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Full Suspension Refresh

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Full Suspension Refresh

Postby notch000 » Tue, 23 Nov 2021 12:03 +0000

Anyone done it ? my cars 22 yrs old now with 125K mile and beginning to feel it .
Thinking of doing a full rebuild bushing kit, sway bar bushed, engine mount ? drop link

https://www.ilmotorsport.de/en/mx-5-ilm ... -7021/1259 (Roughly 20euro each, how much are OEM bushes ???)
New engine mounts OEM ?
drop link i did a couple of year ago but might redo as there cheap enought
No really though about the diff mounts, are these DIY able ?
I also have fresh enough Meister colovers. just looking to sharpen up everything else now

Is there anything else I am missing ?
notch000
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Re: Full Suspension Refresh

Postby Pops » Tue, 23 Nov 2021 1:34 +0000

I've done most of it, did all the wishbone bushes with ebay poly bushes but not engine mounts or antiroll bars. The results were terrible, very poor ride compared to the knackered original bushes so as a result I had to do it all over again.
This time I bought all the rear wishbone from the main dealer, and the front ones I think I got from the motor factors, I won't fit polys ever again
I imagine I posted about it so I'll have a look back and see what I did
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Re: Full Suspension Refresh

Postby notch000 » Tue, 23 Nov 2021 1:38 +0000

i havw already decided again polybushing. The 1L ones are regarded as OEM+ quality & ride compliance. Any idea what sort of price the mazda ones were.
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Re: Full Suspension Refresh

Postby Pops » Tue, 23 Nov 2021 1:56 +0000

As far as I recall the 14 bushes for the rear was approx €400 which was disappointing as when I first priced the front And rear bushes they weren't much more than that, it was a good few months later when I did eventually order them.
One thing to look out for is the rear lower wishbone outer bushes are different foreword and rearward, I think most of the information is here
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=8935&p=69384&hilit=+Bushes#p69364
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Re: Full Suspension Refresh

Postby notch000 » Tue, 23 Nov 2021 3:56 +0000

nice post, il be going with the 1L option for the full set. Are the rear easier then the front to get in / out or is it much of the same ??? found the rear coilovers a piece of cake compared to the fronts
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Re: Full Suspension Refresh

Postby Pops » Tue, 23 Nov 2021 4:33 +0000

It was a hell of a job getting the original bushes out when I stupidly fitted the polys,(the polys just as good as fell out when I took them out) I seem to recall having to drill through the rubber part and using a hacksaw to cut the metal part on one of them, also tried burning them but brute force wins eventually, job would be much easier if you have access to a press.
My front ones were easy enough as I replaced the top arms completely, they came with the bushes already fitted.
You should be prepared for the rear alignment bolts breaking though, would be helpful if you can douse them in penetrating oil for a few days, if you do break any I've got a few as I replaced all mine
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Re: Full Suspension Refresh

Postby Steve » Fri, 03 Dec 2021 1:00 +0000

I also replaced rubber bushings for polys and went back to OEM-ish (IL bushings). Much happier.
The engine mounts I replaced with Mazdaspeed mounts, it tightened things significantly with the trade off being a bit more vibration.
Rear diff bushings are DIY-able, have seen it done without removing the diff from the car, I'll dig out the vid.

Here it is : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgYtWHCeMEA
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