I need some help and expert advice!
I have a 94 with 145K on the chassis and the joints are pretty much shot, and so are the front bearings and the bushings just can't be in good order.

Wishlist:
1. Poly Bushings
2. Diff mounts
3. Motor mounts
4. f/r wheel bearings
5. all joints

I am in on the GB on the ES bushings set which will include the diff mounts.

I have a hard time deciding on which motor mounts to go with, any suggestions??? im not concerned with NVH too much, but i know i would not want to go with metal ones for example...so some help on this as well
i am leaning to mazda comp though fwiw

Bearings, I'm pretty much set on going with Timken bearings, from what i heared so far they are better quality than OEM...i like that...if anyone disagrees please let me know why...but i think advance sells those

Joints-this is my biggest dilema-i know nothing about them-school me!
I've spent some time reading up on these and I am not liking what i hear, but you gotta do what you gotta do...Seems that the upper joint has to be replaced along with the entire upper control arm. the lower is no issue, very simple IMO, just not sure what people prefere where to get these, i don't mind paying a bit more for the good **** (not NAPA).
Last, outer tie rods, I have an R package, and i am finding that i can only order these through mazda comp...correct me if I'm wrong...

I have an extra set of control arms, front and rear, and i wanted to get them powder coated (i got a freind to do it for cheap) and then do all the bushings outside the car and just kind of tackle everything in one weekend.

All help appreciated.
Thanks,
Dan

 

dammit....noone?

 

might be cheaper to just buy another Miata! ha ha!

 

if i do, im still keeping this one...so no go, lol

 

FWIW, I bought the Mazdaspeed motor mounts and I couldn't be happier with the results.

Regards,

Rafa

 

does your motor sit significantly lower? enough to notice?

thanks Rafa

 

No, not really Dan, at least not so much I can see it. I'll find out soon enough though; I ordered the Autonexion hood and I'm waiting for it to get here.

 

Hey Dan, I didn't realize you had an R. Where's the pics?

Rafa - how long does it take Mazda to process the Mazdaspeed app? Mine's been close to 2 weeks now, and the website says 'in process' on my account.

C

 

i hope your not a purist lol

 

Chris, I bought mines from a guy on ebay who had some sets. I was in a bind because I discovered that mines were shot when I went to install the turbo kit. It took a week for me to get them.

BTW Dan, thanks for this thread. I'm starting this part of my car's upgrade and brakes come next. And thanks to you too Chris for the gb. You rock man!

 

You tell me.

Cruise control retrofit - On order.
Power mirrors - Looking for.
R suspension - Gone 2 owners ago. Flex's are going in.
Autoconexion CF hood and trunk on order. There goes the trunk spoiler. :(
Non-leather stock wheel, yuck. My Momo will take care of that.

C

 

I have mazdacomp's.
Engine noise transfer through the mounts increased slightly, not enough to be disturbing imo. Vibrations increased slightly aswell, mostly around idle (800rpm).

On the plus side, there is absolutely no wierd weight transfers anymore, the kind of transfers you get when the engine moves in worn mounts. Just feels a lot better to drive.

Even my GF doesnt think it is too much vibrations, her only comment after driving the car was "I like the new growl".

My mazdacomp mounts where 3mm taller than the OEM ones, theyre probably about the same hight when the oem's are new though.

 

chris-welcome to thedark side muahaahha
Niklas-thanks, useful info, i read somewhere that the motor will sit 1/2" (1.27cm lol) lower with the comp mounts...?
Rafa-no problem, i've been meaning to address this for a while now, i just want to compile as much useful info into one post so it may be easier for those to come

 

i have the MMR mounts, the car vibrates like mad, but the car "feels" much better

 

does your motor sit significantly lower? enough to notice?

thanks Bryan

lol

 

Would have been great, but doesnt seem to be true.

 

so here is what i will do
find reasonable place that sells OEM upper control arms and and R package tie rod ends and lower ball joints...factory stuff if i can...maybe from mazda comp...

Timken bearings from autozone...through discount

ES-bushings group buy with diff mounts

MMR-(most likely) motor mounts, not sure where from yet, any recomendations?

Thanks to all who helped

Dan

 

You should ask RappaDan on this issue, but with our hood (erebuni) I think he remarked the hood would have fit w/o cutting. I guess that would imply it lowers the motor.