jimlab

You've got a few options...

1. Mazda OEM bushings - expensive, stock control levels
2. Mazdaspeed 40% stiffer rubber bushings - even more expensive, a bit more control than stock
3. Nylon - less than half the cost of the Mazdaspeed bushings, much more control than stock

Bushings don't really contribute to (or degrade) "ride quality". Your choice of tires, springs and shocks will play a much larger role in how the car rides. If you switched from a 50-series tirel to a 30-series tire, your ride is going to be stiffer because you've removed the compliance of the tire sidewall. If you upgrade to coil-over shocks with high spring rates and set them on stiffer settings, your ride quality is going to suffer.

Bushings, on the other hand, are the "hinges" or pivot points of the suspension. They're meant to allow the suspension to move, not to dampen irregularities in the road. The reason they're made from rubber is because rubber absorbs vibrations very well and reduces road noise. Removing compliance in the bushings will make your suspension more accurate, helping to eliminate wheel hop and wandering on grooved or uneven pavement, but it will increase road noise somewhat.

That said, I'm the only source that I know of for a full set of Nylon 6-6 replacement bushings (4 front upper control arm, 4 front lower control arm, 4 rear upper control arm, 2 differential, 2 trailing arm, 2 rear shock mount), but I only produce sets when I have enough orders to make the cost reasonable. However, due to popular demand, I may be running another group buy in the near future, so if you're interested just keep an eye on the group buy forum.

Mazdabation

iTrader: (9)

Awsome..thanks jim!!! I understand that it is the suspention and such that gives majority of ride, but its nice to have all new bushings on top. Is there not a set you can buy through "energy" bushings or something like that? Whether you can or not i will definetly keep an eye out for your GB Jim
thanx
Shawn

jimlab

Unfortunately, no.

Manufacturing polyurethane bushings requires expensive molds, and even immediately after the last 1995 was sold in the U.S., the potential market for the FD was only ~13,500 cars. These days, it's far less, of course. The molds required to make all 7 types of bushings required for the FD would cost so much that there would be little or no profit possible for a company like Energy Suspension, Prothane, or Suspension Techniques. They stick to the markets where there are tens of thousands (if not hundreds of thousands) of potential customers. Civics, Eclipses, and so on.

PandazRx-7

iTrader: (18)

Jim, once I found Derlin upper bushings front/back... I know they should be very stiff...how would they compare to the Nylons you sell...Thanks

jimlab

Pettit makes a "drag launch" kit for the rear of the car that includes some Delrin bushings. They'd be very similar, but Delrin is more brittle than Nylon and Nylon 6-6 has better wear properties. Their kit includes 6 bushings and a pair of trailing arms and sells for only $100 less than my entire 18-bushing kit, BTW.

No one else offers Nylon or Delrin bushings for the front of the car to my knowledge, so if you've heard of them, I'd be interested to know who the manufacturer/seller is.