ECS Polyurethane Bushings Review
ECS Polyurethane Bushings Review
First off, don’t make the same mistakes I did. Being the overly frugal guy that I am, I tried to save a little money and opted only for the bushings and associated hardware without the ECS supplied control arms. I contacted a shop prior to purchase and they told me they could press the bushings in for about $60 which would have saved me around $80. However, once I took the bushings to them, they asked me for instructions on how to press them in.
They knew they were polyurethane beforehand. Needless to say they didn’t instill much confidence so I took it to another shop and they pressed them in for $100.
In the end, cheaping it out wasn’t worth the hassle, I should have bought the complete kit with the control arms and bushings pre-installed.
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-ecs-par...hane-bushings-with-hardware/008692ecs01-02kt/
Installation:
Not easy on the DSG! Mistake number two I made was not checking the fine print before purchasing. There’s a footnote within the installation pdf stating the following:
“If your vehicle is equipped with a DSG or Tiptronic transmission, you will need to unbolt the pendulum mount from the subframe and swing the engine forward to remove the LH control arm bolt. This hardware is also “Torque to Yield” hardware, and replacements can be found..."
That’s the only aspect that made this a time consuming install. I wish I could provide in-depth details on the process, however this one was out of my wheelhouse so I had my father install the kit for me. My recommendation, check the installation pdf on their site before moving forward.
Performance:
A few reasons you may want to invest in this kit:
-Eliminate wheel hop. I was not experiencing any prior to install so I cannot personally speak on this aspect, however poly control arm bushings are known to help reduce wheel hop.
-More road feel/feedback through the chassis and steering wheel. This is the main reason, really only reason, I decided to purchase this kit and thankfully it delivered. Stock, the steering wheel has perfect weight in sport mode, but was way too numb for my liking. With these bushings you feel more of the road and overall get more of a mechanical feel from the car.
-Improved response. Very marginal difference here, if you’re solely purchasing this kit in expectations of achieving razor sharp reflexes, you may end up disappointed.
Verdict:
Pros
+ More communicative/sportier feeling through the steering wheel and chassis. Biggest factor.
+ I did not notice any increase in NVH. No squeaking from the bushings either.
+ Good value.
Cons
- I imagine the SuperPro Control Arm kit with anti-lift geometery is probably the better performer. But, it’s $800! If you don’t mind swinging that much for control arms I would suggest going in that direction.
- Don’t go in expecting a night and day difference out of your steering response. It’s very marginal.
- This negative comes down to preference. Of course feeling more of the road also means your car is going to feel less isolated. You will experience more vibrations, bumps, etc. It’s not jarring and still comfortable, but it’s enough of a difference whereas this mod won’t be for someone that wants a plush and luxurious ride.
Overall
I’d rate these a solid 8/10, I’m happy with the purchase as they delivered on my expectations. Remember the theme of this build, more feels, for that the ECS bushing kit was a step in the right direction. I knocked a couple points off for the install and not being as advanced as the SuperPro’s.
Note
After install my car now pulls to the right. On straight roads I have to turn my wheel slightly to the left in order to stay on a straight path. I had my alignment checked at a VW dealership and the front was spot on. Oddly, it was the rear that was slightly out of spec. From what I was told it was the toe and wouldn't be causing the car to pull right. It also wasn't far enough out of spec to warrant fixing. Any thoughts on this?
