View Full Version : Racing Beat email about bushings.
Just got this after emailing Racing Beat the weekend....again.
Thanks for the message, I have passed it along to both Jim Mederer and the Mazda R&D manager for a reply.
Although Jim Mederer provided the components on the car for Mazda to evaluate, Mazda made the ultimate decision on the suppliers that provided the parts for the car. We had no part in the select on the suppliers.
It is interesting that you are experiencing troubles with these bushings, we have never encountered ANY trouble with the urethane bushings that we supply with any of the Racing Beat sway bars that we offer. We don't use anything really exotic, just the "standard" urethane bushings that are available through the usual sources.
Jim Mederer has requested to see a sample of a "failed" bushing? Is so can you send one to my attention?
I just had my bushings taken off on Friday, I'm trying to get the dealer to give them to me so I can send them off.
I'll update if anything ever comes of this.
DooMer_MP3
01-07-2003, 03:42 PM
Heh, I just emailed them today as well after getting back from dropping my car off to get my bushings FIXED (not).
Chris
Is there anyone withing driving distance of Racing Beat
Racing Beat, Inc.
4789 E Wesley Drive
Anaheim, CA 92807
Of course, I'd imagine anyone in CA wouldn't have anywhere near as bad of a bushings as I due to the weather and roads difference.
APEXistud
01-07-2003, 05:58 PM
I had my rear bushing fixed and now everything is fine.....expect now the front bushings are squeeking.
MPChi
01-09-2003, 05:10 PM
APEXistud,
Which dealer did you go to get your bushing fixed? I live in the bay area as well, and was wondering if the dealer that changed bushings for you are knowledgable in this particular problem. My car only squeeks very little and only clunked a couple times so far, as the mileage is still low. But when it gets worse, I want to make sure I go to a dealer that can fix it right, rather than guessing their way out and have me visit them mutiple times.
Very appreciate your input. Thanks.
dealer can't let me have a bushing to send to Racing Beat until it gets approved my Mazda of Canada.
So, I'm on hold until last week of Jan. That's when the head guys come in again
And the Mazda 6's get here on the 29th! Yeee haa!
saided18
01-10-2003, 08:41 PM
we have urathane bushing on your car??? i thought we had rubber??
mazdamastertech
01-10-2003, 10:32 PM
they are rubber bushing. i would suggest finding a aftermarket part or ask RB to make some for us. maybe have some made with grease fitting and holes as a kit. that would be an investment. maybe i ought top fab my own.
saided18
01-10-2003, 10:38 PM
Originally posted by mazdamastertech
they are rubber bushing. i would suggest finding a aftermarket part or ask RB to make some for us. maybe have some made with grease fitting and holes as a kit. that would be an investment. maybe i ought top fab my own.
NOPE!! they don't have anything!! they told me to talk to AWR or MazdaMotorsports to see if they make anything.
Grimace
01-11-2003, 12:33 PM
Has anyone ever contacted the Flyin' Miata company (which is working on the Flyin' Protege now) to see if they can come up with a good fix? They are awesome with Miata's, and they are getting into Protege's, so maybe they know of this problem and are working on a solution.
Might be worth a try.
I'd do it myself but I don't have an MP3/MSP, so it'd be a little odd for me to contact them.
UPDATE:
Been in contact with Racing Beat over and over. They are actually emailing me asking simple questions! Imagine that.
Anyhow, I said to them...urethane bushings? They ended up getting a sample of the 156D bushing. It's a new sample. And it is indeed rubber as we all knew already.
I got the go ahead about 5 mins ago from my dealer. I am allowed to have my old bushings, and I'm sending them to Racing Beat tomorrow.
They do not make a bushing to fit our car....yet. They are hoping to help with a fix. Their guess was that the urethane bushing was not used as it was too stiff to meet Mazda's engineering requirements.
Anyhow, I am quite far away from R.B. So, getting the bushing there is going to take some time. And I'm paying for this out of my own pocket so I'll be damned I'm sending by air.
don't know if this will result in anything, but all I can do is try.
freekwonder
01-14-2003, 05:57 PM
newf. how much is it to send to Racing beat. Ill paypal you a few bucks to help with the cost of sending the bushing to them. Anything help other mp3 with this shit. plus i would like some urethane bushings
Freekwonder. Thanks for the offer, very generous. But I'll manage :)
it's only a very small package anyhow. I may ship it via air afterall.
Of course I'll keep everyone up to date.
saided18
01-14-2003, 08:51 PM
well i just brought my car to mazda today and has a Tech hear the noise. The guys know what is talking about. he has a all pimped out miata with crazy ass susspenion. so he is gonna look at it and i'll see what he says. he thought i was coming in for the clunking noise but when he heard that noise his exact words were " What THE FUCK?" lol and his eyes almost popped out of his head. he said that it is something that deff should be fixed!
so we see tommorow when he looks at it.
freekwonder
01-16-2003, 06:42 AM
Originally posted by freekwonder
newf. how much is it to send to Racing beat. Ill paypal you a few bucks to help with the cost of sending the bushing to them. Anything help other mp3 with this shit. plus i would like some urethane bushings
no prob man, just wanted to help out since I noticed my clunk is back now also. about 6 months out of it. so i would really like some new bushings
StuttersC
01-16-2003, 08:47 AM
It'll be interesting to see what Racing Beat says about the bushing...
MPChi
01-17-2003, 05:37 PM
Hey all, I have been following this thread as well. My clunk happens only once in a long while, but I know its just the matter of time. And Newf, if the shipping gets any worse, or you guys have to mail bushings back and forth for trial & error, I am definitely willing to chip in a few bucks to help out as well.
Hope you'll get some good news from them.
hmmmm, ok, shipping cost me $1000.00 US :)
I take cash, VISA, MAstercard or American Express :)
LOL
Toronto_Raj
01-20-2003, 10:26 PM
hmm, one after the other eh.. now front one is also making noise like nuts. even over a patch lines on the road. I'm thinking of asking racing beat to sell a pare of brackets that they originally offered to mazda (i'm tired of this game going back and forth to dealer, wast of my valuable time and Kms (80Km each time)). i dotn mind paying for it and take it to the dealer and ask them to put it on as its still under warr...or better find a regular rbber bshings. its now drivng me nuts. As a matter of fact yesterday my frind freak me out and made me got out of the car to check my back end on the hi-way ( he was convinced that something was broken on hearing the clunk). I'm getting realy frustrated and thinking of selling it if i get a good price, i'm also littlemad at mazda for using our colour for the regular sedans. i dont mind the p5s though.
saided18
01-20-2003, 10:57 PM
racing beat won't seel the bracket. we all ready asked.
Toronto_Raj
01-21-2003, 12:35 AM
Originally posted by saided18
racing beat won't seel the bracket. we all ready asked.
DAMNnnnnnnnnn.........
saided18
01-21-2003, 12:05 PM
i'm seeing if energy suspension(sp?) is going to make urethane sway bar bushings for you car today.
oh yeah. BTW the mazda tach order me new bushinfs for my car and told me that he is going to put grease on them to make them last longer. lol
rowan
01-21-2003, 12:40 PM
hahaha wait .. isn't that already part of the correct install procedure? *duh*
Maybe Mazda should have published a specific manual addition to cover the MP3...
Maybe MAzda should get off it's f'n ass and actually release a urethane bushing, and one that f'n works already!
I having doubts about the speed now.
PA_MP3_Man
01-21-2003, 01:14 PM
man I really hope something good comes outta this. Do the bushings seem to last longer in the warmer weather casue I got mine replace in early december and it's clunkin already. Have you guys noticed a better life than 1 month in the spring and summer?
saided18
01-21-2003, 05:25 PM
see the cluning i can stand. it's the squeeking that i can't. in cold weather when i hit a pump the squeek comes form all 4 cornners of the car and is louder my the radio!!!!!!!!!
and aslo the clunking is not only the MP3 my moms 626 did the same thing and my 92 Ledgen did the same.
Is everybody have the same problem with the front bushing also. It's realy cold here and the front bushing is starting to make lot of noise too! :mad:
rowan
01-22-2003, 12:11 AM
Just took my mp3 in today to dealership for an oil change.
New bushings are on order for me. woooooo
My front struts are very noisy when they are cold (sickening crunch kinda sound as they compress) but it goes away after they get warmed up a bit. I think it is just a "feature" ....
Toronto_Raj
01-22-2003, 12:42 AM
Originally posted by rowan
I think it is just a "feature" .... [/B]
Man you sounds like a tipical MAZDA dealer....hehehe because it's the same thing they told me about the front end noise."You know it's the trade mark of Mazda" lol
rowan
01-22-2003, 12:48 AM
Yeah it's kind of hard to distinguish between what is a failed part, and what is a symptom of running a high-performance suspension developed in California in cold Canadian winters ;)
scott42
01-22-2003, 11:06 AM
the crunching in the front can be fixed with new bushings as well...it will also improve the feel/handling of the car! I had it done, both front and back at the same time, and it feels like a completely different car (I know, i'm on like 15 threads saying the same thing) but don't just accept it as a feature...it can be fixed!!!
Kooldino
01-22-2003, 11:42 AM
scott, yes, but how long does it last?
jroof
01-22-2003, 02:25 PM
Well, I don't own an MP3 but my Mazdaspeed is doing the same damn thing. I actually just got off the phone with Racing Beat and asked him if those urethane bushings were available for sale. He said they were not for sale to the public and then put me on hold to talk to his manager. When he came back, he said that they were expecting a set in the mail from Canada (way to go, newf) and that their cheif engineer was going to take a look at them and talk to Mazda about trying to offer a urethane bushing to the public. He suggested the current fixes (grease and new bushings) for the next couple of months. As far as staying updated on the situation, he said this forum (updates from us pesky people) and to call back in the following weeks to months. So...hopefully a solution is in sight.
Wow, can't wait till those bushings get there. I only had a chance to send them yesterday. It's going Xpresspost. So that should take like ....... 3 months :)
They've contacted me since asking simple questions. They seem really anxious to see them.
saided18
01-22-2003, 05:20 PM
thats aswome!! i just called energy suspesion and they said they would also make urethane bushings for the MP3 is enough instrest was shown. They told me to call back tomorrow to talk to some one else so who knows.
what i want to know is who would be interested in these bushing. I want to call them with a ball park figure of poeple who were interested.
so let me know.
JonnyMiata
01-22-2003, 05:22 PM
I want them NOW!
Jonny
My MSP clunks! :mad:
PA_MP3_Man
01-22-2003, 05:29 PM
Yeah definately me. Anyone know how much these bushing would have cost from mazda? Since it's under war, I never asked or looked.
jroof
01-22-2003, 05:38 PM
I'd be interested. But would Mazda allow an aftermarket part to replace a factory part without warantee issues? I have an appt. with the dealership on Monday. I'll ask them about it then.
jroof
01-22-2003, 05:39 PM
By the way, does anyone know what performance differences urethane bushings will make? Because they are less flexible than rubber, will the ride become harsher?
StuttersC
01-22-2003, 08:00 PM
Originally posted by saided18
thats aswome!! i just called energy suspesion and they said they would also make urethane bushings for the MP3 is enough instrest was shown. They told me to call back tomorrow to talk to some one else so who knows.
what i want to know is who would be interested in these bushing. I want to call them with a ball park figure of poeple who were interested.
so let me know.
That would be cool if the made urethane bushings for the Protege!!!
Early in the morning, when I rotate my wheels as much as they go when I back out..I get this loud popping sound..is this what you guys are talking about? If so, then I want this damn bushing. if it isn't, do you guys have any idea what is it?
slug420
01-22-2003, 08:39 PM
you poor mp3ers! it took another 2000 cars on the road before they would listen to you!
Saided18, I didn't saw your post until tonight but I wrote an email to Energy today. I told them that every MP3 and also the new MSP got problem with sway bar bushing and that we need replacement polyurethane bushing. I can't wait to see their reply!
saided18
01-22-2003, 10:05 PM
Originally posted by Stou
Saided18, I didn't saw your post until tonight but I wrote an email to Energy today. I told them that every MP3 and also the new MSP got problem with sway bar bushing and that we need replacement polyurethane bushing. I can't wait to see their reply!
well what they told be is that they have universal swaybar bushings that will fit. all you have to do is know what size the swar bar is.
i forgot what size are they?
i say every one email call them up in the next week saying that you want to make swar bar bushings. here is the email
http://www.energysuspension.com/
lets get this sting rolling. they want people to call up and say there interested in the bushing before then will make them!!!!
slug420
01-23-2003, 12:30 AM
thought this was funny/interesting/neat/worth mentioning.....
I was lookin through my new SCC (March issue) and they "Enthusiast Buyers Guide" on the FD. for those that dont know this buyers guide is a (new i think) section where they profile popular "tuner" cars i guess you could say. Tell you about the years they were made, wha tmakes em desireable, how much they cost now, what to look out for when buying one, what problems/proficiencies this car had etc etc....
AAAAAAAAANYways. for the FD on the list of "maladies" (problems) includes:
suspension clunk!
StuttersC
01-23-2003, 07:03 PM
Originally posted by saided18
well what they told be is that they have universal swaybar bushings that will fit. all you have to do is know what size the swar bar is.
i forgot what size are they?
i say every one email call them up in the next week saying that you want to make swar bar bushings. here is the email
http://www.energysuspension.com/
lets get this sting rolling. they want people to call up and say there interested in the bushing before then will make them!!!!
The front bars for the MP3 and MSP, respectively, are 25 mm and 27 mm...The rear bar for both is 20 mm. Bushings away!
hmmm, interesting.....ya I'd be interested.
Slug....can't you scan that in for me? We can use that to our advantage if it's actually in print in a popular Mag.
On the MP3, we got 25mm at front and 20mm at rear (from Mazda website last year).
The only thing I just wonder is the bushings shape. Are they will fit correctly in the bracket???
We have to measure our bushings and brackets to see if it can fit with what they have available: Bushing spec (http://www.energysuspension.com/swaybb.html)
slug420
01-23-2003, 08:29 PM
no scanner but im finally able to put my new digi cam to some use!!
:)
I used to frequent rx7club.com in the FD forums, but never heard much mention of this clunk.....could be because all original suspension complaints were resolved in the first 5 years or so of existence....ill go over and see if anyone can shed any light on the matter.
http://www.mazdamp3.com/members/slug420/scc1.jpg
http://www.mazdamp3.com/members/slug420/scc2.jpg
http://www.mazdamp3.com/members/slug420/scc3.jpg
http://www.mazdamp3.com/members/slug420/scc4.jpg
http://www.mazdamp3.com/members/slug420/scc5.jpg
slug420
01-23-2003, 09:01 PM
http://www.rx7club.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=151798
They have recieved the bushings I sent....waiting now to see what happens from here...
saided18
01-30-2003, 06:47 PM
cool keep us posted. as for measuring the bushing size, i'm going to try to do that when i get my bushing changed tommorow!
colonel forbin
02-03-2003, 11:31 PM
Any update?
nothing cetain yet
patiently waiting for certain things to fall int place. They have not forgotten us.
At least these guys get back to me from time to time and keep me up to date, more then I can say about Mazda.
I would ask that you guy's not bug them, at least not too much.
jsesq
02-04-2003, 03:50 PM
Hi All!
I have been away from the forum for a while, but I am back now (like you care!)
Anyway, you were counting heads of those interested if a replacement bushing becomes available and I would like to be counted!!
That clunk is driving me crazy!!
BTW: KzA - I do not have a "popping" problem - I don't know what that is.
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