Nothing to see here, just project Sisyphus, move along
#2966
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Awww, you shouldn't have said anything. Now I'm not nearly as impressed with Hater.
#2973
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Ok, so I did some things and completely forgot to post about them.
Rather than tempt fate, I decided to order new NB FUCAs direct from Mazda using my shiny new MMD account. The standard ones were out of stock (of course) so I had to buy the ABS ones. The price difference was like $7 so I'm not going to cry about the $130+ I saved over buying from literally any other vendor online. I also bought a new under-tray No regrets.
So of course the first thing you do when buying new parts is modify them!
Following along on another thread, went to the hardware store and I built things thing:
Not my pic, but you can go here to learn more -> https://www.miataturbo.net/suspensio...0/#post1132146
And I had my bushings removed in a matter of minutes. Does anyone want a set of brand new, never used OEM rubber FUCA bushings?
Flanges still intact! Seriously, you want them let me know otherwise they are going in the trash. I've got way too much **** in my garage already.
The next step was to install Energy Suspension FUCA bushings that I've been sitting on since I bought the complete vehicle kit back in April of 2014:
Also seen here is the most excellent poly bushing bronze retrofit kit by those hansom devils over at SADFab. You can learn more about this in the Big *** bushing info thread
As you can see, it all went together flawlessly. Note that the retrofit includes zerk fittings for ease of maintenance.
And because Amsoil Dominator is appropriate for everything, I've chosen to use it on my suspension bushings as well.
Anyhow, off to go get this stuff installed.
Rather than tempt fate, I decided to order new NB FUCAs direct from Mazda using my shiny new MMD account. The standard ones were out of stock (of course) so I had to buy the ABS ones. The price difference was like $7 so I'm not going to cry about the $130+ I saved over buying from literally any other vendor online. I also bought a new under-tray No regrets.
So of course the first thing you do when buying new parts is modify them!
Following along on another thread, went to the hardware store and I built things thing:
Not my pic, but you can go here to learn more -> https://www.miataturbo.net/suspensio...0/#post1132146
And I had my bushings removed in a matter of minutes. Does anyone want a set of brand new, never used OEM rubber FUCA bushings?
Flanges still intact! Seriously, you want them let me know otherwise they are going in the trash. I've got way too much **** in my garage already.
The next step was to install Energy Suspension FUCA bushings that I've been sitting on since I bought the complete vehicle kit back in April of 2014:
Also seen here is the most excellent poly bushing bronze retrofit kit by those hansom devils over at SADFab. You can learn more about this in the Big *** bushing info thread
As you can see, it all went together flawlessly. Note that the retrofit includes zerk fittings for ease of maintenance.
And because Amsoil Dominator is appropriate for everything, I've chosen to use it on my suspension bushings as well.
Anyhow, off to go get this stuff installed.
#2979
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Very NorCal
Posts: 10,448
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^^ hi_im_sean and I have been chatting and taking measurements of things since yesterday evening, and we are both pretty much convinced the bushing thing is some sort of production variance/tolerance stacking on Mazda's part. You can get away with a lot of mismatch with a rubber bushing, but even less so with poly. Or delrin. I ain't even mad, its not like they can possibly take all variances into consideration when they build these things.
I'm going to try to buy some fender washers to use as shims today and try to figure out how much slack I need to take up in the FUCA. Not looking forward to trying to do this on the drill press, but the work vice should help. After that its find a lathe and see if I can (or more accurately, have someone else) remove the appropriate amount of material from the inner sleeve.
Although... I could just leave the washer shim in place and use that to adjust caster?
I'm going to try to buy some fender washers to use as shims today and try to figure out how much slack I need to take up in the FUCA. Not looking forward to trying to do this on the drill press, but the work vice should help. After that its find a lathe and see if I can (or more accurately, have someone else) remove the appropriate amount of material from the inner sleeve.
Although... I could just leave the washer shim in place and use that to adjust caster?