$20 solution for AWR Mounts (Rubber Bushings)
 

Want motor mounts that not only restrain significantly better, but are also far more durable than OEM?... AND ISN'T annoying as FU€K??? Sure, AWR and 949 have the "new" version: bigger bushing, 62 duro option, I'm sure it's tits. Those of us with the older ones are shit out of luck though, as 70 duro is the softest available. IDK why on Earth nothing softer was made available, as I can't see even an all out race car needing more. If you've had them, you know. The vibration isn't so bad, but they are much louder than I want for a street car.

Anyway, enough bitching, because I have a solution:

Step 1 - Buy HB-902rubber leaf spring bushings:
- https://www.generalspringkc.com/hb90...uired-per-eye/
- https://www.truckspring.com/products...M__HB-902.aspx

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...b9eef0c6d9.jpg


Step 2 - Cut. Perfection is not necessary, just get it close. WD-40 helps a lot. I only cut one of the halves (~1/4") to match the inside length, and another ~1/4" off each lip. It was super easy.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...a436b8b3a2.jpg
You can see both barrel and lip are a bit longer,
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...7ab0808913.jpg


Step 3 - Press them in. I used my hands, then a vice to finish. Don't go in dry. The collars don't fit, so I ditched them. The bolt is also a hair smaller than the hole (by 1/16"). Will it be an issue? Probably not, but I'll just have to wait and see ...


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...7aef8601d7.jpg
Here it is ready to reinstall.

Step 4 - Enjoy driving your car again.

I was worried because the rubber felt quite firm, but it's perfect. I seriously can't believe the difference. Its quiet as stock, some very subtle extra vibration, and no noticable difference in shifter movement from the 70 duro. This is how these should have come from AWR. Female approved, and cat will love it too!

Hope this helps someone out there!
- Ryan

I'll get these now for the next time I have the engine out of the car (which - based on past history - takes about 2 years to blow up an engine). I can wait because I've had the AWR mounts in for so long, I don't remember what it's like to drive a quiet Miata any more.

Did you consider the Mazda Motorsport mount on the driver side? Sounds like you had AWR (70 duro) on both sides? Very cool, and nice find on the bushings.

Mine is on both sides. I considered the half n' half thing, but I feel like this isbetter. I really don't even get how it made such a significant difference in NVH, since the rubber feels almost as hard as the 70° poly, but I suspect that it has something to do with rubber simply being a better damper. Surely theres a reason why few OEMs use poly. Also, ditching the collar makes the bushing a bit thicker.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/partsearch/?partnum=3908370 digging thru the interchange charts suggest that these are interchangeable.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...af65ab5c87.jpg
I think i'll buy a pair from Rock and report back, cos fuck paying 20 bucks to ship 2 bushes.

edit: Bought the moogs, 14.66 shipped with a coupon

Interested to see if you're as happy with them as me

If anyone is interested:
I've built and tested prototype sets of 1.6 and 1.8 engine mounts (and welding fixture) ~1 1/2 years back with the biggest bushing I could possibly fit and custom 60a duro (specifically made for my mounts from a polyurethane company in the UK) and they are way more tolerable than the AWR mounts. The whole bushing volume is probably twice as big.
I came from Mazda Comp mounts, which gave me a hard time finding gears in my 300whp car... No more problems whatsoever.
Of course these are still louder than stock mounts, but they won't rattle your teeth out or take all of the fun away driving your street car.

Maybe I can find a picture of some mig welding glory (sets for customers would be tig welded and powder coated), I have bushings for 50 sets here, but never actually went on to sell anything or even promote them here. Is this the right time? I don't know...