I am trying to understand this?
I am well aware that using aftermarket trailing arms reduces wheel hop. And I know that changing that rubber bushing to the round spherical heim joint style will eliminate flex, that's why I bought them. But, the other end of the trailing arm that bolts into the lower control arm is another rubber bushing... ?? Doesn't make any sense to replace just one.
I understand that under load that forward bushing takes the hit from the launch, but isn't there just a tiny amount of deflection backwards that puts stress on that back bushing? I haven't found anyone discussing this so I'm guessing it plays a very minimal part. Also, don't they make a spherical end that REPLACES the one in the control are? By replaces I mean aftermarket, not stock Mazda. |
Re: I am trying to understand this?
Originally posted by hardbodeez But, the other end of the trailing arm that bolts into the lower control arm is another rubber bushing... ?? In the first picture below, you can see the pillow bushings and rubber dust caps at lower left, next to their positions in the lower control arms. In the second picture, you can see a close up of one of the pillow bushings packed with grease prior to installing the dust cap, and one already installed. https://www.rx7club.com/forum/attach...postid=2141226 https://www.rx7club.com/forum/attach...postid=2141272 Also, don't they make a spherical end that REPLACES the one in the control arm? By replaces I mean aftermarket, not stock Mazda. |
Thanks Jim, ya I saw the dust caps and thought it was all rubber. But How do I determine how much play, is too much play, and how often do those bushings themselves get worn out?
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Originally posted by hardbodeez But How do I determine how much play, is too much play...? |
Of special note in the photos above are the Mazdaspeed rubber bushings vice nylon ones :D
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Originally posted by PVerdieck Of special note in the photos above are the Mazdaspeed rubber bushings vice nylon ones :D Not understand you say what, I. -Max |
Originally posted by PVerdieck Of special note in the photos above are the Mazdaspeed rubber bushings vice nylon ones :D https://www.rx7club.com/forum/attach...postid=2141226 |
More pics of the OEM pillow bushings...
http://home.gci.net/~jimlab/images/B...Bushing003.jpg http://home.gci.net/~jimlab/images/B...Bushing007.jpg OEM rear upper control arm bushing on the left, Nylon on the right, custom pillow ball (note articulation) in the center. https://www.rx7club.com/forum/attach...postid=2048116 All this and more available here... :D https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...5&pagenumber=1 |
You know what though, these little pillow ball bushing designs seem so wimpy, since most people change them often anyway. The actual spherical rod end design,(especially with a large one) is a much stronger setup to take beatings.
What Mazda should have done if they were going to keep this design is gone with much larger pillow ball bushings to take the abuse, or offer an upgraded stronger one in it's place. It's not rocket science that these little ends and the rubber bushing design will wear out fast, it seems like another chance for Mazda to make a killing on replacement parts.....that still have the oem strength. Anyone with me on this? |
Originally posted by hardbodeez You know what though, these little pillow ball bushing designs seem so wimpy, since most people change them often anyway. The actual spherical rod end design,(especially with a large one) is a much stronger setup to take beatings. |
Originally posted by jimlab Maybe you should ask people how many miles they get out of the rod ends in their aftermarket toe links and trailing arms before you make a decision. Jimlab and DamonB - what trailing arms and toe links do you use? |
Well it's to late, I already have the aftermarket toe links and trailing arms on the car. And when I took the stock trailing arms off, they had a slight bend to them, aftermarket is much stronger.
I thought that the rod ends lasted as long as no dirt got in there? |
Originally posted by Detbyron Jimlab and DamonB - what trailing arms and toe links do you use? It's no more expensive to replace the stock toe link bushings than to "upgrade" to aftermarket toe links. When you go aftermarket you'll have to pay for a new alignment too. If you stay stock and label the left and right sides you have no need to realign the car afterwards. Most of the wheel hop problem comes from the trailing arm bushing. Adding jim's bushings here will cure the majority of it and diff mounts will take car of the rest. I have spent a lot of track time on both aftermarket and stock toe links and I can tell no difference between them at all except that the stock ones don't wear out near as fast. |
Originally posted by hardbodeez I thought that the rod ends lasted as long as no dirt got in there? |
Originally posted by hardbodeez And when I took the stock trailing arms off, they had a slight bend to them, aftermarket is much stronger. I thought that the rod ends lasted as long as no dirt got in there? I also have a set of custom pillow bushings installed in stock trailing arms, and I have a pair of my Nylon trailing arm bushings being made as part of the most recent group buy, so let's just say that my mind hasn't been totally made up yet where the trailing arms are concerned. :D |
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