Parts for your 2016 Subaru Impreza-Suspension bushes

2016 Subaru Impreza suspension bushes

According to the Subaru Factory Service Manual for the 2012–2016 Impreza (GJ/GP) chassis and Subaru’s electronic parts catalogue, the 2016 Subaru Impreza is fitted with multiple suspension bushes front and rear. Aftermarket technical catalogues from Whiteline and SuperPro also list direct-fit bush kits for this model. That makes suspension bushes clearly relevant and serviceable on this vehicle.

On the 2016 Impreza, suspension bushes are the quiet achievers that keep the ride tidy and the steering honest. Pressed into control arms, trailing arms, lateral links and stabiliser mounts, they isolate vibration while holding the suspension geometry where it should be. The front lower control arm rear bush is a fluid-filled (hydraulic) design on many trims to improve comfort, while the car also uses sway bar D-bushes and rear lateral link and trailing arm bushes to manage compliance at the back.

• Common bush locations on this model: front lower control arms (front and rear bushes), front and rear stabiliser bar D-bushes and links, rear trailing arm and lateral link bushes, and rear subframe mounts.

When these bushes age, the rubber can crack, split or soften, and hydraulic types can seep fluid. That leads to clunks over bumps, vague steering, braking shimmy and uneven tyre wear. Most owners will notice the car tramlining or wandering, especially on coarse-chip roads.

• Signs it’s time to replace: visible cracking or oil seep at a bush, excess movement with a pry-bar check, thuds over speed humps, uneven front tyre wear, and unstable braking.

As part of routine servicing in Australia and New Zealand, it’s smart to inspect the bushes every 15,000 km or 12 months. Look for perishing, torn voids, offset sleeves and loose sway bar mounts. After any bush replacement, a full wheel alignment is essential. Many workshops replace complete front control arms (with new bushes and ball joints pre-fitted) to save press time, that’s a solid approach if kilometre-age is high.

• Service tips: torque bush bolts at normal ride height, keep oil and coolant off rubber, and replace tired shocks to protect new bushes. OEM rubber maintains factory NVH, while polyurethane options sharpen response but can add some cabin rumble. For WOF/roadworthy compliance, worn bushes are a common fail item.

With typical use, factory bushes often last 80,000–150,000 km, but rough roads, heat and contamination can shorten that. Staying on top of inspections keeps the Impreza feeling tight and predictable.

Popular questions

What are the most common suspension bushes to wear on a 2016 Impreza?

Front lower control arm rear bushes (often hydraulic) and front and rear stabiliser bar D-bushes tend to go first. Rear trailing arm and lateral link bushes can also develop play with higher kilometres or frequent gravel-road use.

Once these soften or crack, owners may notice steering wander, clunks on turn-in and feathered tyre edges. Timely replacement restores straight-line stability and braking feel.

Do the front control arm bushes need a press, or can the whole arm be replaced?

Both paths are used. Individual bushes can be pressed in and out with the right tooling, but many workshops fit complete control arms that come with new bushes and a ball joint pre-installed. It’s often quicker and can be cost-effective at service time.

Either way, a wheel alignment is required after the job.

Are polyurethane bushes a good idea for daily driving?

Polyurethane sharpens response and lasts well, but it can raise NVH a touch compared with OEM rubber. For a daily-driven Impreza, many owners prefer rubber up front for comfort, with the option of poly in stabiliser mounts for a small handling gain.

If choosing poly, use the correct grease and re-lube sway bar bushes periodically to keep them quiet.