Is the Enclave Bushing Reinforcement Effective?
4 Answers
Enclave bushing reinforcement is effective. The bushing itself is a protective component that can reduce equipment wear, vibration, and noise, and also has anti-corrosion effects. The use of bushings also facilitates the maintenance of mechanical equipment, simplifies the structure and manufacturing process of the equipment. The role of bushings in actual work is closely related to the application environment and purpose. All Enclave 20T models are front-wheel drive, equipped with a 1.5T inline 4-cylinder turbocharged engine, matched with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, with a maximum power of 124 kW, maximum horsepower of 169 HP, and maximum torque of 250 Nm. All 28T models are equipped with an on-demand four-wheel-drive system, powered by a 2.0T inline 4-cylinder turbocharged engine, paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission, delivering a maximum power of 191 kW, maximum horsepower of 260 HP, and maximum torque of 400 Nm.
I've been driving for nearly twenty years and have seen many Envision owners reinforce the bushings. Objectively speaking, it does have noticeable effects, especially in reducing chassis noise and improving the loose feeling when going over speed bumps. However, there are two key points to note: First, you must find a professional modification shop to handle it—randomly tightening screws yourself can damage the original structure. Second, after reinforcement, the suspension will become stiffer, making road bumps more directly transmitted into the cabin. My suggestion is that older vehicles can benefit from this, but it's unnecessary for new cars since the original factory design already accounts for daily use. The key factor is the quality of the work—even a one-millimeter precision error in the metal brackets can affect the results.
From a safety perspective, let's discuss. Bush reinforcement essentially restricts rubber deformation through metal brackets, which does improve chassis rigidity in the short term, especially reducing body roll during high-speed cornering. However, this disrupts the factory-designed damping balance and may lead to excessive shock absorber fatigue over time. The biggest concern is stress concentration at subframe connection points, which in extreme cases could cause structural deformation. I've seen cases where reinforced vehicles developed control arm cracks after just 50,000 kilometers. If you must proceed with this modification, it's crucial to choose specialized kits with damping pads and preferably upgrade to reinforced chassis bolts simultaneously.
From a materials engineering perspective, this is quite interesting. When OEM rubber bushings age, they develop a 2-3mm gap. The reinforcement bracket essentially forcibly fills this gap. Lab data shows proper reinforcement can reduce bushing deformation by 30%, which is very effective in preventing wheel alignment deviation. However, the trade-off is premature rubber hardening, shortening lifespan by approximately 15%. The most troublesome aspect is that it alters the vibration transmission path, potentially causing more engine vibration to reach the steering wheel. Personally, I'd recommend against modification for vehicles under 80,000 km. Older vehicles can install it, but shouldn't exceed the manufacturer's recommended torque values.
