Hey All,

Putting this one out to the brain trust, I searched the forums and couldn't find any actual feedback from someone using them.

I have been quoted pretty much the same price for either option and was wondering what advice you all have?

With the Nagisa the major pro is the replaceable ball joint, however I worry about the design being weaker than OEM due to the missing part that completes the "A". Also it has no accommodation for the ABS lines so that would become a cable tie or similar job. One other thing is the pillow *****; not sure if this is an improvement or not? I know Nagisa is a good name, so maybe my worries are unfounded?

Obviously OEM is OEM, bolt in and no issues...well at least until the ball joint craps out......

Any thoughts, advice or actual reviews for users would be much appreciated.

Thanks, Tom

 

They don't look to have dust seals. I would be concerned that they could be noisy or harsh - many of these parts are designed for pure race use and are terrible on the street.

With no dust seals the bearings can chew up fast with street use and start clunking.

Dale

 

I just wouldn't trust a welded arm like that with no cross member.

 

Thanks for the input Dale - Good spot on the lack of dust seals. I had not noticed that and it would be an issue on the street, especially with all the loose crap on the roads here after winter. I was thinking these might transmit additional noise and vibration which is something I would like to avoid.

Tom

 

Yeah it is definitely one of the major concerns I have with these.

 

I'd probably just try the OEM replacement Dorman $120 ones.

 

Yeah I saw those but I have had bad luck with Dorman parts in the past on my FB. I'm not willing to test them on my FD.

I am happy to pay for OEM or Nagisa, just curious as to the pros and cons. Thanks for the input!

 

What about the megan racing ones....

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Megan-Racin...ZX1EIJ&vxp=mtr

 

Thank for the link, anyone used these?

Did a very quick google and have read mixed reviews.......

 

I haven't, just say them while looking for some stock ones. I noticed the alignment shop had to adjust my lower arm plates alot to get the camber straight and thought maybe these can do it without maxing out the lower arm. Haven't even looked review wise yet though.

 

That design comes loose on Hondas, I can only imagine it will be worse with the meatier wheel/tire of FD.

 

Don't put aftermarket parts on your car for no reason. If OEM will work for your purpose, use OEM. You see a bunch of ball joint threads on here? It's not a real problem.

 

Thanks - I agree, no point in changing from OEM without reason. I was just curious if anyone had used them.

 

That doesn't sound good! Thanks for letting me know

 

Somebody (Like Chip) needs to just offer a service where they remove the stock joint, machine the arm out and install a replaceable ball joint unit. Seems a lot better than creating a whole new arm (for which you need an aftermarket joint anyway).

 

That would be nice, basically something like the now unobtanium MoonFace lower arms.

I will likely just go and get new OEM upper & lower arms, but was hoping I could future proof myself by getting something with replaceable ball joints. Keeping a few spare OEM arms lying around is pretty expensive

 

I believe HPP can do that for you. It will be expensive, but in race classes that allow adjusting the front roll center it is the way to go.





He made an adjustable upper arm as well and didn't bother to put in the back cross brace- runs 315/30-18 Hoosier A7s up front I believe.



There kinds of unsealed spherical ***** wear out really fast on the street, I would go Dorman or OEM unless it is a competition car.

 

I have spent three days ressearching oem front control arsm vs aftermarket and have yet to get a clear answer. I am doing my upper and lower control arms with super pro bushings and I have yet to check my pillow ***** but with 120k on the chasis I am sure they need to be replaced. I have seen some aftermarket copies of the aluminum oem arms. Does anyone have any good or bad experiences?

 

Worth checking, but you MIGHT be surprised. The OEM ball joints seem to be pretty robust…especially the upper.
FWIW if they are bad, these guys make replacement but no experience with them.
https://ccfablab.com/product/cc-rx7-...ll-center-kit/

 

I have the Nagisa arms! They've been great, but...
...First, as mentioned before, there are no dirt/dust seals. If you don't drive often, it's not as much an issue. The ball joint stud is very robust and also replaceable, which I like.
Next, stock wheels will rub on the corners of these arms. For whatever reason, the part that comes from the bushing (toward outboard) is too long. I even stepped up to 18" wheels, and still have the problem. Just got some spacers hoping that solves the problem. This is a problem for two reasons: Obviously rubbing, but also corrosion. Rubbing gouges both the wheel and the arm. Just a hard chromed finish, and it will rust when scraped away.
Finally, the shop that set my suspension up (VERY familiar with race car suspension and FD suspension setup) said that you really do not gain much appreciable camber adjustment. In fact, I was told that the LCAs have more effect on camber than UCAs.

I am planning to get some OE UCAs from Ray before next spring and go back that way. Probably stow or sell my Nagisa arms then.

 

You better get them before they become NLA!

Good review btw

 

I will be removing the suspension in three weeks.. I really wanted to know if anyone has tried the aluminum aftermarket upper and lower control arms. I am afraid to call Ray for the oem ones. Lol

 

You talking about the Dorman Rock Auto specials? This is not somewhere that you cheap out on an FD. The OE last a very long time and are of high quality. One of the main reasons I plan to switch back.
As far as being NLA, control arms have been one the consistently available items on these cars. I'm not worried about them becoming NLA. The design never changed through the production run of the FD so the market is much bigger than just the U.S.

 

Yes, I was talking about the Dorman ones. What makes them bad? Is the aluminum weak, as they look just like a replica of the OEM?

 

Mazda has taken great care to select specific material composition, and develop the forging process for their OE suspension parts.
I seriously doubt that the place in China copying the OE parts put nearly the amount of effort into development and, especially, control over material selection and consistency.
It's not worth the gamble, and I'm sure most on this forum will agree. Think about how long many OE suspension components have been on these cars. If that is not a testament to the quality control, I don't know what is.
I bought a used replacement non-Mazda CV shaft once from the classifieds here. My tuner snapped that very axle in short order. Bought a used OE replacement, and never had that problem. My standpoint is that crap from China should only be used as consumables, and I avoid it whenever possible.
If you do go with Dorman suspension components, I only hope we don't wind up on the same stretch of road anytime.