Energy Suspension Bushings Review

[JonnyMiata]

I want to just say they SUCK bad but I have to tell you that the clunk is gone. I now have horrible creaking going on from the metal moving against the polyurethane. So do I live with the clunk or the creaking? I think I will take the clunk. The creaking happens any time there is any movement with the swaybar. So it happens when you start or stop. Very, very annoying. I am hoping Mazda can take them off and replace them with my old bushings on Monday morning so I can head on up to Mid-Ohio for my class.

Mazda, just get this problem fixed......I am growing very tired of this!!!!

:mad:

[Kooldino]

Yeah, no suprise that poly makes a squeak. I can't believe that this is still an issue.

[flat_black]

What kind of Energy Suspension bushings did you get? The greasable, or non greasable type? The part number for the greasable type is 9.5162. I'd think the smaller would work. Those sizes are for a 27mm bar, which I beleive the MS Protege is. If they aren't greasable, I'd suggest getting the geasable ones, a grease gun, and a fitting to grease it, and that should end the creakyness problem.

For the MP3, the part number from energy suspension is 9.5161 for the 25mm rear sway bar, for those interested. Here's the page you can buy them from:

http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=884&prmenbr=361

And the sizes there are listed in SAE. The conversion is 1" for the 25mm bushings, and 1 1/16" for the 27mm bushings, and make sure you get greasable.

I hope this helps some!

- Eddie

*edit* I just recently came to the conclusion that MP3's have 25mm FRONT sway bars, not rear... The rears are 20mm, and the part number from energy suspension is 9.5157 for the 20.5 mm bushing, or 9.5156 for the 19mm, which would have to be bored out, but that may be better than having a .5mm too large bushing. Not sure. I'm also not sure what size the rear sway on a Mazdaspeed is, but I'm pretty sure 27mm is the front, as well. I'll look into it. *edit*

[Newf]

not surpised they creak. we tried using some plastic around the bar wayyy back, and man, what a noise it make. The clunk was easier to deal with.

[jaje]

did you use the normal red polyurethane ones? those have to be greased on installation and periodically.

if you had a chance to get the units with graphite it is a naturally greasy product but energy suspension has some units that it is intermixed with polyurethane (making them black)...these require greasing only on installation

[soundbombing]

Are they red poly. bushings? Those are the worst. There are different colors signifying different stiffness and some other blah blah blah I don't know about. Once I get more info and offer another type of fix then I'll let you know.

[PaulMP3]

my clunk is back after 3 weeks. I ready to try some different bushings.

[DooMer_MP3]

Hmm. Since I've lowered my car, I don't feel like dealing with bushings changes and warranty issues even though the clunk was obviously there before spring install. I've had mine replaced six times, usually on interval with oil change. Otherwise I'd be in every few weeks :rolleyes:.

If any body else has information on these, I'd love to hear it. I would think that the greasable poly bushings wouldn't squeak if they were greased periodically. Is this not the case? Any one? Any one?

Chris

[mazdadan]

I have the greasables on my AWR 19mm sway bar and as long as I keep them lubed every few months, they don't make any creaking noises. Just get a high quality marine lithium based grease.

[DooMer_MP3]

I might just give them a shot then. To take the bushings off, does the entire swaybar need to be removed to slide them off? Or do you just have to jack the car up to unload the swaybar and then unbolt the bushings?

Chris

[PaulMP3]

im gonna order theese also. this is one of the reasons i have delayed my spring install so many times.

[flat_black]

In order to install sway bar bushings, you'll have to either cut the old ones off if they have no slot, or unbolt the rear sway at the end link. Either way, it's pretty simple of an operation. This is a general how-to, so I'm not sure if it applies to the Protege completely, but here's a basic run down:

1.) Jack the rear of the car up, support with jack stands, and try and make sure the suspension is unloaded. Sway bars shouldn't shift too much if it is, but best to be sure, and all.

2.) Find the two bushings, which should be pretty simple to find. I like to take a minute to take out a silver Sharpie (Shows up on black!), and mark off where the two bushings sit, just in case.

3.) Unbolt either bolt on the first bushing, remove the bracket, if it's not attached, and find out if the bushing is slit or not. If it is, simply spray some WD-40 or silicon grease, and slide it right off of the bar.

3a.) If it is attached, decide if it's worth keeping, and is in good enough shape to put back on, if anything else fails. Cut it, if you wish, or go to either end of the sway bar, and unbolt it from the end links, and get out a can of WD-40/grease, and make sure the bar is slippery, then work it off the bar. Note, if you unbolt it from the end links, it will not be supported by anything, so be prepared to catch it.

4.) Energy Suspension bushings have a generic bracket, and it will need to be bent to fit. Just take it slow, with a pair of pliers or a vice, and reshape it as needed. Once you've done this, take the bushing itself, and find the slit which resides at the top of the bushing. Slide the bushing up around the bar in the correct location, and repeat on the other side. An extra application of grease wouldn't hurt right about now, and will keep the creaking to a minimum.

5.) Position the bracket over the bushing, and bolt it into place using the stock bolts, and torque to specifications. 32 to 44 ft-lbs per bolt, for both the bushing bolts, and the end link bolts. After this, rotate the bar, and bolt on the end links, if you need to, and you should be done. Grease the bushing up with a grease gun and fitting, or bring it to a shop to do so, if you feel like it, and make sure you grease it once per month or two, which should be ample, I'd imagine, as long as you use decent quality grease.

I hope that helps! If you want, I'll post scans from the FSM of the rear sway bar section for illustration, if you'd like.


- Eddie

[flat_black]

Here are the pics from the factory service manual... Number 1...

- Eddie

[flat_black]

...And number 2.

- Eddie

[Newf]

You don't need to take the bar off, and you don't need to cut the old ones off. The bushings have a slice in them already so you can pull them off the bar. At least mine have.

My question is, should their be a load on the car while putting them on, or should the car be on a ramp. I've heard people say both.

[funnylittlman]

What about the end links? Haven't they failed for alot of people?

[mazdadan]

Originally posted by newf
You don't need to take the bar off, and you don't need to cut the old ones off. The bushings have a slice in them already so you can pull them off the bar. At least mine have.

My question is, should their be a load on the car while putting them on, or should the car be on a ramp. I've heard people say both.

You are exactly correct. No cutting is required and the process takes less than 30 minutes if you know what you are doing.

I like to jack the car up from the rear crossmember to make it easy to get underneath the car and to take the stress off the sway bar. It makes it easier to remove the brackets and bushings.

[DooMer_MP3]

Thanks for the help flat_black, mazdadan, newf :D

What kind of fitting would you need on the grease gun to attach to these bushings for future greasings. Also, where can one get the lithium grease? Any autoparts store? Thanks!

Chris

[PaulMP3]

what are the different brands that make the bushings?? I want to order them tonight.

Doomer, I would think that there would be a fitting for a grease gun on the bushing.

Down with the CLUNK!!!!

[mazdadan]

Originally posted by DooMer_MP3
Thanks for the help flat_black, mazdadan, newf :D

What kind of fitting would you need on the grease gun to attach to these bushings for future greasings. Also, where can one get the lithium grease? Any autoparts store? Thanks!

Chris

The fitting is the standard zirk fitting found on most grease guns. You should be able to pick a pump style one up for about 10-15 bucks at Advance Auto Parts or Pep Boys. They carry the small tubes of grease too. They usually come in packs of 3. Just make sure you get a heavy duty or a marine grade of grease. The marine stuff lasts a little longer because water doesn't wash it away as easily.

[flat_black]

Hmm... Come to think of it, I don't know what type of fitting, or rather what the fitting is called, for the Energy Suspension bushings. My suggestion is to go to an Autozone or Pep Boys or whatnot. I know Autozone usually carries energy suspension bushings, and the little fitting can be matched by sight, surely. I'll see if I can find out this evening what type of fitting it is that I bought. =)

Paul, the only company I usually deal with for bushings and stuff of the sort is Energy Suspension. From them, if you have an MP3, you'll need the 20mm bushings, which you have two options: You can get the slightly (.5mm) oversized 20.5mm bushings, or the 19mm, and have them drilled out to 20mm, or just try and fit them without drilling, if you're daring. =) I'd say boring it out is the best bet. The part numbers for these two different bushings are:

19mm = 9.5156
20.5mm = 9.5157

I don't know how extensive any modifications would have to be to fit the bushings on, but they worked on my SVX, and several other cars I've used them on, most just by a slight amount of bending. If anyone tries this, let me know, and how well it works for you. Also, does anyone know the size of the rear sway bar for the MazdaSpeed Protege? I only know the front is 27mm. Thanks, in advance. I may put up a how-to for the rear sway bar on an actual site if I replace my stock bar with the 19mm, soon, so I can get pictures.

- Eddie

[flat_black]

And sure, right as I post, Dan answers the question for me, making me look like an ass. ;) Hehee...

- Eddie

[PaulMP3]

are there any direct fit bushing for the mp3, or do i have do i have to modify the energy ones. what wouls i used to bore out the 19. i dont wont the 20.5 probally will still clunk.

[mazdadan]

Originally posted by flat_black
And sure, right as I post, Dan answers the question for me, making me look like an ass. ;) Hehee...

- Eddie

It's all good....you gave more info about the bushings than I did :)

[flat_black]

Well, there IS a 20mm bushing, but it's non-greasable, so, while eliminating the clunk, you'd have a squeeky bushing. =) If that doesn't bother you, however, the part number for the 20mm non greasable bushing is 9.5124. As long as you grease it durring installation, and perhaps once every few months, it should be okay, but it's more of a pain, as you have to repeatedly remove and install it to be able to grease it.

If you wanted to bore out the 19, I'd say bring it to a friend with a milling machine and a 20mm bit, or a machine shop should do it cheaply... Not sure about that much, though. The more likely problem you'll have is the bracket, as that is universal, I'm not sure how/how well it will fit. But it's certainly worth a try!

[mazdadan]

Originally posted by flat_black
The more likely problem you'll have is the bracket, as that is universal, I'm not sure how/how well it will fit. But it's certainly worth a try!

I had to bend my brackets in a vise because the Greasable bushings have larger brackets. I just used the stock brackets as a guide. After that they lined up great. Then again, I have an ES, so it may be a direct fit on an MP3 or MSP.

[flat_black]

Cool! That's good to hear, Dan. =) The vice method is the one I most commonly use for angled installations of this sort. I guess I'll order up the 19mm sway bar next week, and install it, so I can take some pics and notes for you all. I may contact 1st MP3 in NH to meet him for lunch some day, like I mentioned to him, and ask if I can take a look at his MP3 to see how the setup is for the bushings.

[DooMer_MP3]

Originally posted by flat_black
Well, there IS a 20mm bushing, but it's non-greasable, so, while eliminating the clunk, you'd have a squeeky bushing. =) If that doesn't bother you, however, the part number for the 20mm non greasable bushing is 9.5124. As long as you grease it durring installation, and perhaps once every few months, it should be okay, but it's more of a pain, as you have to repeatedly remove and install it to be able to grease it.

If you wanted to bore out the 19, I'd say bring it to a friend with a milling machine and a 20mm bit, or a machine shop should do it cheaply... Not sure about that much, though. The more likely problem you'll have is the bracket, as that is universal, I'm not sure how/how well it will fit. But it's certainly worth a try!

Doh! I'd much rather have a 20mm greasable bushing produced and ready for sale. I'll have to email them and tell them about the 1500 MP3ers who will gladly buy them :).

Chris