Still annoyed by the rear bushing

[SKY]

I changed my rear busing almost every year! I think I need to go change it again this spring for the 5th time...

Car start having the Keeeiiiiiiiee... noise from the rear...
Anyone finally get rid of this trouble permantly?

[Kansei]

I changed my rear busing almost every year! I think I need to go change it again this spring for the 5th time...

Car start having the Keeeiiiiiiiee... noise from the rear...
Anyone finally get rid of this trouble permantly?

Do you keep it lubed? Mine (I have the racing beat MSP rear swaybar on my p5) is thickly covered with white Lithium grease and i've noticed no strange sounds as of yet. I've only had it on for a few weeks though, it probably takes time.

[1somamp3]

There is a new kit coming out soon to eliminate the clunk. Here is the link. I'l be putting it on my car in the next few weeks.

http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123624849

[Kansei]

There is a new kit coming out soon to eliminate the clunk. Here is the link. I'l be putting it on my car in the next few weeks.

http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123624849

For the same price as that clunk bracket why not just get an AWR rear sway bar? Bah I paid 50 shipped for my MSP rear sway with brand new bushings, I couldn't possibly imagine paying that much for just a bracket.

[03MzdSpdSTP]

awr guys are getting the clunk also. its the placement of the bushings.

[Kansei]

awr guys are getting the clunk also. its the placement of the bushings.

Oh, good to know. I guess the clock is ticking until I start getting the clunk (ughdance)

[Revs]

If you read the AXR page it explains how having the bushings too close to the center of the car like they are now and not close to the wheels like the bracket does causes the bar to bend before it rotates and over time that bending of the bar rounds out the bushings causing the clunk.

I have the ES bushings on and after only 6months they are clunking louder than ever. A large benefit of this bracket that is not mentioned too often is that it helps stiffen the rear of the car resulting in better handling.

The bracket may seem expensive, but if you look at the big picture you'll be buying new bushings every year...then it doesn't seem that expensive.

[1somamp3]

Believe me....Evolv made it as cost effective as possible. He's a good guy. Only wants to help out the mazda community. This is cheaper than most modifications you will do to your car. And besides getting rid of the clunk, it should strengthen the handling as well. This bracket is almost an exact copy of Racing Beats design before Mazda trashed it. And Racing Beat has already "refused" to make any brackets for us. Atleast this is better than Mazda's infamous bushing recall....what are we on now....156 F:rolleyes:

[Kansei]

Believe me....Evolv made it as cost effective as possible. He's a good guy. Only wants to help out the mazda community. This is cheaper than most modifications you will do to your car. And besides getting rid of the clunk, it should strengthen the handling as well. This bracket is almost an exact copy of Racing Beats design before Mazda trashed it. And Racing Beat has already "refused" to make any brackets for us. Atleast this is better than Mazda's infamous bushing recall....what are we on now....156 F:rolleyes:

I know he isn't ripping people off, I've read up on it and it looks like a really good piece. I guess I'll understand the pain of the clunk more when mine starts clunking.

So Mazda trashed the Racing Beat bracket, trashed Calloway's FMIC upgrade kit (like a Stage 1 upgrade for the MSP).. christ what else did they trash? I guess they didn't think people would actually drive MSPs or something.

[AznXstazy]

u could get some energy bushings, but they only make it easier to lube. ur best thing is go to walmart compare the different types of grease they got, mayb some that wont wash off, and lube up not just the bushings, but the part the bushings will be on. at least 1-2 inchs away from teh bushings on both sides. thats how i did mine last year and still no clunk till winter came cuz it was cold. i havent driven my car yet, its 80 today and goin to drive it later. i still have grease from last summer on it lol. ill post n see if im still clunking, goin to go on some bumpy roads to make sure.

[1somamp3]

So Mazda trashed the Racing Beat bracket, trashed Calloway's FMIC upgrade kit (like a Stage 1 upgrade for the MSP).. christ what else did they trash? I guess they didn't think people would actually drive MSPs or something.

Yep, just like they trashed the ABS and cruise control from the MP3 to make the car more cost effective:bs:

[Kansei]

Protege5 FTW? I think that's the lesson to be learned. Then again I upgraded to the MSP rear sway bar so I knowingly purchased clunk. I win

[evolv]

Mazda's bushings are located aproximately 7 inches inwards from the end of the sway bars. This design allows the sway bars to temporarily bend instead of just rotate. This bending action is what destroys the bushings and causes the clunk sound and without you noticing slowly changes the handling of the car (loose rear end)

My AXR clunk fix bracket relocates the bushings to the ends of the sway bar eliminating the bending action.

This will prevent the bushings from wearing out and keep the rear planted day in and day out.

I have a better description of the bracket on my site. www.autoxracing.com (http://www.autoxracing.com)

The first run of brackets are going to be shipping out by mid April. The kits will come complete with everything necessary to install it.

I also have a GB going for the first 40 orders at a discount price. Once the original 40 are gone the price will be going up. There are still a few spots on the GB for those that want a perminant fix to the clunk.

http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2270698#post2270698

post at the end or send me a PM to get on the list.

The price is going to be very close to $135.00 + shipping USD. I still need to iron out some details before the final price is set.

[Kansei]

Thanks for the info evolv, it's good that there is a permanent solution to the clunk. When mine starts clunking I'll make sure I pick one of these up.

[evolv]

Thanks for the info evolv, it's good that there is a permanent solution to the clunk. When mine starts clunking I'll make sure I pick one of these up.

I see in your sig that you have a P5.. I am doing some tests with the P5 later this month.. did u get the MSP cross member? and what struts are you using?

[Kansei]

I see in your sig that you have a P5.. I am doing some tests with the P5 later this month.. did u get the MSP cross member? and what struts are you using?

I'm using the P5 cross member with Tokico HP struts. I didn't see any need to replace the crossmember, everything seemed to line up fine.

[evolv]

I'm using the P5 cross member with Tokico HP struts. I didn't see any need to replace the crossmember, everything seemed to line up fine.

Ok, good, glad you got the better struts. The stock struts are too week to support a heavier sway bar.