Bushings solution?

[tallrd]

axr has not sent me tracking to an order they confirmed would ship 9/2. This was what he emailed me that day:

"The kit will ship out today. I will send you a tracking number tomorrow."

It is now September 7th and there has been no tracking sent. I sent an message Friday to AXR asking what was going on and still no reply. From a customer service standpoint, it leaves a very bad taste in my mouth to be given an expections and then not have that expectation met within a full business week.

I am hoping they will reply with tracking or that I will receive something.

Has anyone else had this issue with AXR? Should I be worried about this company with which I have never done business?

 

[Pmpkinhead]

Just chill!!! Good history. Customs will slow it down.

 

[tallrd]

ok, received brackets...

installed said brackets and related items...

best $220 I've spent on the car in a long time. Not only is the clunk gone but the car handles better than it ever did since I've owned it. This should have been the design out of the factory!

A+++ to AXR!!!!

 

[tallrd]

500 mile update

I'll start by saying that I did the thread lock, used ample bushing lubricant, and did the 1 week post-installation "snug everything up" check. I've done tons of work on all my vehicles since i was able to drive, so I'm pretty confident I did this all correctly, but alas...

there is major clunking over every single bump, crack, and hickup in the road. It sounds like I should be able to go under the car and physically move the bar with my bare hands or something. So, my first thought was that I made some stupid obvious error, or something worked it's way lose.

I checked all bolts related to the installation very carefully, and all are totally snug. Wheels are totally snug. Anti-sway bar doesn't move at all when I go under the car. Brackets are totally tight. Car handles as if everything is totally tight, but the clunk is driving me knuts.

Anyone else have this issue? Suggestions?

 

[Pmpkinhead]

Reach under the car and grab the Links. Push, pull, and twist, listen for a "click" or "pop". If so, they are worn.

The supplied 20.5mm bushings were too big for my MSP. I just buy the tighter 19mm for more life. Only the bore diameter is smaller. The cage is the same for both part numbers. You need Energy Suspension Assembly #9.5156 3/4" 19mm Bushings.

The bushings are "graphite impreg" (black), not avail in red.

I ordered 3/4" 19mm (P/N B5335) bushings with no cages. The cages last quite a while compared to the rubber LOL.

They are coming from www.suspension.com (Bruce). I think they are $7.00US each shipped. I have also seen the assembly (with cages) on E-bay.


367 (mp3yellow

 

[MS_Rick]

Can someone find out if they sell this bushing at a softer duro...
9.5156 3/4" 19mm Bushings. (Greaseable)

Reach under the car and grab the Links. Push, pull, and twist, listen for a "click" or "pop". If so, they are worn.

The supplied 20.5mm bushings were too big for my MSP. I just buy the tighter 19mm for more life. Only the bore diameter is smaller. The cage is the same for both part numbers. You need Energy Suspension Assembly #9.5156 3/4" 19mm Bushings.

The bushings are "graphite impreg" (black), not avail in red.

I ordered 3/4" 19mm (P/N B5335) bushings with no cages. The cages last quite a while compared to the rubber LOL.

They are coming from www.suspension.com (Bruce). I think they are $7.00US each shipped. I have also seen the assembly (with cages) on E-bay.


367 (mp3yellow

 

[tallrd]

photos of installation--please help

I left the pics large on purpose so that if I've done something blaringly wrong someone can tell me if I f'd up (the pics in the installation manual were pretty much useless for me). The first 2 pics are w/the anti-sway bar installed, and the second 2 pics are just the brackets w/out the sway bar attached yet.

Please let me know if something looks "off" b/c everything seems tight as hell. Nothing moves back and forth or otherwise (at least not with my bare hands trying as hard as I can to move everything)

 

[special--k]

doesnt the "Clunk" come from the link kit? and the squeek from the Swaybar?

so wouldn't this kit solve the squeek, and not the clunk?

IMO

 

[tallrd]

in my case, the clunk was caused by the bushings wearing out and having play. They wouldn't last for more than 10K miles or so (and that's under normal driving--not hard cornering at all). The root cause, as I see it, was the original design of the brackets for the anti-sway bar being in the wrong spot, thus allowing too much flex in the sway bar. This bracket kit extends the point at which those bushings attach outward, suposedly correcting the flex problem at the source. However, there is clunking despite it being totally snug, greased like crazy, and handling wonderfully.
I'm completely stumped, and quite frustrated...

 

[122 Vega]

Now having run these brackets for oh, about two years or so, I must come back to provide a long term review. I am still so pleased with these brackets. They are simply one of the best upgrades I have made to my MSP (Tie at the top with AWR Motor Mounts). Do they squeak? Sometimes. Do they clunk? No, Not at all. The AWR endlinks do, but when adjusted correctly and lubed, they do not. Now, that said, my ES bushings themselves were binding. Search Andy Howe's GRM article that talks about his STS Miata's rear bushings binding. After modifying my bushings, the rear bar was great and the car suffered no snap oversteer. There is no design flaw with these brackets, I'll endorse them whole-heartedly.

Britt