Just got a set of Widefoot cast swaybar mounts used. Awesome quality and clearly overbuilt, just the way I like it!

Install went smoothly with one exception - I can't get the RB brace back on due to interference with a PS hard line right about the middle of the car. It's the one that's anchored to the steering rack by a two-piece bracket. I was able to fit the stock swaybar, but it was very close to that line. Worse yet, I'm getting a Tri-point bar, and I'm not sure it would clear.

I'm just wondering if anybody else ran into this, and what they did to resolve it. Rotate the bracket and bend the hard line a bit? Or did Widefoot have some sort of spacers for this purpose? I tried PM'ing David, but no reply thus far.

I'll take a photo of it when I get a chance, but as busy as I've been lately, no guarantees!

 

is this the white RB swaybar brace? hmmm, I was thinking of using it also, but now after your post I might have to hold off.

 

Yes, that's the brace. It fits fine with mounts that maintain the stock geometry (i.e. stock, Mazdaspeed, and all others that I know of), but the Widefoot mounts raise the swaybar by around 1.5 inches. That's when it hits the PS line.

 

wasn't that mount design to help reduce flexing of the stock mount and prevent it from bending? Since the widefoot mounts are more solid and beefier, would the brace still be needed?

 

Well, I'd like to know that too. The Widefoot mounts are WAY more solid than stock, and transfer the swaybar load directly to the frame rails without any loss to flexing. The RB brace, tying the two mounts together, resists deflection between them due to the flexing of the stock ones. I'm sure the Widefoot mounts don't need this reinforcement since they don't really flex, but I'm wondering if the brace helps with loading of the frame. Maybe good for distributing the load, especially with a Tri-point or other big bar.

I'm more worried about fitting the Tri-point bar, though.

 

Just ditch the brace. You'll be fine.

I made custom bomb proof mounts which retain my Tripoint bar at stock height (so theoretically my longer mounts should be even harder on the frame). No frame issues.

 

Cool, thanks for the info, Damon. Glad to hear that the bolt holes hold up okay.

I heard back from David, and he said the same thing - ditch the brace. As for the PS line, it turns out that the instructions say to relocate it. I bought these mounts used, so I didn't get any instructions!

 

Hi DigDug,
Just wanted to mention to anyone else reading this thread that they're
always welcome to get in touch if they buy any of my stuff used so they can get
instructions, pics, advice, etc. I (obviously) like to sell new stuff, but I will always
support anything I've sold previously.

On the RB brace, I want to confirm that while I think it's among the best of the
"add on" fixes to OEM mounts, it's not needed when any of the Widefoot Mount
types (cast or billet) are used. What makes the Widefoot's great for the 3rd gen
is not just their strength, but they have a bracing method that's stronger than
just about any add-on could offer, and their shorter length (as DamonB alluded
to) reduces the bending load transfered to the frame too.

DigDug, one other thing I wanted to mention is that when you go to the Tri-
Point swaybar, if you want to use their bronze bushings too you'll want to be
careful about how you implement them. The T-P bronze mounts have a non-
stock center to center bolt distance, and while DamonB handled that directly
with his custom mounts, mine use the OEM spacing. So what I've done is made
up some nice billet adapters that use the exact same bronze bushing as T-P, but
mount directly to the Widefoot mount base. Or, for less money, I offer modded
bronze mounts and special washers that also are a "bolt on".

Please note, the T-P brace that allows for use of their bronze bushings will not
work with my mounts, as it requires a "stock height" mounting face to work.

If anyone has any questions about any of this, please post, PM, or email me!

Thanks,

David Breslau
Widefoot Racing Co.

 

^^^I'm a bit confused. I have the tripoint setup with the bronze bushings. What would I need to run your mount/brace? Can you show a picture of the TP with your setup.

Thanks,
Justin Wade

 

Hi Justin,
The Tri-Point bronze bearings use a custom bracket to accommodate the "non-OEM"
center to center distance of their bronze bushings (I'd guess you have this
longitudinal bracket on the car, right?). The bracket adds a new tapped hole so
the bronze bearing can be bolted in at the rear.

The problem is that the T-P bracket needs to connect to the swaybar mounts at
the stock height (meet the bottom face of the OEM swaybar mount), and it's not
able to bolt to my mounts, which have their bottom face ~1.4" higher than stock.
This isn't a problem with any other swaybar setup, only the T-P/Bronze bearing
method. However, for those who want the best of both worlds, you can use the
new billet bronze bushing setup I've made that's a direct bolt-on (see pic).

I'll check in tomorrow to see if there's anything else I can answer...
Thanks,
David

 

Nice billet bushing adapter! I'm in for a set-- sending you a PM....

 

Thanks Artowar - got it, and they'll be out the door today!

David Breslau
Widefoot Racing Co.