying to get a hold of the person I ordered them from but all I'm getting is "Sorry, that mail box is full..."

Asodestrom,
Yea, I'd like to join NCRC. I'll join and come out and play!
I track with another friend who has a MCS at NASA events - lots of fun, action and learning.

 

There was a post a few weeks ago about a bushing failure...If I'm not mistaken the mfg's reply was something like "they are meant for street driving?"

 

Hmm, how'd I miss that?

 

i just looked on the h-sport site and they are polyurethane and meant for street and track use.

 

Monkey-Boy,

Did you lube the bushings and if yes with what brand/type lube?

 

Hey, just installed the H Sport lower control arms and springs... Haven't had any problems... yet.... What is the recommended lubriction for the bushings and how often... What about the sway bar bushings too...

 

18k miles on my H-Sport control arms, including several Dragon, Auto-x and Track events, with no bushing problems. Perhaps your bushings are an isolated event, or you did not lubricate them correctly.

 

I have just the lower links. Set at -1.5 degrees. I have about 1k miles on them, maybe a bit more.

For sure! The car will want to step out, which is not a good thing. I have not talked with H-sport yet. But I will install urethane if need be, even make my own if I have to.

Yes. H-sport includes the lube, that's what we used.

One of my concerns is how thin the bushings are. I suppose they're fine for street, but it sure didn't take long to split off one half with track duty.

 

Hey, if you get the chance to disconnect the bars for a lookee, I'd like to know how well yours are holding up. Hopefully mine is a fluke...

The bushings were lubed properly.

 

I think this might ring a bell:

http://www.webbmotorsports.com/forum...opic.php?t=446

 

Yup. That was it. Thanks.

 

I just received my H-Sport rear sway bar and it did not have any lubricant with it. Does anyone know what to use, or should I just wait for them to ship the orig package next week?

 

Since you probably want to go for a spin, and not wait until next week, I'd go pick-up some lithium grease for a couple bucks. The stuff they'll send to you is really sticky! With the zerk fittings, and if you have a grease gun, lithium is a great way to go for re-lubes as well...

Good luck!

 

Just to be clear. I don't know for sure what lube was used on the arms. I do know we used the lube included with the h-sport sway bars for that install, but I do not recall if the bars came with lube. Sorry if I mislead anyone. I can tell you the bushings had plenty of lube.

and a quote from the h-sport web site about these arms, as an FYI. I would expect the bushings to hold up based on this statement, wouldn't you?

I have a call into them.

 

Interesting news on this story.

Hsport responded very professionally to my problem, and I was told there was a revision to the design on the bar ends, and a different bushing. My task is to see if I have the new or older version (I suspect I have the older one by their description.) And they're supplying new bushings in the meantime.

Those who bought the arms and are worried about using them, I encourage you to contact Hsport and discuss your concerns. I'm under the impression that they care very much to deliver a fine product and are willing to support us and our concerns.

I'll let you know where this ends up.

Phil

 

Thanks Phil for the update!

Please do share how one is to discern if they have the older or newer bushing design.

Thanks again.

 

Okay.....

I checked my control arms today which I installed one and a half weeks ago and the driver side lower bushing split apart......the car was never driven on the track or in an auto-x. Everything was greased up.

I talked to Randy who I bought the arms from. He was just back in the shop after some health problems and he will talk to H-Sport. Most likely there is a batch of bad bushings out there since he has his installed for over two years without anyh problems. I will have mine replaced by arms with heim joints. After driving just on the highway and those failling already I do not trust those rubber bushings anymore.

Alex