front poly LCA bushings

I think it's time for new bushings up front. I understand though that putting poly bushings on the front LCAs will cause steering issues on the 2011 cars and the early 2012. My car is August 2012 build.

Does this still hold true? About the arms causing issues? Should I just stick with the hydro bushings? I don't track it at all.

I had the stock bushings replaced with Energy Suspension urethane bushings on my front control arms a few months ago. The steering response and turn in were noticeably sharper, improving the driving experience. I say do it. The job is a PITA but the result is worth it.

just change the entire lower control arm, you can buy the gt500 ones for less than $150 each from Tasca Ford and you will get all new bushings and ball joints. Its pretty simple to change them out, couple hour job.

Badd GT said:

just change the entire lower control arm, you can buy the gt500 ones for less than $150 each from Tasca Ford and you will get all new bushings and ball joints. Its pretty simple to change them out, couple hour job.

Click to expand...

Right, I can get those, or a set of arms from Steeda for $300 too, with their ball joints and a new hydro bushing. But I want to know if swapping out to the poly bushings are 1) worth it and 2) will they mess up my steering like they do on the 2011 cars?

I don't care about how hard a job is, I have a very well stocked shop and am not daunted by the task.

pass1over said:

Right, I can get those, or a set of arms from Steeda for $300 too, with their ball joints and a new hydro bushing. But I want to know if swapping out to the poly bushings are 1) worth it and 2) will they mess up my steering like they do on the 2011 cars?

I don't care about how hard a job is, I have a very well stocked shop and am not daunted by the task.

Click to expand...

I swapped to BMR control arms (and K-member) a while back with poly bushings. Nothing but an improvement over the softer stock rubber units. You do have to get down there and lube them every once in a while but definitely worth it. I'm not sure what steering issues have come up with the 2011 cars as really that doesn't make a lot of sense but I have had no adverse reactions from the car except maybe a little more NVH, but I don't hear much of that over my exhaust.

No one has answered the OP's question.

Call Vorshlag and ask them. They have the info on when the factory changed the firmware in the EPAS rack.

2011 Mustangs are undrivable with aftermarket bushings installed on the front control arms. Early 2012s are the same, but I don't know when the firmware was changed.

Please post your findings back here.

thank you Sky Render. I'll give them a call and ask.

I don't have a problem doing the job, i'd just hate to get it done and then find I have to buy a BOSS rack or go back to hydro bushings after the hassle. Which is the only fix for this btw.

from Vorshlag ... it was definitely fixed in the 13/14 cars, but they don't know when the firmware was changed in the 12 cars. He said he hasn't seen a 12 car exhibit the EPAS issue, but they don't know for sure when it was changed. Instead of buying a $1k Ford racing rack, you can now buy a normal rack from a 13/14 car to fix the issue.

Sounds like i'm just sticking with hydro bushings a la GT500 arms, or the Steeda arms to be safe.

pass1over said:

from Vorshlag ... it was definitely fixed in the 13/14 cars, but they don't know when the firmware was changed in the 12 cars. He said he hasn't seen a 12 car exhibit the EPAS issue, but they don't know for sure when it was changed. Instead of buying a $1k Ford racing rack, you can now buy a normal rack from a 13/14 car to fix the issue.

Sounds like i'm just sticking with hydro bushings a la GT500 arms, or the Steeda arms to be safe.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the update! Anyone have an idea of the cost of a new '13/'14 rack? (I'm thinking of doing this swap myself so I can get rid of those squishy bushings up front. It's the only stock part of my suspension remaining.)

Sky Render said:

Thanks for the update! Anyone have an idea of the cost of a new '13/'14 rack? (I'm thinking of doing this swap myself so I can get rid of those squishy bushings up front. It's the only stock part of my suspension remaining.)

Click to expand...

cheap actually. go to car-part.com and look them up. They have 17, 18, 19, 20" wheel options. They seem to go for like $75-400

'14 rack from a Roush car, 28k miles, $250. Their like an hour from my house.

EDIT: just noticed you said new rack, my bad. That I don't know the cost of.

I'm looking at this same swap. Does swapping a used '13 or '14 rack into a 2011 require any coding? Is this a straight plug and play swap with no electronic issues?

It's a straight swap. No coding or programming necessary. The rack programming is self contained and just sees a CANbus vehicle speed and steering angle input.

@modernbeat, thank you very helpful.

Do the 2011+ have a heatshield on top of the hydro bushings?

GriffX said:

Do the 2011+ have a heatshield on top of the hydro bushings?

Click to expand...

They do if the final TSB was performed.

bringing this thread back up from the dead. I still haven't replaced my front LCA bushings, still unsure, lol Most people say that late model 2012s are safe, but what's a late model build?

My car was built 8/2011. I read that 2013 cars were made available spring of 2012, so around March I'm guessing. Anyone know when they might of started 2013 MY production and if my August built car would be considered late, or build 2?

Think I'm just going to roll the dice and order the poly bushings. Worst case scenario, I need a new rack

Would I gain anything from a boss rack?