KevinK2

Oem front is very close to 1-1/8". Check oem bolt spacing, see if these fit:

http://www.prothanesuspension.com/swaybarendlinks.html

or energysuspension.com

Mazdaspeed Bars are solid version of hollow oem's (with '93 size adjustable rear), so if they sell front busings, they will fit oem bar.

-----------------

Mazda oem hollow bar sizes, from Mazda Technical Data

Front, 28.6mm, all

Rear:

17.3 ,, 93 all
13.8 ,, 94 all, 95 except R2
15.9 ,, 95 R2

gen3rx7

Thanks for the link Kevin,

Unfortunately the holes are about 3/16" off from the stock mount. Energy suspension doesn't carry them either. I checked Mazdaspeed and they only sell the OEM rubber bushings. (The new ones will be an improvement over mine w/ 41K mi. on them.) I don't think anyone carries the poly parts for the FD...

rotoober

iTrader: (3)

I have a set of RB bars on my car with Eibach's and Koni's. With just the front bar on, the car pushed and required a lot of adjustment of tire pressure, rear weight and shock adjustment to get the car balanced. I put on the rear bar a few weeks ago and then ran the car at Laguna Seca last Wendsday. No issues whats so ever. Car was much easier to set up and felt balanced, no twitchey rear end, unusual issues. I am very happy with my suspension, now if I could just solve my vacume leak...

gen3rx7

I received a call from Jim Langer today and they have been analyzing my front bar @ RB. The jury is still out as to the exact cause of the end attachment bolt coming loose (I felt it was a loose fit between bolt & threads). Bottom line is that they will keep that bar and bushings and send out a replacement.

All in all, I'd have to say they were more than fair in promptly dealing with my problem. Next step is to get the car back together and ready for the auto-X & track season!

KevinK2

Those slot dimensions are to ~3/8" dia bolt centers. Actual slot extends about 1/4" more in each direction. My 32mm Eibach brackets are same as those prothanes, and fit oem mounts nicely. But your RB front is on it's way.

Larz

I've had the rear bar on for a couple of weeks now. No problems. First auto x is in 3 weeks.

Doc-1

iTrader: (2)

Well I have shipped both of the sway bars to Racing Beat. They have had them Monday and it is very quite. I figure having started this I really am interested to see the out come. By the way there is an article in this months Hot Rod on this subject. It does not have a lot of technical detail but it does show how sway bars and springs are tempered and the steel they use.

I enclosed a complete package of my findings and look forward to the relay

Doc-1

iTrader: (2)

Well I have shipped both of the sway bars to Racing Beat. They have had them Monday and it is very quite. I figure having started this I really am interested to see the out come. By the way there is an article in this months Hot Rod on this subject. It does not have a lot of technical detail but it does show how sway bars and springs are tempered and the steel they use.

I enclosed a complete package of my findings and look forward to the relay

GoodfellaFD3S

iTrader: (213)

Ah, a military man, I see

Doc-1

iTrader: (2)

Yep --- Army civilian

GS+

iTrader: (4)

Did RB ever resolve this problem?

jimlab

I just stumbled on this thread and remembered that when I pulled my Racing Beat rear bar off the car to start the Cobra IRS conversion project in ~2003, it was bent. Like Chuck, I tossed it in the dumpster and didn't really think anything of it. Just figured it was one more thing to replace.

I have a new RB front and rear set that I bought through the RX-7 Store a couple years ago and had re-powder coated dark blue to match the car, but (obviously) haven't used them yet. I'd be interested to know if anyone else has had problems with their rear RB bar bending and when those bars were purchased.

FWIW, I did have to clean the threaded inserts on the new front sway bar with a tap, and then protected them during powder coating with a couple stainless bolts and fiberglass tape.

Boy does this bring back memories...

Houdini

iTrader: (3)

Did my PITA lube-groove bushings & Advanced Design Racing Shock project last weekend. Start taking the whole suspension apart, get to the rear and look what I see...a bent rear bar!

Pass Side

Driver's side OK


I've always been a fan on RB, I have their front bar, rear bar, exhaust, and even the front reinforcement bar. I was pretty surprised about this one. I mean, I've hit some hard potholes in SF, but nothing that would break parts. Anyways, the bar is not only bent outwards, but also downwards...which is strange because you would think it would be bent upwards if it was from an upward impact like a pothole. Anyways, I'll contact Jim and see what he says. They're usually pretty cool over there whenever I've talked to them.


On a side note, here's some quick pics I took during the build. I'm very happy with the lube-groove bushings. Even the machinist that pressed them in said he was suprised by how well they were made and that they fit perfectly. Even with the stiffer springs and bushings, the car isn't that harsh even on our horrible bay area roads.

Monkman33

iTrader: (28)

So who makes an adjustable rear sway bar that DOESNT bend? I am weary to install my RB front now too.

joe1573

iTrader: (14)

I just installed my new chrome-moly rear sway bar this weekend, and so far no problems. I will keep an eye on it and post any problems. The guys at Racing Beat were very helpful and gave me no problems with the exchange. It cost me nothing but a little down time waiting for shipping. The only bad thing I can say as of now is that I didn't get the sticker I asked for, but I think I can get over that.

DomFD3S

...yeah...what happend? Any update?

Herblenny

iTrader: (13)

SO you returned your rear sway and they gave you a chrome-moly sway bar?? I might do this if this is the case.

joe1573

iTrader: (14)

I sent back my bent bar for them to check out and they sent back the new stronger chrome-moly.

DomFD3S

How is it "stronger chrome-moly"?

Were you told the inner diameter is thicker? Different grade metal?
Is the metal treated or tempered?

Does it "look" any different from the previous design?

joe1573

iTrader: (14)

It looks the same as the last one, but I was told that it is much higher quality then the one I had before. I also was told that not all the old sway bars were bad, there was just a bad batch that were sold.

DomFD3S

If there any way of identifying which ones were involved in the bad batch?

I'm guessing owners w/ bad sway bars are left to contact Racing Beat when they discover they have bad sway bars....that is IF and WHEN they discover it.

Glad you got your bar replaced. Too they were vague in terms of "why" there was a bad batch.

Herblenny

iTrader: (13)

Thanks for that info.. I guess I'll give it a shot and check it in regular basis..

Houdini

iTrader: (3)

I'm sending mine in this week. Jim told me the same thing, moving to chrome moly.

jimlab

If it was just a bad batch, that must be one hell of a big batch of sway bars because I bent mine almost 10 years ago...

jantore

I just checked mine and they are fine. And im not seeing the tight fit as some ppl have shown on there pictures. And i have so much grip in the rear that's it's scary. Even with the sway bar at the stiffest.

And here is a picture of the clearance of the swaybar from my upper arm and coilover.

JT