Energy Suspension Front Control Arm Bushings for 96-00 Civic

Energy Suspension Front Control Arm Bushings - 1996-2000 Honda Civic (EK)

If your EK Civic hops off the line, wanders down the road, or just feels vague through the front end, worn factory control arm bushings are a prime suspect. After 25-plus years, that soft OEM rubber is cracked and sagging, and it lets your front control arms shift around and throw your alignment off under load. This Energy Suspension front control arm bushing set presses right into your existing 96-00 Civic control arms and swaps that tired rubber for polyurethane that actually holds everything where it belongs.

What You Get Out Of It

The payoff is a front end that wakes back up. Your steering gets quicker and more direct, the car tracks straighter, and a lot of owners point to this exact set as the thing that finally killed their wheel hop on hard launches. On a light, swap-friendly chassis like the EK, tightening up the front control arm bushings is one of the cheapest ways to make the car feel connected again, and it holds an alignment way better than worn rubber ever could, which really matters if you're lowered or putting down more than stock power.

Important: You'll Probably Want The Front Shock Bushings Too

Read this before you order, because it trips people up all the time. This set covers your front control arm bushings, upper and lower, but it does not include the front shock mount bushings. If you're planning to refresh the whole front end while you're in there, you'll also want Energy's front shock bushing set (16.8102), since most of the work to reach one is the same work to reach the other. Knock both out at once and you're not pulling the same parts apart twice. If you only need the control arm bushings, though, this set on its own is exactly right.

What's In The Set

The Honest Tradeoff On Ride

Let's talk ride first. Polyurethane is firmer than rubber, so you'll feel and hear a little more of the road than you did on those worn-out stock bushings. On a car you actually drive hard, that extra connectedness is the whole point, it's what you're after. But if your EK is a comfort-first daily, just know that going in so it's not a surprise.

What To Expect On Install

Now the install. The toughest part of this job is pressing the old rubber bushings out, because on a car this age they're usually seized right in there, so a press or a quick shop visit makes life a lot easier. One specific heads-up: the upper control arm bushings on these can be a really tight press, tight enough that the inner sleeve can make the bushing stretch a bit as it seats. That's normal for this part, not a defect, so just take your time and get them seated all the way. And use plenty of the included Formula 5 grease on every bushing, because a control arm bushing rotates a lot against its shell and it'll squeak down the road if it goes in dry. If a squeak ever does pop up later, it almost always just needs a re-grease.

Red Or Black, Your Call

Red and black are the exact same polyurethane at the same hardness, so it's purely a color thing. The black is graphite-impregnated to be a touch more self-lubricating, while the red is just the look. Pick whichever you like.

Specs

• Part numbers: 16.3114R (red), 16.3114G (black)
• Type: front control arm bushing set, polyurethane
• Material: Energy Suspension Hyper-Flex polyurethane
• Includes: Formula 5 grease
• Fits: presses into your factory control arms
• Covers both sides (left and right)
• Does not include: front shock mount bushings (see 16.8102)
• Warranty: 7 years / 750,000 miles (per manufacturer)

Fits These Cars

• 1996-2000 Honda Civic, non-Si (EK)

Note: Energy Suspension Hyper-Flex polyurethane front control arm bushing set for the 1996-2000 Honda Civic (EK), non-Si, part numbers 16.3114R (red) and 16.3114G (black). Presses into your factory front control arms and replaces the worn OEM rubber with polyurethane for quicker steering, straighter tracking, reduced wheel hop, and better alignment retention. Includes upper control arm bushings, lower control arm bushings (front and rear position), metal sleeves, and Formula 5 grease, and covers both sides. It does not include the front shock mount bushings, which are a separate set (16.8102), so add those if you want the whole front end refreshed in one go. Red and black are the same hardness (black is graphite-impregnated to be slightly more self-lubricating, red is a color choice). Polyurethane rides firmer and a bit louder than stock. The old rubber is often seized in on cars this age, so a press helps; the upper bushings can be a tight press and may stretch slightly as they seat, which is normal. Grease every bushing thoroughly on install to prevent squeaks. Backed by Energy's 7-year / 750,000-mile warranty (per manufacturer). Confirm your car is a 1996-2000 non-Si Civic before ordering. One set per order.