RA corner seal springs vs. OEM
09-09-09, 11:49 AM
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RA corner seal springs vs. OEM
I am doing a rebuild and I have plenty of good OEM corner seal springs I could use OR I have the rotary aviation ones that came with the kit I got from them. They are a bit different. Is there a general consensus on which is better?
09-10-09, 09:29 PM
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I'm sorry, i'm still confused. The FD ones look like these right? http://www.pineappleracing.com/index...ROD&ProdID=125
That's what came from RA, I don't know if that's considered OEM for the FC or if it matters. All of my FC springs are skinnier, like a wire in a circle that's bent. You just have me confused because I thought those were OEM. You're saying to use the ones RA sent that look like the FD springs?
Thanks for being patient.
That's what came from RA, I don't know if that's considered OEM for the FC or if it matters. All of my FC springs are skinnier, like a wire in a circle that's bent. You just have me confused because I thought those were OEM. You're saying to use the ones RA sent that look like the FD springs?
Thanks for being patient.
09-10-09, 09:33 PM
#5
they are "FD style" . they are aftermarket replacements for OEM parts, kind of like when you get the autozone brand instead of the Mazda brand and cross your fingers. I have no problem with Pineapple Racing (I have a porting template from them), but I doubt these springs have the quality and longevity of the OEM part, and since corner seal springs are cheap anyway just go with the factory part.
The only thing I like from RA are the Super Seals (I've got them in my engine right now). Everything else just felt like knockoff OEM stuff (for example, the outer coolant seals didn't have the white paint mark). The oil control rings fit poorly for example, and the whole kit is very poorly organized.
If you can afford it, get as much stuff from Mazda as possible except perhaps the apex seals and the inner coolant seals (McMaster Carr makes more reliable and better quality teflon ones than the RA, I took a pic showing the quality difference).
The only thing I like from RA are the Super Seals (I've got them in my engine right now). Everything else just felt like knockoff OEM stuff (for example, the outer coolant seals didn't have the white paint mark). The oil control rings fit poorly for example, and the whole kit is very poorly organized.
If you can afford it, get as much stuff from Mazda as possible except perhaps the apex seals and the inner coolant seals (McMaster Carr makes more reliable and better quality teflon ones than the RA, I took a pic showing the quality difference).
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09-10-09, 09:45 PM
#8
even on a nonturbo, just remember that if you go too ghetto on stuff like this, you will have bad compression when you try to start. it will flood all the time during breakin.
if you are on a budget you can just throw in whatever side seals you have and make sure they are clearancing less than 4 thousandths or so. but screwing around with used corner seal springs... i mean i don't see what that accomplishes except saving $30. That's what I spent on a set of FD corner seal springs from Mazda.
I replaced all the springs in my engine with OEM parts for $113.84 from Mazdatrix. If you think about what happens when you flatten a spring, it's worth it IMO.
if you are on a budget you can just throw in whatever side seals you have and make sure they are clearancing less than 4 thousandths or so. but screwing around with used corner seal springs... i mean i don't see what that accomplishes except saving $30. That's what I spent on a set of FD corner seal springs from Mazda.
I replaced all the springs in my engine with OEM parts for $113.84 from Mazdatrix. If you think about what happens when you flatten a spring, it's worth it IMO.
Last edited by arghx; 09-10-09 at 09:45 PM. Reason: $30
09-10-09, 09:49 PM
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It is a nonturbo, but I plan to convert to turbo with my 6 port engine. However, I never plan to run much more than stock levels of power, probably 200 whp will be the most it ever sees if that. I think the ones in the RA kit come from mazda. I think I will try them out since I already paid for them. Thank you very much for the info.
09-11-09, 06:13 AM
#10
The side seal and corner seal springs in the RA kits are OEM. They come with the FD corner seal springs as they are a huge improvement over the FC spring. Use the ones that came in the kit, you are wasting money if you replace them with exactly the same part from somewhere else. The only springs in the kit that are not OEM are the apex seal springs, these you will want to replace with OEM if the car is turbo.
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