WTF!!!

today while running errands i noticed a scraping noise everytime i hit a dip or bump in the road. i figure that my undertray came loose and was scraping the ground. i get home, look under the car, and see the tray hanging lower than it should... ok, i'll fix it after dinner right?

wrong. the bracket, or whatever its called, on the drivers side that my RB swaybar bolts to rusted through and broke... classic metal fatigue... and now the bar is pushed down, taking the undertray with it.

so now my question is, has this EVER happened to anyone before and how much do you think it would cost to fix it? im not sure if its just a bracket, or part of the subframe itself. if its the subframe, then im probably screwed.

 

The stock sway bar mounts suck! Chuck at Rotary Extreme had a nice replacement but the shop is closed right now, not sure when it will open again. If I remember right, Mazdatrix has a set of stronger ones.

 

There are MANY aftermarket alternatives to replace the weak stock brackets.

-Max

 

thanks. glad its just a bracket and not part of the entire subframe. looks like i know where part of my next paycheck will be going.

 

Frequent stressing of the backet can crack the subframe, usually radiating out from the bolt holes. Inspect them closely when the replace the brackets.

[I used widefood swaybar mounts]

 

If you need a set of used but not corroded stock swaybar mounts, I have a set for $50.

:-) neil

 

^ thanks. beats the $90 part that i found on the racing beat site.... http://www.racingbeat.com/FRmazda3.htm its the front swaybar mount reinforcement strut.

now im hoping that i didnt damage anything on the steering rack or subframe. judging by the fact that its now hanging at an angle (drivers side is lower than passenger side) im afraid of extra stress on the parts that its still bolted to.

maybe i can get under there and start taking it apart. too bad we're under a terrible heat wave right now.

 

widefoot mounts + rb brace = never look back

me have. me love. oog rip oog head off.

 

Contact David of Widefoot Racing. He had a couple billet mounts already made a few months ago. They aren't cheap, but then again you won't be breaking them.

https://www.rx7club.com/group-buy-center-69/widefoot-billet-cast-swaybar-mount-group-buy-411481/

 

I got my right passenger side from Ray at Malloy for like 45 bucks.

 

The Widefoot mounts are my favorites, too.

-Max

 

When my stock swaybar mounts bent, they caused the swaybar to twist and warp as well. I had to replace the mounts (Mazdaspeed), bar (Racing Beat), and endlinks (Tripoint).

I'm not sure if it's the bar or the endlinks, but the front of my car is very flat now. However, there are all sort of annoying suspension noises that bugged me for the first month or two. The bar squeaks and the endlinks clunk. I eventually got used to it; the radio covers it up pretty well.

-s-

PS, after looking at the widefoot mounts, I would have bought them if I'd known about them. The design looks really nice.

 

will any of the bushings at respeed work? http://www.mrcmfg.com/respeed/catalo...739960&x=0&y=0

 

I made new mounts for my car and use the racing beat reinforce bar across the mounts . My sway bar is a bigger aftermarket part as well . No problems after the new mounts .