PRODUCT DETAILS
Energy Suspension Rear Lower Control Arm Bushings for 1988 Civic and CRX
If your 1988 Civic or CRX feels loose in the back end or the rear alignment will not stay put, the rear control arm bushings are a prime suspect. After 35-plus years the factory rubber has cracked and sagged, which lets the rear control arm shift around and throws your rear alignment out under load. This Energy Suspension set replaces that worn rubber with polyurethane that holds the arm where it belongs, so the rear end stays planted and your alignment stays honest. On a light EF chassis, tightening up the rear bushings makes a real difference in how settled the car feels through corners.
These are the rear lower control arm bushings, and the fitment here is specific, so read it before you buy. This set is for the 1988 Civic and CRX with the stamped-steel rear control arms. The 1989-1991 cars use a different cast-iron control arm and need part 16.3104 instead, not this one. Getting that right is the difference between a bushing that presses in and one that does not fit your arm. Polyurethane also shrugs off the oil, road salt, and grime that rot rubber, so once these are in they stay tight for the long haul.
What these fit, and what they do not
This is the single most important thing to confirm on this part. Energy makes two different rear control arm bushing sets for these cars because Honda changed the rear control arm partway through the run.
| 1988 Civic / CRX | Stamped-steel rear arms, use this set (16.3111) |
| 1989-1991 Civic / CRX | Cast-iron rear arms, use 16.3104 instead |
If you are not sure which arm you have, check before ordering. The two are not interchangeable.
Specs
| Type | Rear lower control arm bushings, polyurethane |
| Material | Energy Suspension Hyper-Flex polyurethane |
| Position | Rear lower, left and right |
| Coverage | One set covers both sides |
| Warranty | 7 year / 750,000 mile, per manufacturer |
Color options
| Color | SKU | Part number |
| Red | ENS-163111R | 16.3111R |
| Black | ENS-163111G | 16.3111G |
Red and black are the same polyurethane at the same hardness. The black is graphite-impregnated so it is slightly more self-lubricating, the red is just the color. There is no performance difference, so pick whichever you want.
Fitment
| Year | Make | Model | Notes |
| 1988 | Honda | Civic | Stamped-steel rear control arms only |
| 1988 | Honda | CRX | Stamped-steel rear control arms only |
This set is for the 1988 cars only. For 1989-1991 Civic and CRX, you need 16.3104, the cast-iron arm version. Do not order this set for an 89-91 car.
What to know before you buy
First, the honest tradeoff. Polyurethane is firmer than the soft factory rubber, so you will feel and hear a bit more of the road than you did when these were new. Energy is upfront that poly adds a little NVH versus rubber. On a car you enjoy driving, that is a fair trade for a tighter, more controlled rear end. On a comfort-first daily, just know the ride firms up slightly.
Second, grease them well, this is the part people skip and then regret. A control arm bushing rotates a lot against its metal shell, so a dry poly bushing is exactly what squeaks later. Coat every contact surface with polyurethane-safe grease on install, and grab an extra tube of Formula 5 if you want insurance against running short. Do that and these stay quiet for years.
Third, do the rest of the rear end while you are in there. If you have the rear control arms apart to press these in, it is the right time to address the rear trailing arm bushings or anything else worn back there, since you have already done most of the labor to reach them. This rear control arm set is also one of the components in Energy's 88-91 Civic/CRX master bushing kit, so if you are refreshing the whole car rather than just the rear, the master kit covers this position along with the rest, and it sorts out the year-specific arm question for you.
1988-1991 Honda Civic Base
1988-1991 Honda Civic