Control/trailing arms with metal bearings
10-10-18, 05:15 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Control/trailing arms with metal bearings
Forgive me forum if I have sinned, it has been a full day of searching off and on for my question to no avail. I am in the process of ordering parts for my new FD build and a full set of upper/lower control arms, trailing arms and toe rods are up for debate. To me switching to the newer, lighter and stiffer parts makes seses in every way if it fits into your budget. The real question is this:
Does switching from a bushing system to a spherical bearing make your ride unbearable? To me I want to enjoy taking my car for a ride since it will be 98% cruise and show 2% legit track time.
I have read many many builds on here over the years but no one has ever really said what they think about the ride quality afterwards (that I have found).
Any experience or general input appreciated. Looking at the full alignment set from parts shop max (bronze color if you Google search) or the standard one from set others have used from Megan Racing.
Does switching from a bushing system to a spherical bearing make your ride unbearable? To me I want to enjoy taking my car for a ride since it will be 98% cruise and show 2% legit track time.
I have read many many builds on here over the years but no one has ever really said what they think about the ride quality afterwards (that I have found).
Any experience or general input appreciated. Looking at the full alignment set from parts shop max (bronze color if you Google search) or the standard one from set others have used from Megan Racing.
10-12-18, 09:22 AM
#2
Moderator
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: https://www2.mazda.com/en/100th/
Posts: 30,778
Received 2,563 Likes
on
1,823 Posts
ride quality stays the same, noise transmitted goes up. the rubber bushings are nice because they absorb small impacts, bearings will not, stuff will bend.
on a street car, the lower arms should probably stay rubber, and the same in the rear
on a street car, the lower arms should probably stay rubber, and the same in the rear
10-12-18, 05:43 PM
#3
The aftermarket spherical bearings without dust seals wear out even faster than the stock FD spherical bearings with dust seals, which themselves only last 30-50,000 miles.
Beware Megan Racing quality, friend had those arms on his S2000 and they only lasted a couple thousand miles before the bearings went sloppy.
Beware Megan Racing quality, friend had those arms on his S2000 and they only lasted a couple thousand miles before the bearings went sloppy.
10-13-18, 08:21 AM
#4
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Thank you for this info. Noise is going to be controlled a bit by the addition of Dynamat so if ride quality stays the say I may still be a happy camper.
10-13-18, 08:27 AM
#5
Junior Member
Thread Starter
The aftermarket spherical bearings without dust seals wear out even faster than the stock FD spherical bearings with dust seals, which themselves only last 30-50,000 miles.
Beware Megan Racing quality, friend had those arms on his S2000 and they only lasted a couple thousand miles before the bearings went sloppy.
Beware Megan Racing quality, friend had those arms on his S2000 and they only lasted a couple thousand miles before the bearings went sloppy.
10-13-18, 09:01 AM
#6
Almost everything in the rear of the FD is sealed spherical bearings stock, with forged Aluminum lower and squeeze cast upper arms.
The real benefit of the PBM rear kit is allows for is radical re-alignment in the pits after an on course incident drifting. The parts are heavier than stock, weaker than stock (they will break at the threaded portion of the rod ends first) and the unsealed spherical bearings will even wear out faster than stock.
If simply you want to eliminate all the bushings in the rear suspension for spherical bearings you can purchase the Super Now rear upper arm pillow ball kit-
https://www.rhdjapan.com/super-now-r...-set-fd3s.html
and the trailing arm set of your choice-
https://www.rhdjapan.com/kts-rear-pi...rx-7-fd3s.html
as the front of the trailing arm and the inner and shock mounting point on the upper arm are the only bushings in the FD rear suspension (rest are sealed spherical bearings).
The real benefit of the PBM rear kit is allows for is radical re-alignment in the pits after an on course incident drifting. The parts are heavier than stock, weaker than stock (they will break at the threaded portion of the rod ends first) and the unsealed spherical bearings will even wear out faster than stock.
If simply you want to eliminate all the bushings in the rear suspension for spherical bearings you can purchase the Super Now rear upper arm pillow ball kit-
https://www.rhdjapan.com/super-now-r...-set-fd3s.html
and the trailing arm set of your choice-
https://www.rhdjapan.com/kts-rear-pi...rx-7-fd3s.html
as the front of the trailing arm and the inner and shock mounting point on the upper arm are the only bushings in the FD rear suspension (rest are sealed spherical bearings).
10-13-18, 11:07 AM
#7
Moderator
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: https://www2.mazda.com/en/100th/
Posts: 30,778
Received 2,563 Likes
on
1,823 Posts
Trending Topics
10-13-18, 08:22 PM
#8
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Almost everything in the rear of the FD is sealed spherical bearings stock, with forged Aluminum lower and squeeze cast upper arms.
The real benefit of the PBM rear kit is allows for is radical re-alignment in the pits after an on course incident drifting. The parts are heavier than stock, weaker than stock (they will break at the threaded portion of the rod ends first) and the unsealed spherical bearings will even wear out faster than stock.
If simply you want to eliminate all the bushings in the rear suspension for spherical bearings you can purchase the Super Now rear upper arm pillow ball kit-
https://www.rhdjapan.com/super-now-r...-set-fd3s.html
and the trailing arm set of your choice-
https://www.rhdjapan.com/kts-rear-pi...rx-7-fd3s.html
as the front of the trailing arm and the inner and shock mounting point on the upper arm are the only bushings in the FD rear suspension (rest are sealed spherical bearings).
The real benefit of the PBM rear kit is allows for is radical re-alignment in the pits after an on course incident drifting. The parts are heavier than stock, weaker than stock (they will break at the threaded portion of the rod ends first) and the unsealed spherical bearings will even wear out faster than stock.
If simply you want to eliminate all the bushings in the rear suspension for spherical bearings you can purchase the Super Now rear upper arm pillow ball kit-
https://www.rhdjapan.com/super-now-r...-set-fd3s.html
and the trailing arm set of your choice-
https://www.rhdjapan.com/kts-rear-pi...rx-7-fd3s.html
as the front of the trailing arm and the inner and shock mounting point on the upper arm are the only bushings in the FD rear suspension (rest are sealed spherical bearings).
I truly appreciate the great reply, this is why I love a classic car community.
10-13-18, 08:23 PM
#9
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Valkyrie
3rd Generation Specific (1993-2002)
9
04-13-16 07:56 AM
Juan
Group Buy & Product Dev. FD RX-7
4
12-11-12 03:02 AM