Energy Suspension Bushings

The best polyurethane bushings for a street-driven performance build are a complete master kit matched to your chassis. Energy Suspension Hyper-Flex master bushing sets for 1997–2005 Honda Civics cover the whole car in one box, while application-specific sets — like a front control arm bushing set or a rear sway bar bushing set for 2003–2009 Subaru Legacy and Outback — target single wear points. Always match the kit to your exact year and model.

What polyurethane bushings do

Factory rubber bushings flex, crack, and deflect under load — which shows up as vague steering, wheel hop, and handling that changes as the car ages. Polyurethane replaces the soft rubber at control arms, sway bars, and other pivot points with a firmer, longer-lasting material that holds suspension geometry true. You get sharper turn-in and bushings that resist oil and road grime far better than rubber.

When shopping, choose between a full master set and single-application kits. A master set like Energy Suspension's Hyper-Flex line covers an entire chassis at once — control arms, sway bars, and related mounts — while a single kit fixes one problem area, such as worn front control arm bushings or a clunking rear sway bar bushing. Kits in this collection come in red or black polyurethane; many owners pick black for a stock look and red for a visible performance touch.

Energy Suspension

Energy Suspension is the name most associated with polyurethane bushings in the import aftermarket. The brand's Hyper-Flex system takes a complete-chassis approach: master bushing sets engineered around specific chassis codes so every mount and bushing works as a matched set. This collection includes the [99-00 Civic Si] Hyper-Flex Master Bushing Set in red (part 16.18109R), the [97-00 Civic, 97-99 CR-V] master set in black (16.18109G), and the [02-05 Civic] master set in red (16.18112R), plus single-application kits like the [99-00 Civic] Front Control Arm Bushing Set (16.3115R, red polyurethane) and a 16mm Rear Sway Bar Bushing Set for 2003–2009 Subaru Legacy and Outback.

Shop related

Pair bushing upgrades with fresh hardware from our Performance Sway Bars, Aftermarket Control Arms, Front & Rear Strut Bars, and the full Shop All Suspension collection.

Popular kits: Energy Suspension [99-00 Civic Si] Hyper-Flex Master Bushing Set - Red, Energy Suspension [97-00 Civic, 97-99 CR-V] Hyper-Flex Master Bushing Set - Black, Energy Suspension [99-00 Civic] Front Control Arm Bushing Set - Red Polyurethane. Also see Grip and Control: Best Suspension Upgrades for the 2022 WRX on the blog.

Bushing FAQ

Do polyurethane bushings make the ride harsher?

Firmer bushings transmit more road feel than soft rubber, so expect a slight increase in noise and vibration — that is the normal trade-off for sharper handling response.

Are bushings hard to install?

The old rubber must be pressed or burned out of its shell first, which is moderate-to-difficult work without a press. Many owners have a shop do the pressing and handle the rest themselves.

Do I need an alignment after replacing bushings?

Yes. Anytime control arm or sway bar bushings are replaced, the suspension geometry changes, so schedule an alignment after the install.

Red or black — is there a performance difference?

No. Both colors are the same polyurethane; the choice is cosmetic. Pick the finish that matches your build.