Riot_Polizei
Comp Engineering Student
- :
- 2002 Mazda Protege5
AWR Trailing Arms
AWR Trailing arms have been installed!
Image taken before tightening up the brake line mount.
It was an incredibly easy installation. Such a relief, especially after jury-rigging the swaybar, ripping out the VTCS and installing that, putting in the new starter...
It really is *just* taking out two bolts, taking out the trailing arm itself, sliding the new one in, and done. Since I upgraded to AWR trailing arms, I laced the sides of the bushings with white lithium grease, just in case. Probably won't need them, but I'd rather be safe.
But man am I glad I replaced my trailing arms...get a load of this!
Rusty and crumbling bushings. I'm surprised the car stayed on the road as well as it did lol. There was barely any bushing left in those holes, so there was tremendous play. Hell, as pictures, I could grab the fragments and pull them out. To be fair, all my racing events may have done them in. A 17 year-old car part is bound to go bad sometimes, though.
Well, what can I say? I went from a practically broken part to a major upgrade. When navigating my favorite twisty road, I believed my car no longer had what I called "a ropy ass". The rear did not "oscillate" to find an equilibrium while turning. It felt like the rear didn't roll as much, and was more eager to move in the direction I steered. It no doubt stiffened the rear nicely. We'll see how it plays tomorrow at the track.
And of course, I did my semi-monthly bushing regreasing on my swaybar. It's a tedious and annoying job, but hey it keeps the creaks away.
However, it seems like I noticed a new(?) noise with these trailing arms. As usual, I never noticed it before, so for all I know, it was always there.
Whenever I navigate a long, sweeping turn, I hear a bit of a clunk in the rear. It's probably the sway bar, but could it be these trailing arms? I guess time will tell.
AWR Trailing arms have been installed!
Image taken before tightening up the brake line mount.
It was an incredibly easy installation. Such a relief, especially after jury-rigging the swaybar, ripping out the VTCS and installing that, putting in the new starter...
It really is *just* taking out two bolts, taking out the trailing arm itself, sliding the new one in, and done. Since I upgraded to AWR trailing arms, I laced the sides of the bushings with white lithium grease, just in case. Probably won't need them, but I'd rather be safe.
But man am I glad I replaced my trailing arms...get a load of this!
Rusty and crumbling bushings. I'm surprised the car stayed on the road as well as it did lol. There was barely any bushing left in those holes, so there was tremendous play. Hell, as pictures, I could grab the fragments and pull them out. To be fair, all my racing events may have done them in. A 17 year-old car part is bound to go bad sometimes, though.
Driving Impressions
Well, what can I say? I went from a practically broken part to a major upgrade. When navigating my favorite twisty road, I believed my car no longer had what I called "a ropy ass". The rear did not "oscillate" to find an equilibrium while turning. It felt like the rear didn't roll as much, and was more eager to move in the direction I steered. It no doubt stiffened the rear nicely. We'll see how it plays tomorrow at the track.
And of course, I did my semi-monthly bushing regreasing on my swaybar. It's a tedious and annoying job, but hey it keeps the creaks away.
However, it seems like I noticed a new(?) noise with these trailing arms. As usual, I never noticed it before, so for all I know, it was always there.
Whenever I navigate a long, sweeping turn, I hear a bit of a clunk in the rear. It's probably the sway bar, but could it be these trailing arms? I guess time will tell.