I have an NB, as does a local friend. We both need bushings.

What's the good word? I'm going to swap an a-arm anyway, and thought, I want a nice upgrade. I've got stiff suspension, chasis braces all over the place. I don't want to spend a ton, but if it's the big upgrade to keep the rear end from squirming, etc... I'm in.

Any advice on which to get, what they cost, etc?

 

I got Energy Suspension. About 200 for all control arm bushings. I did the fronts, somewhat annoying to install. Definitely not looking forward to doing the rears though.

 

What other bushings are there? I guess I should/could do diff mounts while I have it out. :-)

How long did it take you? I have access to a lift, and a press, so I would hope it'd go pretty quick.

 

Hey! They don't make 2000 model parts?

They don't list it on their website, but FM sells them for all cars without asking for the year. I wish FM were closer, I'd drop in and get a set since I'm doing my a-arms tomorrow.

 

Getting the arms off is the easy part, getting the old bushings out is a bitch.
I got mine from 949 racing, get the tool from harbor freight.
Removing control arm bushings

It took me about 5-6 hours to do them all, but I also painted all the control arms while they where out.
Also so you know the energy suspension bushings lowered my car another half inch or so.. (at least in the back, front probably dropped about a quarter inch)

 

look here:
Energy Suspension HyperFlex bushings 90-05 Miata

 

I did the bushing thing a couple years ago and it was a job. Definitely can be a blood letter. My regret is that even though I greased them well during the install there is no way to lubricate them without taking everything back apart. Once the lube dries up the suspension will bind and not work correctly. Installing some zerk fittings would be great for that problem.

 

Never heard of that happening. Anyone got any more insight on this? I've only heard of it causing squeaks.

I've only done the fronts so far out of laziness. Took me about 2 hours on one side because of multiple brain farts etc etc. The next side went much quicker.

 

Anyone else do bushings and as a result their car got lower?

 

I just did them, so I'll keep an eye out for this.

 

The fundamental flaw in a lot of bushing kits is the fact that the bushing is too wide for the sleeve, so tightening up the camber bolt actually compresses the bushing ends and causes bind. I've done three delrin bushing installs and on every set I had to trim the overall width of the bushing so that the subframe did not clamp down on the bushing, only the sleeve with the camber bolt was torqued.

 

So, they do, only the sway bar bushings are different. 949 racing will hook you up with just what you want. I found another place where they were noticeably cheaper ($218.01 shipped). I was THIS close to skipping the bushings for the sway bar end links and getting the upgraded links, there should be a discount package for that. :-) Anyway, the best part is it comes with differential mounts. How cool is that?

Thanks, btw.

 

Interesting on the width. I'll keep an eye out. They'd be kinda hard to trim, I'd think. You're totally right, there's no good reason for them to be too long.

I've heard you want to grease the hell out of them, but not that there's problems. I guess fittings wouldn't be impossible.

Interesting on the lowering thing. I've got adjustable coil overs anyway, but that IS interesting. Anyone else seen it? It doesn't seem to make a lot of sense. You'd think, if anything, it would raise the car... By the difference in the sag.

I should have gotten them from 949, unfortunately, with tax it ends up being nearly $60 more, plus I wouldn't have seen them for a couple days. :-\

 

Here is a before and after pic, the one in the mountains is before I changed them, the crappy one with the fence is one I just went and took.
It's a little hard to tell because of the lighting.
Oh and the front lip in the latest pic is the GV knockoff so dont let that throw you off


I was told the bushings lower the car because the poly bushings move freely and the stock rubber ones don't, which creates resistance that keeps less weight on the springs. or something like that.

 

I'm in the process of doing mine right now. The rear is done, now for the fronts. I also ordered mmr motor and diff mounts. I got my kit from 949racing.com

 

MMR?

I have mazdacomp motor mounts. Much better than the stockers with one torn. :-) I keep thinking of upgrading, but to what? :-)

I'm going to have a lift and a shop press, so I'm thinking it'll go quick. Doing two cars at once, but we'll probably do it in parallel.

 

Huh. Sure as heck is lower, weird as it is. Won't bother me with coil overs, though.

Notice a big difference? Any special tips on putting them in/out?

 

Yeah, I desperately need to lower the rear end of my car about half an inch...I was trying to convince myself to buy coil over suspension but thankfully, it seems as if this will do the trick.

Whats exactly involved in replacing the rear bushings? How much time and how labor intensive is it? Sorry for the slight hi-jack..

Nomie

 

Made a huge difference, the car is a ton stiffer all around, more responsive.

The hardest part is getting the OEM bushings out, once you do that the rest is easy

 

I burnt mine out with a torch.