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Our bushings are fine after 189K miles.

Selling the entire arm is common with Honda. Applies to other suspension components in other Generations, too.

 

Mine are at 190,000 and I just did the front a couple weeks ago. After I pulled the control arm one of the forward bushings was completely separated and fell out. The other side was cracked but not completely falling apart. I really can't see the ones in the back well enough to tell what kind of shape they are in but based on the front I figure it can't be great. Both the front and rear suspension was creaking pretty bad. After changing control arms, bushings, ball joints, tie-rod ends on the front it no longer creaks and feels way better, but the back still creaks. The alignment shop couldn't get the left rear wheel into alignment (toe). I considered just getting aftermarket adjustable toe arms, but I figure the reason they can't get it into alignment is the bushings are shot, which is what led me down this road. I'm just not so sure of a multi-part bushing. The cheapest I've seen rear trail arms is ~$260-270.

 

My mechanic strongly recommends against the two-part bushings. I bought a set of Beck-Arnley bushings to have them put in because I thought they were damaged, but he says my original bushings are fine at 225,000 miles.

 

Gen 1 bushings are different, and widely available. You might be right though. The way Gen2 bushing is sandwiched in it may be almost fail-proof. Maybe I'll just do the toe link.

 

Did you look at the rear outer ones? Bolts 17 and 27 in your pic. My 2003 was sitting with metal to metal, but replacing them was a nightmare. I'm still not happy. They are rubber only, no metal sleeve and I couldn't get them all the way in. With no metal sleeve I powered them all the way in, but on releasing the pressure they pop right back out again by a 1/4".

I contacted the owner of suspension.com and even he admitted they are a nightmare. I cannot find ANY info online about replacing these particular bushes.

I think the only solution is to pull the driveshaft and totally remove the hub and try to do them on the bench.

At 175,000 miles, my front bushing looks 'okay'.

 

Did you look at the rear outer ones? Bolts 17 and 27 in your pic. My 2003 was sitting with metal to metal, but replacing them was a nightmare. I'm still not happy. They are rubber only, no metal sleeve and I couldn't get them all the way in. With no metal sleeve I powered them all the way in, but on releasing the pressure they pop right back out again by a 1/4".

I contacted the owner of suspension.com and even he admitted they are a nightmare. I cannot find ANY info online about replacing these particular bushes.

I think the only solution is to pull the driveshaft and totally remove the hub and try to do them on the bench.

At 175,000 miles, my front bushing looks 'okay'.

Yea, very little on the rear bushings. There are some poly bushings that are probably better and easier to install, but as expected cost a lot more. If you bought a set you might as well buy the whole control arm, it's going to cost as much. PowerFlexUSA (below) has them all, but not cheap -

As for the front, I couldn't really see anything obvious while installed, but the left front was definitely making a weird noise going over bumps. When I pulled it out the bushing completely separated. The front aft bushing was still OK, but I changed them all.

Honda Civic / CR-V / Element Rear Lower Control Arm Outer Front Bushing

This Honda CR-V / Element Rear Lower Control Arm Outer Front Bushing by Powerflex is a polyurethane replacement bushing that includes a lifetime warranty.

www.powerflexusa.com