I’ve had the pillow bushings and seals lying on the kitchen table for over a month now (waiting on the stang to get out of the body shop-bad nitrous explosion through the hood). I took the computer down stairs and followed the instructions from the ClubRX.org site which I posted below. I had the tool from Harbor Freight and it only took me about two hour, and I’m the type of person that cleans and paints everything before putting it back on. I have owned two RX-7’s (a 93 and now my 94) and I have just thought the ride was hard because of it being a sports car and the age. Well I was WRONG!!! Man, the new bushings make the ride so much different that I went around town last night trying all the rough roads to see what the difference was and if you haven’t replaced your bushings DO SO NOW AND YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT. I have done many performance mods and replaced the spring, shocks, struts and wheels, but this was the BEST MOD to improve the car that I have done since I’ve owned it.

http://www.clubrx.org/default.asp?id...ntent=32&mnu=5

 

Sweet! I need to go ahead and call Ray.

 

The tool that I used is on sale for only 19.99. I paid 29.99 and it was well worth it. I do wish I had just rented if from Auto Zone for free. Don't buy the snap ring plier from them (listed below). Mine broke and I had to but a bolt through them just to finish the job.



TOOL
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=38335

SNAP RING PLIERS
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...temnumber=3316

 

I paid 315.00 for Pillow Bushings and 57.00 for the seals.

 

Any idea what the milage recommendation for the replacement is?

 

I would say anything over 50,000 even if it doesn't make the clunking noise. I had 67,000 on mine and I could notice the ride difference, so I started with the spings, shocks, struts, toe links, drag launch kit and still road loose.

 

Is there anything better than stock bushings? Is there any kind of Launch kit that comes with new bushings?

 

Do you have pics of the old bushings and also pics of thenew ones? I'm curious to see how the old ones have worn. Props on the new "mod"

 

Agreed. Though I don't really consider it a "mod", it made a big difference in how much I enjoyed driving the car. And I didn't have to keep the stereo volumn up or feel like I had to explain all the noise to anyone who rode with me.
To continue along those lines, get some sound insulation and rubberized undercoating and go after the inside of the doors and hatch floor.

Visibly there was no real difference between my old pillow-ball bushings and the new ones. They are a metal ball/nylon socket contruction and the worn part is internal. In my case, you could just barely detect any slop in them while on the car, but changing them made alot of difference.

 

Those bushings are pillow *****. Its a metal on metal design. There is no stiffer replacement for them.

 

I need to get this taken care of, I have 112k miles on my chassis.

Ihor feel like helping me one of these weekends? I can offer lots o beer . It never ends, does it?

 

Ray at Malloy says that the pillowballs usually last around 80,000 miles.

 

Where is a good place to pick up bushings? Anything I should install while I'm at it?, launch kit?

 

Ray Crowe at Malloy Mazda, 888 533 3400.

 

Here is Ray's hours and telephone number Hours: Mon-Fri 7:30am-7:00pm
Sat 8:00am-2:00pm

Telephone No:1(888) 533-3400

I installed toe links and drag launch kit prior to the bushings. They helped with the wheel hop on MT ET Streets (16x 10.5's on stock rims) and believe me that was a lot of wheel hop at the track, but as far as ride comfort NOTHING helps more then the bushings. Here is the link for the toe links and drag launch kit. I just came out of the garage from installing a steering rack boot, which took longer then putting on the bushings. Oh, if you change a boot you had better get the right tool, because believe me the ball joint is on there!!! I rented the fork puller from Auto Zone. I HATE RUST!!!!!


Click on suspension
http://www.pettitracing.com/rx7/index.htm

 

I used to think that too. But IIRC, a while back someone here posted a pic of a bushing he had cut in half and the metal ball was set in nylon or a teflon coated plastic of some sort. Ultimately it makes no difference as they aren't rebuildable and there is no viable replacement that I know of.
FWIW, there is also this post.
https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-specific-1993-2002-16/bushings-pillowballs-balljoints-diagram-480142/