Cetchup

What exactly does each piece do? I have heard of people replacing the Toe links while keeping the stock trailing arms, but only with upgraded bushings on the trailing arms. My questions are, where are the bushings located ( so i can check for play in them) and what does a Toe link do vs. a Trailing arm. Thanks guys!

BTW: I did a search and found answers to all my questions except the ones stated above.

maxcooper

Here's a pic that shows an M2 toe link (see the M2 site to identify the part) and the stock trailing arm (starting from the middle of the right side of the picture and slanting downward to the left, crossing behind the toe link):


They are both just suspension links. The toe link basically "steers" the rear wheel, but of course it doesn't really do any steering. It just keeps the wheel pointed forward. You adjust rear toe by adjusting the length of the toe link.

The trailing link connects to the body at the front and the middle of the lower lateral suspension arm at the back. At the body, there is a rubber bushing that can be replaced with an Unobtanium bushing, or you can replace the trailing arm to get a spherical rod end just like the ones on the toe link in my picture. Getting rid of the rubber bushing helps to combat wheel hop. The bushing at the other end is a pillow ball that is pressed into the lower lateral arm. A bolt goes through that pillow ball into the end of the traling link. You can't improve on the Mazda bushing in that location, so if you have play there you just get a new part from Mazda. The stock trailing links are not adjstable, but it is possible to adjust the length of the M2 trailing links. However, such an adjustment does not have much value -- it is just a side effect of their construction.

The M2 replacement trailing arms also give a little more clearance for wide rims. The additional clearance is afforded by the link being smaller and also that the center of the bushing is moved inward (toward the center of the car) slightly at the body. My 18x10" CCW wheels fit fine with the stock trailing arms, but 17" rims with the same offset will rub the side of the trailing arm, so one remedy is to get the M2 trailing links.

I hope that helps. Just post if you have any more questions about them.

-Max

Cetchup

Thanks for the post Max! Two more questions I have are, I might be getting some coilovers or some H&R Springs. Do the M2 trailing arms and toe links conflict with any aftermarket spring/strut or coilover setup?

How much improved will the handling be of my car if the toe links and trailing arms are installed? Will i be able to take corners faster or will my car just be more "solid"? Thanks again.

maxcooper

I can't imagine any way the toe links or trailing arms would interfere with a spring/shock setup, so you are fine there.

The toe links give the back of the car a more solid feel and reduce vagueness. They increased my confidence in the handling, so I could use more the car's abilities in the corner (the limiting factor is definitely still me at this point ). So, I think you will be faster with them, even if the theoretical limits haven't changed much. Of course, my problem may have been more that there was slop in my old, worn toe links, but I still think they will give you more confidence in the rear of the car.

I don't think the trailing links give as noticable a change in feel (I've got stock trailing links with Unobtanium bushings on my car), but they should help eliminate wheel hop on launches and probably do add to the solid feeling to some extent.

-Max