It appears that Energy Suspensions does not have a kit for the FD. Are any good quality ones available? Also, how much of the install is a PITA? I read last night that one technique is to take a torch to your stock bushings and burn the suckers out. Not sure if that's a good idea or not...

thanks guys--

 

Ho-hum. As usual, call me and I can tell you everything you need to know

Only bushings available are stock and Jimlab's (now sold through N-Tech I think).

It takes no torches to remove any of them, actually it's not hard at all. The pillow ***** press out as do all the a-arm bushings. I stole Max Cooper's method and made a simple press with great big sockets and long bolts, works fine and is simple.

 

Awesome! I guess you just volunteered to help me, Manute

Oh, and if my Victoracer's aren't delivered to Kan's by midnight, I will give you the beatdown of your life ! The fact that I haven't paid for them yet means nothing

Love,
Spud

 

And how are we to do this when you live in BFE? Hell, Steve's is BFE! Check out Max's site for the rear pillow *****. The rubber bushings in the a-arms and the trailing links work essentially the same way.

Do you not own a repair manual???

Max Cooper's Do It YoSelf pillow ball replacement

 

Oh, I do. It's much more fun to **** you off though

 

Damn... Maxcoopers's write up is amazing... i never thought of doing it in that way.

any write up for replacing ball joints as well?

 

You need new control arms for the front lower ball joints. I know myself and probably dozens of other people in the FD community are hoping that someone will make some tubular arms with replacable ball joints. Or at least make them available in the US.

-Max

 

Where do you get new control arms from? Mazda OEM?

Yeesh...lol...I was planning on replacing the bushings, but I've never replaced a control arm before. I imagine it's not too difficult..but can it be a pain to get back in place?

 

max,

i have a FC, and they are replaceable...i didn't know the FD couldn't.

i was hoping for a nice little write up like your bushing write up for replacing ball joints

 

Well, which ball joints do you mean? There are lots of different bushings in the suspension (20 rear + 14 front, not including steering or sway bars). Many of them are technically ball joints, but the front lower and upper ball joints are the ones normally called "ball joints". Replacing a lower control arm is not majorly difficult. You have to remove it to install the other bushings anyway.

Here's a list of bushings (with annotations):

Front:
1. Lower control arm @ body, leading (Unobtanium)
2. Lower control arm @ body, trailing (Unobtanium)
3. Lower control arm @ shock
4. Lower control arm @ upright (ball joint)
5. Upper control arm @ body, leading (Unobtanium)
6. Upper control arm @ body, trailing (Unobtanium)
7. Upper control arm @ upright (ball joint)

Rear:
8. Toe link @ body (M2)
9. Toe link @ upright (M2)
10. Trailing link @ body (M2, Unobtanium)
11. Trailing link @ lower arm (pillow ball)
12. Lower arm @ body
13. Lower arm @ upright (pillow ball)
14. Upper arm @ body, leading (Unobtanium)
15. Upper arm @ body, trailing (Unobtanium)
16. Upper arm @ shock (Unobtanium)
17. Upper arm @ upright (pillow ball)

-Max

 

It's now dinner, beer AND dessert.

 

Chicken McNugget Happy Meal, Milwaukee's Best Ice Light, and a Whistle Lollipop. And a swift kick in the nuts

 

Hmmmm. What toy will my Happy Meal come with?

 

Don't forget Mazdaspeed's "40% stiffer" rubber bushings.

And FYI, my bushings will no longer be sold through N-Tech or the "other" place...

 

There are tons od bushings in Japan.
Some of the best quality are Mazdaspeed, AutoExe and RE-A.

There are so many bushings.
for example, motor mounts
1. Steel (AutoSelect, Axia)
2. Aluminum (RE-Amemiya, Okada Eng)
3. Delrine (Pan Speed)
4. Polyurethene (Ksp Eng)
5. Hardest lubber (MazdaSpeed)
6. Harder rubber (AutoExe)

Of course #1 is the hardest and #6 is the softest.

 

Thank you GoRacer

Spel miss

There are tons of bushings in Japan.

 

Something that you will no doubt jam up your fourth point of contact .

On a more constructive note--Jim, do you still sell your Super Duper Unobtainable Bushings ?

Rich