Ben

iTrader: (33)

Putting together NB Bilsteins. I can't tell from the shop manual which rubber bushing goes over and which goes under the top hat. There are 2, each roughly the shape of a UFO. But one is a little more conical on one side and is labled "UP". The second is uniform on both sides and has no apparent top or bottom.

From trial and error fitment, it seems to me that the spacer with the conical side goes underneath the top hat, obviously with the side labled up facing up. And then the uniform spacer goes on top of the top hat and under the top washer.

Can one of you verify for me please? I can take pics if need be, but I'd imagine that anyone who's taken apart NB shock assemblies before knows what I mean.

Also the FCM bumps were a very tight fit over the rear shock shafts. Should I apply a little bit of a lubricant to avoid an possible squeaks?

Atlanta93LE

iTrader: (5)

Bah, I wish I remembered! I have a picture somewhere; I'll look for it if nobody else chimes in.

levnubhin

iTrader: (30)

Hope this helps.
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cjernigan

iTrader: (13)

Conical goes under the tophat.

Ben

iTrader: (33)

Phil, I've got that diagram. Problem with it is you can't tell which is which between 28-7768 and 28-7758. One bushing is conical on one end and flat on the other while the other is symmetrical about the horizontal axis. Not having the advantage of taking these assemblies apart, or any NB assemblies for that matter, puts me at a disadvantage when using the crappy Mazda diagram.

Chad, that's what I thought. It made the most sense when putting the assembly together to have the conical bushing under the top hat.

levnubhin

iTrader: (30)

http://www.flyinmiata.com/images/mis...s/DSCN7692.jpg

You can see that the wider bushing goes under the hat.
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Ben

iTrader: (33)

Nice pic! Yep, that's exactly what I did.
Only difference with the bilsteins is they have a spring perch that slides on instead of built in perches like on those AGX shocks.

levnubhin

iTrader: (30)

I had to do this research when I put NB hats on my NA so I knew there were some good pics out there.
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cjernigan

iTrader: (13)

Lets get some poly bushings for our NBs ben, i hate the fact that when I unbolted my lower ball joint i still had to pry the A-arms down instead of just letting them fall. I can't believe how bound up they are.

Ben

iTrader: (33)

Emilio's bushing kit is on my expanding list of things I want.

I'm going to need to do diff bushings again too, but think I'll probably do mazda comp instead of the poly.

I need to look at the motor mounts on the blue car. It feels like they've been replaced and they are definately harsh compared to stock.

harmsway102205

where can the entire NB tophat including all the spacers and what not be purchased?

I have a NA with illuminas + FM springs but the ride is a bit harsh.
looking to improve the ride quality.