Honda Civic Type R FK8 (2017–2022) Polymann Bushing Upgrade — Protecting Every Tenth-Gen Type R's Edge

The Honda Civic Type R FK8 — produced from 2017 to 2022 — is widely regarded as the benchmark for front-wheel-drive performance. Its K20C1 turbocharged engine produces 320 PS, but the engine is only part of the story. The FK8's chassis is built around an adaptive damper system, Brembo brakes, and a suspension geometry calibrated to a standard most hot hatches never approach. Every component in the FK8's suspension contributes to what Honda calls 'pure driving pleasure' — and the bushings are the foundation of that system. When they wear, the FK8 does not just feel older — it feels less like itself.

PPPB 36211 — Front Lower Arm Bushing Kit: The FK8's front suspension uses a MacPherson strut layout. The front lower arm — also called the control arm — is the key lateral and longitudinal link between the front wheel and the subframe. On a performance car built to the standards of the Type R, the lower arm bushings are not simply rubber isolators: they are precisely calibrated to allow a specific degree of compliance in one direction while remaining stiff in another, so that the front geometry responds correctly under the high lateral and braking forces the FK8 generates on a fast road or a circuit. When these bushings wear, the front end's steering response slows, front tyre wear becomes uneven, and the car's famous point-in precision fades — the steering feels less direct, less alive.

PPPB 35927 — Rear Trailing Arm Bushing Kit: The FK8's rear multi-link suspension includes a trailing arm that defines the longitudinal position of the rear wheel. On a Type R that is driven hard — particularly under braking into corners and during aggressive acceleration out of them — the trailing arm bushings take significant stress. Worn trailing arm bushings allow the rear wheel to shift fore-aft under load, introducing a looseness in the rear suspension that is immediately felt by a driver accustomed to the FK8's normally precise rear end.

PPPB 35928-A — Rear Knuckle Bushing Kit: The rear knuckle is the central hub at which all rear suspension arms meet. Its bushings are the final isolation layer between the suspension arms and the wheel assembly. On a performance car, the rear knuckle bushings are tuned to contribute to both ride quality and cornering stability — they allow just enough compliance to absorb road texture without letting the rear wheel geometry shift under cornering load. When they wear, the rear suspension loses both composure over bumps and precision in corners.

PPPB 35928-B — Rear Lower Arm Bushing Kit: The rear lower arm is the primary lateral link in the FK8's rear multi-link system — it sets the camber of the rear wheel and carries the majority of the cornering load from the rear tyre. The FK8's rear camber is set slightly negative from the factory, a deliberate choice that gives the car more rear grip in corners. Worn rear lower arm bushings allow this camber to shift under cornering load, reducing rear grip and changing the car's balance — the FK8 may start to feel less neutral, less willing to rotate cleanly through fast corners.

PPPB 35929-A / PPPB 35929-B — Rear Toe Arm (Curve / Straight) Bushing Kit: The rear toe arm sets the toe angle of the rear wheel — a critical geometry parameter that determines how the rear of the FK8 behaves during cornering. Toyota's multi-link design for the FK8 uses a toe arm that comes in two forms: a curved arm (35929-A) and a straight arm (35929-B), both achieving the same function but with different profiles. Worn toe arm bushings allow the rear wheel's toe to change under cornering load — the rear end becomes unpredictable, the car may develop oversteer tendencies under braking or tight corners, and the FK8's characteristic stability under hard driving is compromised. If you are unsure which toe arm variant your FK8 has, we can confirm at the time of inspection.

Most road cars are engineered with a margin of tolerance — the suspension can absorb some bushing wear before the driver notices a meaningful change. The FK8 does not have this margin. It was designed to perform at the limit, and its suspension geometry is calibrated so precisely that worn bushings produce a measurable change in handling. FK8 owners who drive their car seriously — on fast roads, mountain passes, or occasional track days — will notice bushing wear earlier and more acutely than owners of ordinary cars. Addressing all six bushing positions returns the FK8 to the geometry Honda intended and to the handling character that made it exceptional.

4M Carcare is an authorised Polymann installer in Bandar Sri Damansara. We stock all six Polymann bushing kits for the Honda Civic Type R FK8. A four-wheel alignment is required after any suspension bushing work — on a performance car like the FK8, this step is especially important as even a small geometry deviation will be immediately noticeable on the road. WhatsApp us with your FK8's mileage and what you are experiencing, and we will advise on which bushing positions most need attention.