AHarada
12-28-2008, 10:47 PM
I just lately have found out that these bushings were installed in my car by a previous owner. I inspected my trailing arm bushings since I'm changing out my pillowballs and found these bushings installed. I noticed there was some play in the trailing arm bushing which must've also been adding to the clunking noise. So I pressed them out and also noticed that the pin was seized inside the bushing in one, and the other I could move the pin back and forth inside the bushing. I could move my pillowballs back and forth in their casing with 2 fingers btw.
I installed a Banzai diff brace before and noticed a good amount of stability added to the rear end. I just found out why tonight. I removed the diff brace and was surprised to find that the diff had a good amount of play in it. I could lift the diff a little from under the car. So I dropped the diff and removed the cradle and found this.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/x105t50ulx/1228081917.jpg
Notice how the bushings aren't flush in the cradle and seem like they are pressed in half-assed. I hit the pin with a hammer to pop it out and the entire bushing popped out! Same with the other side. The inside surface of the cradle was pretty dirty and ugly looking also.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/x105t50ulx/1228081917a.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/x105t50ulx/1228081922.jpg
I already have 6 new pillowballs with dust seals on the way, as well as Mazdaspeed trailing arm bushings. I guess I'll be ordering Mazdaspeed diff bushings from Corksport as well since they have them in stock.
Just out of curiosity, does anyone know what bushings they are? They seem pretty lame to me and are delrin, nylon, hard plastic, or whatever you want to call them, but they are extremely hard.
I installed a Banzai diff brace before and noticed a good amount of stability added to the rear end. I just found out why tonight. I removed the diff brace and was surprised to find that the diff had a good amount of play in it. I could lift the diff a little from under the car. So I dropped the diff and removed the cradle and found this.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/x105t50ulx/1228081917.jpg
Notice how the bushings aren't flush in the cradle and seem like they are pressed in half-assed. I hit the pin with a hammer to pop it out and the entire bushing popped out! Same with the other side. The inside surface of the cradle was pretty dirty and ugly looking also.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/x105t50ulx/1228081917a.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/x105t50ulx/1228081922.jpg
I already have 6 new pillowballs with dust seals on the way, as well as Mazdaspeed trailing arm bushings. I guess I'll be ordering Mazdaspeed diff bushings from Corksport as well since they have them in stock.
Just out of curiosity, does anyone know what bushings they are? They seem pretty lame to me and are delrin, nylon, hard plastic, or whatever you want to call them, but they are extremely hard.