Clunk Updates

I concur with NEWF. The new bushings did fail, but on the old bar. Hopefully it won't take long to get a whole new setup so I can try again. It is nice that I am working with a dealer who is willing to listen to my suggestions (or should I say NEWF's suggestions) and go with them, no questions asked.
 
I realize what you're saying Newf, but the guy said that the bar looked fine and didn't appear like it needed replacing. I'm betting money they'll replace the bar and they still fail just the same. I'm just WAY frustrated .... I guess maybe it's LITTLE early to start flaming that Mazda engineer until we have multiple people with failures....

I'm at about 800 miles on my E's and they're still perfect so far. Mazda better hope it stays that way or I am going to raise all holy hell, I promise you that much.
 
Yes the bar does look fine, but until it is taken off completely, it is hard to tell. Don't get me wrong, I believe they will fail again anyhow, but let's know for sure. For comparison sake. I had the E's put on Sep 12, about 3200 miles ago.
 
girth said:
I'm at about 800 miles on my E's and they're still perfect so far. Mazda better hope it stays that way or I am going to raise all holy hell, I promise you that much.

Okay, Newman. Let me know when you do.
 
Im picking my car up tonite from the dealer. I got the e bushings, and I will keep track of the type of driving, and mileage until the next clunk is heard.
 
If you really think about it though...just because a bar may have been a tiny tiny little bit worn (because if it was bad, I believe they would have replaced it the first time) doesn't that kind of just mean that it had a head start, and just reached failure earlier? I mean, the same stresses are still being put on the bar, and the same motion is taking place, so the same wear will occur. Its just a matter of time before it ultimately fails...so Albino had possibly a worn bar; his failed in what 3k-5k miles? Even if with a brand new swaybar (which I got with my E's too) lasts 10k-15k miles (and that's a generous estimate), that's still not a permenant fix. I'm sorry I'm so pessemistic and unfaithful, because I used to be able to roll with these things. BUT, it has literally now, been over 2 YEARS since this started happening to my car personally, and I'm sick and F (which will be the next fixes part number by the way:) ) -ing tired of this F-ing SHT. (mad)

Sorry, its been a while since I vented...also, my brand new tire is being replaced (nail in the shoulder, a couple others throughout) because of some other lazy MF-er who didn't sweep up their parking lot after building a resteraunt (yes, it was open, and I was eating there). :mad:
"I want some butts!!"
 
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scott42 said:
If you really think about it though...just because a bar may have been a tiny tiny little bit worn (because if it was bad, I believe they would have replaced it the first time) doesn't that kind of just mean that it had a head start, and just reached failure earlier? I mean, the same stresses are still being put on the bar, and the same motion is taking place, so the same wear will occur. Its just a matter of time before it ultimately fails...so Albino had possibly a worn bar; his failed in what 3k-5k miles? Even if with a brand new swaybar (which I got with my E's too) lasts 10k-15k miles (and that's a generous estimate), that's still not a permenant fix. I'm sorry I'm so pessemistic and unfaithful, because I used to be able to roll with these things. BUT, it has literally now, been over 2 YEARS since this started happening to my car personally, and I'm sick and F (which will be the next fixes part number by the way:) ) -ing tired of this F-ing SHT. (mad)

Sorry, its been a while since I vented...

You are exactly right IMO Scott. Even if the bar was worn, the simple fact that the clunk went away with the new bushings for a while but eventually came back basically proves that the problem still exists. If the bar was truly bad the clunk would have been there right away. All the slightly worn bar did was accelerate the failure of the bushings. So maybe with a new bar this guy would have lasted 5k miles instead of just 3k.

I guess no matter how you slice it these are the best bushings so far, but that's little consolation when you consider it took 2+ years to come up with it. Of course all of this is complete uneducated speculation on my part -- Newf, the Mazda engineer's, and the rest of you are the real experts on this. In the meantime I'm going to try to stay quiet for as long as my ass-end stays quiet.

P.S. - I like the "F" series bushing reference you made!:p
 
Believe me....when it comes to this topic...venting is allowed :)

And your theory makes sense and all, but if the new bushings didn't fit right because the bar was worn.....they didn't do what they were designed to do.


Ideally...and just another theory ( theories = bulls*** btw :) ) if the bushings did fit right, they should not move anyways, meaning the bar should not wear.

Now, having said that...... I've said since day one, that because these guys went and released these things without consulting me ,and having someone else test them ( that still pisses me off to no end ) if they fail, I'm not going to be surprised.

These bushings are NOT the design I was told they were going to use. I was told there there was going to be a bearing type of bushing in conjunction with better end links, that would allow the bar to flex a little for the extra weight from the car( very similar to some high end bushings you would find in race cars ), stiffen the ride a little more but not fail. Matter of fact, the genious that came up with this ( I'm being sarcastic ) was a kart racer himself....I was supposed to be impressed by that apparantly. If he's reading.... your full of s***.

But low and behold the teflon idea, which is really nothing more then what I tried on day one, by putting tape on myself,and the bushing around it.

Hence, in closing......if they fail, I won't be surprised at all, and I would love nothing more to rub this in the face of certain Mazda "know it all's " ** cough ** mr kart racer ego f'n maniac


end my vent



that being said :)

Mine are still fine, and my old mp3 was too before it sold and left town.
 
oh, and by the way, the bar doesn't have to be worn that much to not work. I learned this while testing other bushings. If the paint is wore off at all, it's diameter is smaller and new or old bushings would just slip. now with the old bushings, the was very important. with the new ones......????

A. Flash, didn't you say that your bar was never ever replaced? meaning same bar for entire life of car?

Did you see it with your own eyes? because some mechanics, when it comes to this stuff, are clueless.
 
i have posted pics of my fix. and i have been totally clunk free for around 7 months.. All i did was put a piece of rubber between the bushing and the frame and i have yet to get any clunking... at least 7,000 miles. My dealer offered me the new E's but i might just wait to micaspeeds fix... it seems more in the right direction..
 
yeah, if these e's do fail, I'm forgetting Mazda and trying something else. I'm not using my speed for a guinea pig like my mp3 was.
 
That is correct Newf. The original bar is still on my car. I haven't seen the bar completely off with no bushings attached in a long time. When they replace it, I will definitely take a look. I want to have the Energy bushings put back on, at least those lasted a year before failing.
 
Finally got my bushings. looks like the only difference is some nylon, on the inside. Sounds nice now.
 

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Just got my new "E" bushings installed at John Hine Mazda in SD, SO far so good no CLUNKING.. I'll keep you all updated as to how it performs.


xxx:mad:
 
definitely do that shyster, though you'll probably be ok for a long while seeing you are in San Diego...give it at least 10k miles :)

and Newf, I totally see what you are saying, but like girth said, if that theory, of the bar being worn a bit causing the failure (I know, theory=:BS: :)) is true, then what is going on in the time where it is fine to the time it starts to clunk...the same wearing that will take place on a brand new bar...like I claimed earlier, the previously worn bar only accelerates the problem. We'll all see the clunk again. Like that old Frito Lay guy used to say..."I Garr-oone-teee!" :cool:


BTW, NEWF RULES, in all seriousness.:)

And since NEWF RULES for all the work he's done to try and get this fixed, I can't imagine what kind of demigod Dave (Micaspeed!) will become with a finalized new setup... :D

Paul, I really like your fix too, and would do it until Dave's setup comes out, but its damn cold out now, and I'm without a place to work on my car until spring :(
 
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1st MP3 in NH said:
Trying something like putting a mic infront of a speaker?
You might really be on to something there ... pull that one off right and you won't have to worry about hearing your clunks any more. :D

Seems about as effective as what Mazda's been doing anyway.

As for me, I'm waiting for my Ds to die again (shouldn't be long) before I go bother Diamond about the Es.
 

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