The car has over 130k miles and it makes noise, lots of it comming form the suspension, etc. As far as making it a better ride, will new bushings make a difference? The car has stiff differential bushings, and Pettit's solid toe links and trailing links.

Thanks

 

If i was you, I'd inspect the suspension and look for dry rotted/ ripped/ missing rubber bushings. Don't throw money randomly at your car and expect problems to go away...basically just said something equivalent to "hey my motor makes noise should i get a new one?" well yeah...getting a new one might fix the noise but the noise might actually be a glazed 10 year old $5 pulley belt...the noise might not even be coming from the engine it might be the transmission resonating into the engine compartment.

Determine what parts need to be replaced and replace them

 

More people have trouble with the pillowballs (which aren't exactly bushings) than anything else. However, there are some bushings that can go bad - the trailing arm and toe links contain heavily loaded bushings, but you've changed those already. The bushings in the lower control arm are also heavily loaded and susceptible to wear and play.

But that's about it. I would take it to a good alignment shop and see if they can find evidence of play anywhere. It definitely pays to get good diagnostics - I had some clunking last year that was loose baffles in my gas tank. Then my muffler tapping on something.

Dave

 

When is it making the noise? Over bumps, turns...what does it sound like.... I agree with PvillKnight7 but if you have some direction or good information to post we may be able to point you in a general direction. As much as I know it could be worn/rotted rubber spacer between your springs and strut. Definitely take a peak at it. +1 for have a rx7 with 130k on it, good luck with your inspection and update us.

 

When I (temporarily) went to a solid trailing link setup to try to minimize wheel hop, there was a LOT more noise transmitted from the suspension. It was so bad that I decided to go back to the stock trailing arms, but with MazdaSpeed front bushings,

So, your solid bushings, even if there is nothing wrong, may be a major source of the noise.

 

I agree. The solid diff bushings and trailing arms are going to make it noisier in the cabin but they'll also amplify clunks and whatnot elsewhere in the suspension.

The bushings will tighten up the feel on the road. They made a big difference for me. However, they didn't fix any noises. If it's a clunk, I would point to pillowballs. If it's a rattling noise from the back, I would say it's your hatch. If it's something else, you'll need to give a better description.

 

I have a new st of Tein Flex coilovers, so its not the rubber plastic on top of the shocks.

As for the engine thing, LOL, I dont think its the same. Its an old car with lots of miles, plastic is bound to wear.

Mainly, I asked to see if anyone had replaced their the rubber bushings and removed some of the noise. Yes, I know solid bushings, such as the diferrential bushings, transmit more noise and vibration into the car. The car was just as noisy with out the new coilovers, bushings, etc.

THe noise comes mainly when going over cracks and bumps on the road. When I take the car on a nice concrete road with no cracks and holes, the noise is gone.

I have checked the exhaust and it is correctly fastened. It was making noise, but I put one of the plastic hangers correcntly, it was allowing it to come intouch with the car, metal to metal.

Thanks

 

That's what I tried to say above, that's where the solid trailing links were the worst - they transmitted a LOT of noise over pavement cracks, etc., and, as you said, on smooth roads, there's nothing to excite the suspension, and no noise.

Dave

 

You can't have quiet racecar suspension. If the increase in noise bothers you, try switching back to stock rubber bushings. Any bushing not made from rubber will transmit more noise into the passenger compartment and it will increase the impact harshness from irregularities in the road.

 

I realize that I must make sacrifices with the solid bushings. As I stated, the car is just as noise as before. I will replace the suspension bushings, and the pillowball mounts. Thanks

 

Bushings aren't going to make it any less noisy but the pillowballs will fix ''clunks'' if that's what you're hearing.

 

Thank you for that, then its the pillowballs, cause yeah, a clunk sort of thing.

 

At 130k you should be sure to check your ball joints too.