I'm putting the rear subframe/diff back into the car and I'm stuck because I have a couple of washers that I can't place. They are very large and only fit on the subframe (not differential) posts/bolts. (see pic 1)
The can either go
1> between the subframe and the body
2> between the subframe angle bracket and the subframe
3> between the nut and the subframe angle braket.

None of these places make any sense... #1 creates space between the subframe bushing and the body, increasing the possibility of play, #2 creates space between the bracket and the subframe, negating the purpose of the rubber spacer/bushing/shock absorber thing, #3 seems pointless as the nut is a flange nut.

Anybody know where these go? The FSM doesn't show them. It doesn't show the differential crown bushings either though.

Speaking of which, what's the point of the rubber crown tips? The cup of the bushing connects with the center metal core of the diff bushing and the crown tips can never make contact with the differential arms. They seem like they are for vibration dampening, but since they will never make contact, what gives?

(see pic 2)

thanks in advance!

 

As a followup, I took another pic that shows the space between the tips of the crown and the diff frame. Does this make any sense? Why the space?

 

They go between the nuts and the subframe and the crown ones go between the nut and the differential.

Obviously you haven't attempted torquing them down to spec. Once you torque them down the rubber will squish and make full contact with the components.

 

The Nuts on the PINS of the diff are supposedly "special" and have a lock on them to prevent them from backing off.
I ordered/bought 2 of them from a Mazda dealer @ 6 dollars a Piece.(Cdn)

 

Well, they are torqued to spec. After thinking a bit about it, I've realized that they can't come into contact, at least on mine. The metal core of the diff mount contacts the cup of the bottom crown bushing thing so no matter how much I tighten it, it will not get any closer.

My guess is that since the diff arm can 'float' around a little bit on the diff bushing, should any major movement of the diff occur, the metal part of the diff arm will contact the rubber of the crown bushing which will absorb some of the shock, rather than having a jarring metal on metal contact.

Interesting... Mine look like regular flange bolts. Mind snapping a pic of yours if you haven't already installed them?