im a bit pissed off, i got a 2 piece apex seal set whne i wanted all stock parts on my rebuild kit, i got the 2 piece 2mm apex seal instead of the 3 piece one, why are the 3 piece better or are they?

 

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Well, the 3pc are mazda developed, adn since they spend years and millions in R & D, I trust their judgement in seal design.

The 2pc are all (after 85 anyway) aftermarket designed. I use atkins 2pc seals in all my engines, and they perform great. But, theyre still not engineered like mazda seals are, and probably wont last quite as long. However, there are some other points to be made when doing a rebuild yourself, on used rotorhousings.

1) 2pc are generally easier to install

2) 2pc generally are softer, and break in quicker to used housings

3) 2pc generally are stronger and less likely to roll out or break when abused like the stock seal; this is because the 2pc seal is twice as thick, therefore somewhere near twice as strong, structurally anyway. This means that if you do somehow blow seals, theyre more than likely not gonna come loose and fly around inside, taking out a rotor and housing with them when they go; theyre gonna sit right there and wait to get replaced.

4) 2pc seals do not continue to dig a groove in your rotorhousing, the way the stock 3pc seals do...the 2pc seal corner piece does not come to a sharp point, but a flat surface.

5) 2pc seals are more cost effective (cheaper).

I say use what you've got.

 

when u say thicker ?? do u mean like the metal part is wider ?

i compared the stock 3 piece apex to the one i got from mazdaspeedperformace on the rebuild kit the part number i have is n3f1-11-c00
LOC: BA14B5
DLR: c6801

im not sure if these are 3mm 2 piece apex seals since it is a mazda performance divison place or if they are 2 piece 2mm even though they seem fatter than the stock ones.

 

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measure the width on them

You should be able to see if they are 3mm or not

 

according to mazdatrix i have a 3 piece 2mm apex seals, yeah ok it goes to show that they made some mistakes lol... anyways can someone help me out. im not sure if its a 2mm or 3mm 2 piece apex seals

 

Dude, youre making this way more complex than it has to be. The seals you got now...do they fit in your rotors? if so, there 2mm...if not, theyre 3mm.

When I said 2mm are stronger/thicker, I meant from bottom to top, not width.

See how your original 3pc seal is divided along it's LENGTH? and the 2pc is NOT? Therefore, the 2pc is twice as strong. THe reason 3pc seals blow so easily, they wear down and either a) break in half, or b) actually roll out of the groove in the rotor. Look at the 2pc now...no way it can roll out is there? No, because the top piece is twice as tall (instead of divided).

 

**** i do have 2mm 3 piece apex seals but according to kevin i guess its better if i change them to 2 piece apex huh?

 

since youve already bought them, I would use them. But, yes, 2pc are my seal of choice.

 

whats the longest your 2 piece apex seals have last? u think my 3 piece will last 80-100k>?