Banzai vs Racing beat

[Nopis1O]

So im looking to buy motor mounts for my new project and was think of either getting the

banzai motor mount kit for 170
or
racing beat 40% stiffer than stock motor mounts, the Torque brace, and the banzia tranny mount for 200

Which do you guys think is better. i really think the torque brace is pretty cool. if i get that and the 40% stiffer mounts do you think that will be better/worse/equal to the banzia racing kit?

[My5ABaby]

You can read my (i.e. other people who know more than I do) thoughts on aftermarket motor mounts there.

http://rotarycarclub.com/rotary_forum/showthread.php?t=6559

However, Racing Beat appears to sell the Mazda comp mounts, so I would personally go for them.

[WE3RX7]

I use Racing Beat AKA Mazdacomp bushings/mounts/etc from now on.

I've used poly/solid bushings & mounts in the past and they are too stiff for my personal taste.

[WE3RX7]

BTW - engine torque brace is good no matter what. Since our engines mount very low (and in the case of FCs - very 'narrow' mounts) the top of the motor does move a lot...

If you plan to use a larger turbo, or custom IC setup - the torque brace will give you a little breathing room on running pipes, etc so it doesn't wack the shock tower every time you lay down some power...

[djmtsu]

Ask Garfinkle why that torque brace does not do enough for FC's. He talked me out of it long ago.

[classicauto]

FC's would need a brace in line with the motor mounts, so its not twisting the engine I presume?

[djmtsu]

Yes sir.

That is why functional braces (like Garfinkle's) mount to the rear of the engine. This also helps to keep shifts positive.

It works!!

[Ender]

The RB brace mounts to the back, too... Part number 14031 or 14032
"The Racing Beat-designed Engine Torque Brace, available for all 1979-92 RX-7s..." Which explains why the picture is of a first gen.
http://racingbeat.com/photos/14030L.jpg

[TehMonkay]

The RB brace mounts to the back, too... Part number 14031 or 14032
"The Racing Beat-designed Engine Torque Brace, available for all 1979-92 RX-7s..." Which explains why the picture is of a first gen.
http://racingbeat.com/photos/14030L.jpg

That is a first gen (dammit you edited before i posted)

I have some 2nd hand banzai mounts, they are basically a bolt through a block of polyurethane, the guy who sold them to me said he didn't like the vibration, i havent put them on yet, but i have a broken stock mount on the T2 so i should get this in this week. I'll let you know what i think.

[Nopis1O]

thanks. so has anyone had any luck with using hocky pucks. sounds kinda ghetto to me but it is alot cheaper. anybody that has done it? good or bad?

[My5ABaby]

thanks. so has anyone had any luck with using hocky pucks. sounds kinda ghetto to me but it is alot cheaper. anybody that has done it? good or bad?

So they'd be like the Banzai mounts? :rofl: Sorry, couldn't resist.

[RotaryDiagnostics]

Installed the torque brace on my S5 NA and it was a real PITA to install. Not only that, I didn't notice a significant improvement in the motor/tranny movement when releasing the clutch in reverse or first gears. So when I had work done on the tranny, I removed it. Gave it to the guy who bought the car.

[WE3RX7]

What alternatives to the RB brace is there? I had never heard of complaints with it before, but if Garfinkle's design is better, whats different? Pics...??

[djmtsu]

There are two issues with the RB brace:

1) The arm for the brace goes to the wrong side of the engine bay (should go to the passenger side)

2) There is no real support for the brace where it mounts to the sheet metal (can rip out f you have enough torque and a bad engine mount)

Look up Garfinkle's under his Vendor forum here. It is NICE.

[classicauto]

thanks. so has anyone had any luck with using hocky pucks. sounds kinda ghetto to me but it is alot cheaper. anybody that has done it? good or bad?

Never hockey pucks here.

But used plenty different variations of the "bolt through" mounts.

Personally, with only the engine mounts replaced with bolt through types, the vibration is really not that bad. Very very tolerable. If you do them on the tranny too..........it'll get a thousand times worse.

[vex]

Mazda Comp mounts are amazing. I could tell a difference right away (well... I did have a broken stock motor mount) and there is no vibration coming through unless your engine is on the fritz or in need of a rebuild... which reminds me.

[firzen]

Don't use hockey pucks. However, I did know a guy that used the window sealant stuff on his old motor mounts to stiffen them up. Worked out quite well and doesn't feel too bad.

Problem with Garfinkle's brace is it's FD specific...

Mazdatrix also sells a strut tower bar that has a torque brace but that thing is on the front...

[Ender]

1) The arm for the brace goes to the wrong side of the engine bay (should go to the passenger side)
With it on the driver's side the accelerating torque pulls on the bar and pushes on decelerating torque, isn't that better for a solid rod? I know some torque braces use hydraulic or gas pistons so to me it makes sense for those to be mounted to the other side, compresses on accel and stretches on decel.


2) There is no real support for the brace where it mounts to the sheet metal (can rip out f you have enough torque and a bad engine mount)
I could see that happening, maybe.... the rubber bumpers on the RB bar mount will apply force over an area of approximately 1.5 to 2 square inches. Even making 600ft lbs of torque, the bar connects at what, 18" from the centerline of the e-shaft? That would apply 400lbs to a bumper against the sheet metal... I guess I don't know if that would be enough to tear it out, maybe after a lot of abuse. I'm gonna guess that if you're making 600ft lbs of torque with any 13B or a 12A you will already have something else figured out to keep your motor from tearing itself out of your engine bay, but I don't know.

[WE3RX7]

So what I'm hearing is Garfinkle should start making FC versions, lol....

[djmtsu]

He said something about it long ago, but it never happened. Now he lives 40 minutes away instead of 2 minutes, and I don't know of any FC's where he lives now.

[Whizbang]

hockey pucks eh?

[Rotary#10]

hockey pucks eh?

anyone up for a friendly game of hockey? mmm just reading this it makes sense to me about the top of the motor twisting, i didn't know that.. mmm learn something new everyday...

[Fidelity101]

I dont want stock ones, and I don't want to break bank for solid mounts so within the next couple weeks I am getting mazda comp trans/motor mounts for when the motor/trans goes back in the car.

I had a broken P side engine mount too

[Max777]

i dunno, the reason I didn't get the Mazdacomp mounts was because the stock design which is prone to failing....

After a while I will report back on my banzai mounts, to see if I can give some insight.

[My5ABaby]

i dunno, the reason I didn't get the Mazdacomp mounts was because the stock design which is prone to failing....

After a while I will report back on my banzai mounts, to see if I can give some insight.

Maybe because I own an N/A, but I've never heard the stock mounts are prone to failing. Granted, many of the stock mounts are bad on FC's, but they're also at least 18 years old and likely have over 100,000 miles on them. You'll be hard pressed to find anything non-metal (or metal...) on the exterior of the car that's in good shape after that long.

However, I would be more than glad if you could find some posts about the stock ones failing as I am thinking of replacing mine for peace of mind (although Kevin said they were fine as of 3 years ago on my 86 with 120k+ miles).

[classicauto]

Maybe because I own an N/A, but I've never heard the stock mounts are prone to failing. Granted, many of the stock mounts are bad on FC's, but they're also at least 18 years old and likely have over 100,000 miles on them. You'll be hard pressed to find anything non-metal (or metal...) on the exterior of the car that's in good shape after that long.

Not to mention, most of them are absolutely DRENCHED in oil. Which will swell and rot the rubber nice and quickly.

[Max777]

Well, one of the mounts on the thread-starters FC project car was done, and the other was better, but if you look close the rubber is always micro-cracked on all the ones I've inspected so far, including some I got with my short block.

Maybe it's because of owning a car with a REALLY sloppy drivetrain before( 1996 Mercedes C220) that I want to have my drivetrain "planted" and not move at all. Also big part is that I am planning on doing some drifting, and drivetrain slop really sucks for that.

[Nopis1O]

[QUOTE=Max777;75603]Well, one of the mounts on the thread-starters FC project car was done, and the other was better, but if you look close the rubber is always micro-cracked on all the ones I've inspected so far, including some I got with my short block.QUOTE]

I wouldnt say there prone to failing. max being micro cracked would fall under the terms ageing or weathering. im sure with 20 years of abuse most mounts would have micro cracks. And as far as the design being the same as mazdas oem. if its good enough for mazda then its good enough for me.