My bushings shot again

[MrMp3]

Well they lasted 2 f'n months and the cluck is back and bigger than ever. and I had the D series bushings.

Oh well I wish I could get the lemon law thing on this car? HMMM maybe I will see a lawyer bext year about it?

Anybody else try?

[INiTiAL33]

Dammit i knew it.........


and the thing is i just had my "D" bushings put in today....

oh well at least it will last me 2 months.. lol :D

[Newf]

lasted me 4 days.......ha ha. ha

[mazdadan]

Get some energy suspension greasable bushings and fabricate them to fit. It's a lot easier to take a grease gun to them once a month and relube them rather than keep replacing them or the dealer saying they have another wonderful replacement part. I don't know what Mazda was thinking when they designed the sway bar hardware. The made inferior grade end links with plastic pivots on the ends and put bushings on the sway bars that are way too small to absorb the creaking.

[freekwonder]

I guess I am just lucky. Ihad mine replaced three or four months ago and it hasnt come back yet. I have some squeaks, but only when its cold (we are getting in the low 20's in MO) but no clunk. KNOCK ON WOOD (freekwonder knocks had on his own head)

[Newf]

just seen the speed today. Had dealer check part number for the rear bushings for the speed, and they are indeed the same 156D part # that's is on my MP3 now. And they don't work.

Lovely. This never ends

[Stou]

I think the replacement part, 156-D don't do the job because our sway bar is already used. I remove the bushings the other day and there'e no more powder coating under the bushings. This cause the bushings to be loose again and make noise.

I installed a small piece of rubber hose between the bushing and the sway bar. Now I don't have any clunk or noise even when it's cold..... and in Quebec, it realy cold at this time of year!

Maybe the right solution is to get those 156-D with a new sway bar!

[gjmoreo]

Exactly - I also have the new part # on my Mp3
I insisted on a whole new set up - new bar, bushings and all bolts!

I had my bushings replaced two times before I was squeek free - its been like 3 months now, and so far so good.

[Newf]

I did have a new bar installed with the last set of bushings for that exact same reason.....no powder coat left. Still didn't work. Thursday she is going in again and I asked for the rubber hose idea...what do I have to loose right?

[gjmoreo]

that new bar should have worked................hmmm.......weird........yeah , I guess all you can do it just keep trying - I would replace it 100 times before the warranty runs out if I had to.

[MrMp3]

cool at least I am not alone

[Newf]

got new bushings today, jan 2nd 2003. The ones they took off ( 156D) were completely desintergrated (spelling?). They put it on the lift, and could move the rear sway bar all over the place. The bushings were on for 4 weeks. MAybe 5. The noise was back after the fourth day of them being on.

Lets see how long these last?

[gjmoreo]

something has to be done about this - this is not right!!!!

Hello Mazda???? Someone send a link of this forum/thread to Mazda corporation!!! ---- I say recall!! all new MAZDASPEEDS for everyone!!!!!

LOL - yeah right, in our dreams right? I actually have been ok for about 3 months so far :D

[DooMer_MP3]

I'm setting up an appointment to get mine replaced once again :rolleyes:. This really is getting out of hand. Yet I wonder why none of you post your story to my thread that I was planning on printing up with a cover letter and sending to a Mazda USA rep?

Chris

[DooMer_MP3]

Are there any aftermarket rear swaybars we MP3ers can put on our rides? Somebody could make a killing off of us if they made it well and tested it and could assure us that there would be no more clunk.

Chris

[saided18]

Originally posted by DooMer_MP3
Are there any aftermarket rear swaybars we MP3ers can put on our rides? Somebody could make a killing off of us if they made it well and tested it and could assure us that there would be no more clunk.

Chris

i don't know what clunk your talkin about but i do have the squeeking and when i do go over bumps i do hear the sound of my shocks going up and down. sounds like a faint clunk if you can call it. but my 92 acura ledgen did the same.

[DooMer_MP3]

Originally posted by saided18


i don't know what clunk your talkin about but i do have the squeeking and when i do go over bumps i do hear the sound of my shocks going up and down. sounds like a faint clunk if you can call it. but my 92 acura ledgen did the same.

Lucky you :). No, the clunk starts out being pretty mild like you describe. But after awhile it happens on any little bump. I've even noticed it on tarlines on the road. The bushings basically disintegrate within a few months for some reason. Supposedly like others have mentioned, it eats all of the powder coat off of the swaybar as well. Handling is definitely impacted as well. The rear end feels loose around harder turns. Very lame :(.

Chris

[mazdadan]

Originally posted by DooMer_MP3
Are there any aftermarket rear swaybars we MP3ers can put on our rides? Somebody could make a killing off of us if they made it well and tested it and could assure us that there would be no more clunk.

Chris

You could always try the AWR 21.5mm rear sway bar, but it will creak and clunk like something fierce too. I've got the AWR 19mm bar on my ES and it is pretty bad too. The only thing you can really do to fix the problem is get a nice set of aftermarket sway bar bushings that are greasable with a grease gun. After you replace the bushings, just keep greasing them every few weeks or it will keep creaking. Then ditch the cheap ass plastic sway bar end links. You will have to fabricate some nice end links with rod ends and threaded rod. I'm pretty sure this is related to the suspension geometry of the car and no matter what sway bar you use it is going to be noisy. As others have said before, high performance cars have tradeoffs and the creaks and clunks are one of them.

[INiTiAL33]

Originally posted by DooMer_MP3
I'm setting up an appointment to get mine replaced once again :rolleyes:. This really is getting out of hand. Yet I wonder why none of you post your story to my thread that I was planning on printing up with a cover letter and sending to a Mazda USA rep?

Chris

Ditto............. noone bothered to send me theirs for me to send to Mazda Canada too..:rolleyes:

[Newf]

I just don't see the greasable ones working. Why, because the bushings actually become loose, wear completely and as a result, the sway bar moves around like nuts. I mean, when mine go, you can reach under the car, and move the bar with your hand. Now, is regreasing them going to fix that? No. Because their actually falling off the car when I go to get them replaced.

And again.... why should I spend more money to fix something that is obviously a design flaw, and is still under warranty?

And I'm sorry, but I know of no other car that does this. They way our suspension is designed it seems to put all of the stress on the bushings.

[Toronto_Raj]

Originally posted by newf
I just don't see the greasable ones working. Why, because the bushings actually become loose, wear completely and as a result, the sway bar moves around like nuts. I mean, when mine go, you can reach under the car, and move the bar with your hand. Now, is regreasing them going to fix that? No. Because their actually falling off the car when I go to get them replaced.

And again.... why should I spend more money to fix something that is obviously a design flaw, and is still under warranty?

And I'm sorry, but I know of no other car that does this. They way our suspension is designed it seems to put all of the stress on the bushings.

man u are right, but we have to do something to get mazda canada to come up with a fix to our problem. they seems like dontcare and even the p5's front end makes the same "Crrrrk" noise when go over bumbs :mad:. my trany is now grinding moe often when down shifted. i do feel a vibration on it which is putting my hand to sleep. but the stuppid mechanics at mazda says "or its normal u know". damn, i really dont understand mazda crap. why dont we try to get all canadian mp3 owners ot sign a complain to mada headoffice? i'm planing to report to consumers report about mazda canada's ignorance in this matter and write letters to all meadias too. which would eventually affect the sales of mazda vehicles i guess.
let me knwo what u guys think

i'm sooooo pissed off

[Newf]

go for it. it's a great time to do it with the intro of the Mazdaspeed franchise, and the now the Mazda 6. Mazda's planning a huge come back this year, they won't want a shadow cast on it.

[SomaMP3]

Well, i'm getting mine replaced today, along with the sway bar end links....i know it won't fix the problem for long, but thank god its under warranty.....this will be my second time since i bought the car...this is within 10,000kms.:rolleyes:

[DooMer_MP3]

Ok maybe somebody can help me understand. First off, what is the point of sway bar bushings? The swaybar is attached to the strut correct? How do they attach, end links? What purpose do the bushings serve? Do they allow the sway bar to flex a little bit? If so, what would the point of greasing them do? Wouldn't that just allow the swaybar to move around way too much?

Chris

[mazdadan]

Originally posted by newf
I just don't see the greasable ones working. Why, because the bushings actually become loose, wear completely and as a result, the sway bar moves around like nuts. I mean, when mine go, you can reach under the car, and move the bar with your hand. Now, is regreasing them going to fix that? No. Because their actually falling off the car when I go to get them replaced.

And again.... why should I spend more money to fix something that is obviously a design flaw, and is still under warranty?

And I'm sorry, but I know of no other car that does this. They way our suspension is designed it seems to put all of the stress on the bushings.

Basically you've answered your own question. When the sway bar bushings do not have lubrication, the sway bar cannot move freely. This causes excessive friction, which in turn chews up the bushings. The factory mounting bracket is so tiny and poorly designed that the bushings pop right out of the bracket.

The energy suspension bushings are much larger in OD (outer diameter) and also have bigger mounting brackets that are much stronger than the stock ones. They have to be modified a bit to fit on the car, but the end result is much better than stock.

Some people have had no problems with their stock bushings and others have. I am just posting a suggestion because it worked for me. Personally, fixing me car myself for under $20 bucks and minimal fabrication time is much more worth the hassle of repeated trips to the dealership that waste my time and gas money.

[rowan]

Maybe Mazda will be wishing they went with Racing Beat's suggestion to change the swaybar bracket after all.

http://www.racingbeat.com/Protege/ProjectMP3/dev3.htm

[saided18]

Originally posted by rowan
Maybe Mazda will be wishing they went with Racing Beat's suggestion to change the swaybar bracket after all.

http://www.racingbeat.com/Protege/ProjectMP3/dev3.htm


the reason why they didn't add it was that the tokico shocks already came with the bracket.


i called Racing beat and they said just grease the bushing. i asked if they can come up with a fix and they said they would need mazda's approval before they come up with the fix cuz they need to be paid for the fix. so i guess we need mazda to give the go ahead to fix the problem!

[DooMer_MP3]

Originally posted by saided18



the reason why they didn't add it was that the tokico shocks already came with the bracket.


i called Racing beat and they said just grease the bushing. i asked if they can come up with a fix and they said they would need mazda's approval before they come up with the fix cuz they need to be paid for the fix. so i guess we need mazda to give the go ahead to fix the problem!

Can you get written proof of this? This would be great material to send in my formal complaint to Mazda Consumer Affairs.

Chris

[SomaMP3]

Doomer, i still want to send my report of my bushings problem...i hope its still not too late. should i just pm you? Do i need to give other information such as telephone number, address, etc?

[DooMer_MP3]

SomaMP3, just attach your written story to the thread I started a few months ago. I'll make it go to the top.

Chris

[saided18]

Originally posted by DooMer_MP3


Can you get written proof of this? This would be great material to send in my formal complaint to Mazda Consumer Affairs.

Chris

just call up racing beat and talk to them. i'm sure they will help you out with what ever you want. For then it would mean more money to fix the problem. As of right now the guy at RB told me just to grease the bushing every month or so when it's cold.

[Newf]

Thought I'd just update this

My bushings are still good. ????????????? How ironic is this.


as to why I have no idea. Jan 2nd, car went in, got new bushings, part 156D, and had a shit load of teflon tape put on as most of you know, and while I hear the noise every now and then, it's only, because I'm listening for it. Car still feels solid from what I can tell, then again, I've noticed that sometimes the handling can be effected, and you won't know until you get new bushings because it happens soooo gradually.

[saided18]

well i had my bushing replaced last week and there are squeeking again. going to tommorow for these morons to try to figure out what is wrong. :mad: i feel a bunch of monkeys can do a better job fixing my car these the mazda techs!

[Newf]

Bring some bananas the next time you go in :)

[Toronto_Raj]

Originally posted by newf
Bring some bananas the next time you go in :)

Heheh..
Well said newf