opinions/reviews of jimlab unobtainium bushings
03-10-02, 03:56 PM
#1
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 209
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
opinions/reviews of jimlab unobtainium bushings
I have been putting off installing my unobtainium bushings. I have all the parts, and a friend with a hydraulic press in his garage waiting for me. But I am hesitating putting them in.
What are your experiences with the jimlab bushings? I'm worried because they are very stiff, and it is not something that is easy to undo if i dont like it.
What are your experiences with the jimlab bushings? I'm worried because they are very stiff, and it is not something that is easy to undo if i dont like it.
03-13-02, 02:10 AM
#3
T-RX7 had his installed on his 93 R1 and says he can barely notice any extra harshness in the suspension. then again, he has a 93 R1, the stiffest of the bunch.
Mine are (finally) going in this next month, after a) Jim sells me his front polished suspension too (damn you Jim! Make me wait!) or b) I just have mine polished. Looking for that go-kart action, hehe.
Mine are (finally) going in this next month, after a) Jim sells me his front polished suspension too (damn you Jim! Make me wait!) or b) I just have mine polished. Looking for that go-kart action, hehe.
03-13-02, 02:58 AM
#4
I also have a very stiff suspension to begin with and did not notice much of a difference in ride comfort, slightly more noise but no big deal. I like them alot, but if you don't road race or autoX you will probably not appriciate the benefits of this kit. Sell it to someone who will and use the money to buy a big shinny muffler or something.
03-15-02, 01:41 AM
#5
Super Snuggles
I have dozens of customer testimonials now, but here's one from the well known and respected Howard Coleman...
I think that sums it up nicely... the rest are very similar with the common recurring theme being surprise at the lack of ride harshness and relatively low level of noise generated by the stiffer suspension connection points. The other common theme is the vast improvement in road feel, handling, and the elimination of wheel hop.
Install them or don't, Lenny. I'm sure someone else would like to have them if you're not interested.
7-18-2001
last week my evenings were devoted to installing jim's bushings in my friend frank's (3). monday was devoted to driving the car as fast as possible at brainerd int'l (2.5 mile road course in northern minnesota) my observations:
the only question i had was whether the diff bushings would transmit too much nvh. no problem at all. there are areas of the country where i wouldn't drive an rx7 due to really bad roads... but other than that qualification, i would conclude that the bushings, including the diff bushings, are a major plus with no drawbacks as to ride comfort etc.
the car clearly reacts to steering (you have removed your power steering haven't you?) more quickly and is more linear.
as to track performance...
the ferrari club of north america sponsored the track day. lots of red. Derrick Bell was the featured guest (perhaps the greatest endurance driver of all time and an early F1 ferrari driver). of perhaps more interest were about 35 ferraris a number of turbo porsches, a viper, a bunch of corvettes, an M5, a bmw big engined 2 seater (forget the nomenclature), 2 maronellos, a couple of lambos., a bunch of ferrari challenge 355s, some sort of lotus and of course frank's mazda (mine was at home with a noisy input shaft bearing). this was the 5th annual ferrari event at brainerd that we have attended w frank's rx7. needless to say when we first showed the mica blue (3) was lost in a sea of red ferraris until they dropped the green flag at the track and we have been the fastest car at the track since. (other than a tube frame panoz that was there last year).
the only car that appeared able to run with us monday was a very well modified turbo 911 (930?, again not up on the labels) both of us were on hoosiers. unfortunately, the only time we were together on the track (the last session) frank popped a valve off his "y" pipe and the car only made 5 pounds of boost so we weren't able to square off. as an aside, after we left the porsche driver (who i think was an excellent driver skillwise) switched back to his street tires for the last session and put the car in the woods at a fairly high rate of speed. he was uninjured (cage etc) but the car probably won't be out for the late august session.
bottom line on the bushings... those that own them are lucky. those that are waiting for them are lucky. those that are out in the cold with no bushings and none on order, well that's why they are called unobtainium or make that unobtainable.
thanks jim for fixing a major weak link on the car and how about sending my order out first amongst the over 100 sets recently ordered. if that porsche gets put together for the late august event i'd love to show him what the rear end of my rx7 looks like.
howard coleman
last week my evenings were devoted to installing jim's bushings in my friend frank's (3). monday was devoted to driving the car as fast as possible at brainerd int'l (2.5 mile road course in northern minnesota) my observations:
the only question i had was whether the diff bushings would transmit too much nvh. no problem at all. there are areas of the country where i wouldn't drive an rx7 due to really bad roads... but other than that qualification, i would conclude that the bushings, including the diff bushings, are a major plus with no drawbacks as to ride comfort etc.
the car clearly reacts to steering (you have removed your power steering haven't you?) more quickly and is more linear.
as to track performance...
the ferrari club of north america sponsored the track day. lots of red. Derrick Bell was the featured guest (perhaps the greatest endurance driver of all time and an early F1 ferrari driver). of perhaps more interest were about 35 ferraris a number of turbo porsches, a viper, a bunch of corvettes, an M5, a bmw big engined 2 seater (forget the nomenclature), 2 maronellos, a couple of lambos., a bunch of ferrari challenge 355s, some sort of lotus and of course frank's mazda (mine was at home with a noisy input shaft bearing). this was the 5th annual ferrari event at brainerd that we have attended w frank's rx7. needless to say when we first showed the mica blue (3) was lost in a sea of red ferraris until they dropped the green flag at the track and we have been the fastest car at the track since. (other than a tube frame panoz that was there last year).
the only car that appeared able to run with us monday was a very well modified turbo 911 (930?, again not up on the labels) both of us were on hoosiers. unfortunately, the only time we were together on the track (the last session) frank popped a valve off his "y" pipe and the car only made 5 pounds of boost so we weren't able to square off. as an aside, after we left the porsche driver (who i think was an excellent driver skillwise) switched back to his street tires for the last session and put the car in the woods at a fairly high rate of speed. he was uninjured (cage etc) but the car probably won't be out for the late august session.
bottom line on the bushings... those that own them are lucky. those that are waiting for them are lucky. those that are out in the cold with no bushings and none on order, well that's why they are called unobtainium or make that unobtainable.
thanks jim for fixing a major weak link on the car and how about sending my order out first amongst the over 100 sets recently ordered. if that porsche gets put together for the late august event i'd love to show him what the rear end of my rx7 looks like.
howard coleman
Install them or don't, Lenny. I'm sure someone else would like to have them if you're not interested.
03-15-02, 11:16 AM
#6
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 209
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for the input. I think that I like a stiff ride more than most people, but I was hesitating becuase of most of what I read about the bushings was just hype. I wanted to get opinions from people who actually used them. I'm convinced now, I'll probaly throw them in this weekend.
I am not sure if i should replace my diff mounts. I just put in new factory bushings for the mounts less than a year ago. Will I get major benefits from the diff mount bushings if I am not a drag racer?
I am not sure if i should replace my diff mounts. I just put in new factory bushings for the mounts less than a year ago. Will I get major benefits from the diff mount bushings if I am not a drag racer?
Trending Topics
03-18-02, 10:19 AM
#8
Infamous...Butcher...
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: WA
Posts: 510
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
bushings
Where could one acquire a set of these aforementioned bushings?. I was planning on changing them for new ones anyhow, and hadn't found an alternative to the factory pieces..
RIchard
RIchard
03-19-02, 10:29 AM
#10
Infamous...Butcher...
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: WA
Posts: 510
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for the link, lots of cool stuff there. But I was interested in a set of suspension bushings? I did not see them on the site at all. I see something for bushings in the group buys section, but I only need one set. Is this not a stocking item? Anybody else getting em soon ( like - within a week) perhaps we can GB?
Thanks
-Richard-
Thanks
-Richard-
03-21-02, 07:30 PM
#12
Infamous...Butcher...
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: WA
Posts: 510
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Group Buy
I can't seem to find an active "group buy" for these. Most of the information I can find on this product says the group buy ends 1/18.
On the other hand, anyone have a set they haven't installed yet that they want to sell me? that is, if its gonna be some time before they are available....
-Richard-
Got the info, Thanks Nick!
On the other hand, anyone have a set they haven't installed yet that they want to sell me?
that is, if its gonna be some time before they are available....-Richard-
Got the info, Thanks Nick!
Last edited by BicuspiD; 03-21-02 at 07:58 PM.
03-22-02, 01:05 AM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: los angeles CA
Posts: 339
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
09-20-07, 12:07 PM
#16
Super Snuggles
Maybe you should have spent it on lessons on how to search effectively.
You might have found dozens of posts about clunking in the rear suspension coming from worn out pillow bushings, which can only be replaced with an OEM part. You might even have found out that Ray Crowe has had several group buys on the set of 6 pillow bushings required.
You might have found dozens of posts about clunking in the rear suspension coming from worn out pillow bushings, which can only be replaced with an OEM part. You might even have found out that Ray Crowe has had several group buys on the set of 6 pillow bushings required.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
pfsantos
2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992)
1
09-30-15 01:29 PM
