So, this weekend I pulled the rear upper control arms off to grease the bushings during a shock install and found that the ID of the sleeves in the inner bushings are WAY oversized. So, I went to look up part numbers on the ES website, and found that a BUNCH of the sleeves are .5" ID and the bolts that go inside them are 10mm!


http://www.energysuspensionparts.com...sion/17492.pdf

http://www.energysuspensionparts.com...sion/17491.pdf



I guess this explains why my car won't hold an alignment. Is this a known thing, and I've just never seen it? How can they sell these things like this? And how can I have never seen it before?

 

Also, the ES website is abysmal. The link to the Miata rear control arm kit installation .pdf goes to a GTO install. I had to find it by brute force hunting through nearby .pdf file names.

 

Turns out the reason nobody has noticed this before is that Energy Suspension changed the spec on the sleeves in 2010. They were thrilled to send me some more sleeves.

Also, energysuspensionparts.com isn't affiliated with ES. They're just a dealer, so ES isn't responsible for their horrendous website... :/

I Feel like a dork.

 

Their website sucks, but their prices rule. I just ordered some Prothane and Whiteline **** from them.

I find the easiest way to deal with them is to dig up the part numbers and just search them directly. You'll drive yourself insane otherwise.