Mazdaspeed Bushings
 

I'm pretty sure this is what I want to install on the car, the question is, are they all still available? I bought some of Jimlab's 6/6 nylon squeakers several years ago and sold them (never installed), and I've heard polyurethane was in a recent big group buy. If I need to install zerks or lubricate periodically, forget it...this is a street car and I'm not looking for another maintenance item, just a little tighter handling

While most Mazdaspeed parts are gone, I spoke with Corksports a few months ago and they said that they could still get bushings - at least then.

I have the entire set on my car (20+ bushings) and it tightens the car nicely without making it harsh.

We should set up a group buy on these things before they're gone...anyone interested? I have the differential bushings installed and love them

I think the price will scare people off. To go the whole hog, you will need 4 shock mount bushings, 4 anti-roll bushings (plus bars), 8 front control arm bushings, 6 rear control arm bushings, 2 differential bushings, and 2 trailing arm bushings. They also have inner toe link bushings (not outer - but I used Rotary Extreme arms here instead; I have Mazdaspeed motor mounts and a steering link waiting to go on also).

The entire set will be $1500 or so.

That $1500 does not include that anti-roll bars, BTW, or the motor mounts or steering linkage. The motor mounts are ridiculously expensive ($700 or so).

All I need are the 14 control arm bushings...everything else has been upgraded, and I would think others have upgraded as well

I have a full set of MS bushings (like Martin, minus the motor mounts and steering bushings) in a box waiting to be installed. I bought them a couple years ago for $800, knowing full well what a deal it was. I dunno when I'll finally get around to the job, but I'm looking forward to the results...

If you want a full listing of the Mazdaspeed bushings and mounts I have a spreadsheet that I can post.

yeah i would be interested, i dont need motor mounts, trailing arm or toe link bushings. post up your spreadsheet mr. moderator please.

thanks dg, would love to see the sheet...where did you buy the bushing set?

The spreadsheet is on his web site:

http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache...lnk&cd=1&gl=us

I think you can add 20-30% to the listed prices.

Oh, yeah, there it is. :)

Download the actual Excel document because it has pictures to boot.

I bought the bushings from someone on the classifieds. I think it ended up being $750 shipped. I knew that I couldn't pass it up.

Dave

Here is some information that most will find useful as well :)

This is a huge common misconception. These bushings are still available from Mazda for the basically the same price listed on the spreadsheet(just looked up the prices and they are approximately $2 more than the spreadsheet). Of course, you do have to have a racer account to get them, but that is too easy. Look up how to get an account in the track subforum here or the Track or AutoX forum on Rotary Car Club. I just purchased the Diff. Bushings last week. They arrived 2 days later. I have a few other of the bushings as well.

thanks for the tip, I still think we should organize a GB for the control arm bushings (the basics)

Em, given that a thread about these bushing only comes up every year or so I didn't think it was even possible to have huge common misconceptions about them. As I verified with Corksport, the retail price of these has increased significantly in the last few years. Mazda Competition prices are always going to be significantly under retail - so would also have been cheaper several years ago.

A group buy at Mazda Competition prices would not be a bad deal, though it would have to be sourced through a different vendor since they clearly do not want to give these prices to non members.

I'm interested in a potential group buy.

I've done some searching and haven't been able to identify any options (mainstream, not one-off or limited series production) for aftermarket bushings for the RX7. Is Mazdaspeed our only choice besides OEM replacement?

There are several vendors that make polyurethane bushing kits for the FD - and the kits will be significantly cheaper than the Mazdaspeed ones. However, Mazdaspeed is the only option for stiffer rubber bushings.

Retail price? I guess that's whatever Corksports wants to charge? Go to 2 AutoX's a year(idle around around the course if you don't want to drive) and check the block to get a racer account through Mazda Motorsports and save a bunch of money :D. I have had an account for several years and prices have not went up through my account, they have went down significantly on most items here the last couple of years. If any product went up, it is very negligible.

In regards to a group buy: Mazda Motorsports is the only place to get the bushings, whether it be a vendor or a racer account, and as you already said, they will not give those prices to nonmembers. Any way you figure it, it is going to be much cheaper, faster, and simple to get an account. Do you really want to pay more and wait longer for the bushings? You can have your account active with Mazda Motorsports within 2-3 days without ever having raced(they give you a year to complete 2 races). The bushings are in stock and will be at YOUR house around 3 days after you order them(I ordered the diff. bushings last week). Who knows how much longer these will be available, I'm guessing not much longer.

I have the racer discount through Mazdacomp. I was looking for diff bushings and motor mounts last month when I had my new motor put in. Corksport actually had them both IN STOCK and for the same price as Mazdacomp! Mazdacomp didnt have the driver's side motor mount in stock which is why I went through corksport. But all the other bushings are in stock through mazdacomp and it does come to 1500 dollars or so

Oh, and what part # is the Mazdaspeed steering rack bushings? I searched all through Mazdacomp and couldn't find it.

QFD1-32-090A.

http://www.hirano-tire.co.jp/mazda-s/mazda-12-13.jpg

This is the linkage. Do Mazdaspeed make bushings for the rack also?

FWIW, I just replaced my stock 130k mile rear upper control arm bushings with the poly Superpro bushings. Also did the OEM outer pillowball. I felt absolutely no change. Once I had the arms off and was looking at the inner A arm bushings and shock bushing, it was pretty clear that those bushings are very stiff.

I did notice a big difference replacing the liquid filled front lower control arm bushings and the diff bushings but not the rear upper control arms.

YMMV

The reason for stiffer bushings is to reduce deflections. Deflection results from stiffness and load.

Howard Coleman made the point that not all parts of the linkage are put under significant stress. The upper control arms, for example. Those will see very little real-world difference in performance because you're reducing an already-small deflection.

The areas where you'll notice the most difference are those with heavier loads: motor mounts, diff mounts, lower control arm bushings, trailing arm bushings.

Pillowballs are also important because even tiny loads can produce significant deflections if they're worn out.

Dave

I was able to find Super Pro bushings, but so far no luck with any others. The SuperPro's seem fairly expensive compared to polyurethane kits for other cars. Is there a major advantage to going with a harder rubber compound?

I'm sure the original poster may want to stick with a rubber material to maintain a higher level of ride comfort, but does the ride quality noticibly suffer or become more rigid with the polyurethanes?

do the Superpros require periodic greasing?

dgeesamon mentioned it in his earlier post above. maybe he meant the linkeage? I couldnt find the linkage on mazdacomp either with that part number. what is the description of it? is it a quicker ratio?