Last time I had my wheels off I noticed that my outer tie rod ends are pretty nasty. I have a 93LE, so it has the slightly different tie rod ends to help with bump steer, as the car is lower than regular Miatas. These things:

http://www.finishlineperformance.com...tion&key=S1023

I don't know how much of a difference they make, as I've never driven a lowered Miata without them. It would seem a shame to pay $100 for these when you can get a set of the regular ones for ~$30.

Anybody have experience of the Bilstein vs. regular tie rod ends?

 

woah thats a rape price ... sorry dont know the answer.

 

Sorry, $100 for the pair.

 

are those "designed" for lowered cars?

 

Yes. They were put on the 93LE as well as the 94M (93-94 w/ Bilstein), as they were the lowest Miatas stock. It was done to reduce bump steer.

 

There's been quite a bit of discussion on the ends at M.net. I think the conclusion everyone has come up with is that they were different on the 93LE and the 94R, but all the cars got the new-style links after either 95 or 96 (95 IIRC).

 

Well, no, the only cars to use them were the 93LE and 94R. There would be no reason for Mazda to change to these in 95 or anytime thereafter, as all those cars were slightly higher then previous cars, thus negating the bump-steer minimizing effect that the different tie rod ends have. Perhaps you are thinking of the bumpstops, which had a new version first introduced on the 93LE and 94R, and made its way into every 95+ car?

I've done my reasearch about when they were used and what affect they have...I was just posting to see if anybody had switched over to them once lowered, or whether any lowered Miatas around here have trouble with bump steer.

Thanks all

 

When it comes to tie rods ends, this is one area not to mess around.

My friends '90 has the Koni's on the lowest perch, this is lower than my friends stock '94R

(Both cars can go on my lift, the 90 has to be jacked up for the swing arms, the 94R we just lift a little on the fender and the swing arm fits under)

 

When it comes to tie rods ends, this is one area not to mess around.
But you all ready knew that

My friends '90 has the Koni's on the lowest perch, this is lower than my friends stock '94R

(Both cars can go on my lift, the 90 has to be jacked up for the swing arms, the 94R we just lift a little on the fender and the swing arms fit under)

I'ver never heard of complaints of bumpsteer, from either, nor have I noticed any, you could always try the stockers out, and sell them if they don't have work out. Or just spend the 100 bucks and be done with it.

 

If you can get them cheaper than $100/pr, I'm definitely interested

 

http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread...e+rod+ends+94R

Nope. I was thinking of the tie rod ends. Mazda developed a better design in '93, and finally introduced them to all the cars in 95.

 

I'm not going to bicker, but in that link, post #3 clearly states "I checked the parts manuals at MazdaMotorsports and only the 93SE and 94R had the special tie rods. 95+ all used the same, regular tie-rods across all trim/option packages." The final post, #14, is incorrect speculation. Sorry.

It isn't a "better design," it is simply a slightly different tie rod end that positions the steering rack tie rods more parallel to the lower control arm for lower cars, thereby reducing bumpsteer. The newer cars don't need the different design.