Inconsistent bushing sleeves WTF?

Retrobmx63

Member
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08 Mazdaspeed3 - Black Mica
So I just installed the TWM shift bushings. And noticed that the stock bushing sleeves were so damn inconsistent.

Two of them looked normal. One of them was a noticeably different diameter inner hole and thickness. And the last was ovalized and squashed.

Mechanically I guess it doesn't matter all that much. But the idea of it irks me.
It was like someone blindly grabbed a handful of parts out of the trash and put it in the car.

Did anyone else notice this garbage when they replaced theirs?
Pics included to help illustrate.

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Reverse side

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I never bothered to look at the stock base bushings after I removed them but it looks like there are actually 2 sizes of bushings. Maybe they're all like that, I'll take a look at mine when I get a chance. In your case, looks like the 2nd "smaller" bushing was squashed by over-tightening.
 
If it was overtightened, it was from the factory like that. But even still, over tightening shouldn't squash the sleeve perpendicular to the bolt.

Also if there were different sizes on purpose, then why would TWM make 4 identical bushings?
 
Its normal. It was like that on my 05' 3 and on my speed 3 and on other 3's i've installed on.
 
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