temrich

I was looking at the ZX2 racing parts on the website and noticed "Racing Suspension Bushing Kit". Does anyone know if these would work on a Proto? I know it's a long shot, but the MazdaSpeed bushings are $150 and my front end is BAD.

thanks again
tom

Maz94Protege

Yes the bushing kit wil work for a 1990-94 prote. I knoe 2 ppl that have em!

Davard

Yes they fit. They will feed a lot more vibration through the suspension and into the car. Maybe a bit extreme if you're looking for a good ride. But for performance parts, the price can't be beat.

Bizob

What exactly to the bushings do?

Davard

They are the front Lower Control Arm (LCA) bushings. The idea is that the stiffer polyurethane bushings reduce complaince, giving more precise handling at the expense of a harsher (and noisier) ride. Sort of like the difference between the stock 14" tires and 17" tires.

Bizob

OK, so if I'm getting what you're saying, It'll make my suspensions less floppy laterally? I'm an idiot I guess... Thanks for the info!

temrich

So now I've got new struts and LCA bushings, how about the Energy Suspension sway bar bushings? For that matter, is there anything else from the ZX2 racing parts that fit our Protos?

My poor car has 106k miles and two full seasons of autocrossing with two drivers and is getting pretty sloppy. I've been looking for some good bushings and such to tighten it up. Anyone know of any stiffer engine mounts available? I'm thinking about getting standard ones and making some polyurethane inserts to stiffen them up.

Thanks for all the help and info, guys.

tom

Davard

I assume that you are running in STS or SP. As the poly LCA bushings aren't stock class legal. And engine mounts will put you into Prepared or Street Modified.

I don't know if Energy sway bar bushings are available, but the end link bushings will help. If you're running in STS, you could go with sway bars to help tighten up your car.

BTW, my '90 LX has 176k miles and 11+ seasons of autocrossing, most of that with 2 drivers. I just bought my 21st set of tires for it, only 5 of which have been R-tires. And I came awfully close to winning the Bremerton NT last year (lost by 0.146 sec, cone-ing my fastest run both days).

temrich

Dave,
Yea, our little club is using SCCA classes again, so now I'm STS.

The ZX2 racing parts page shows an Energy Suspension sway bar bushing kit for $25 (http://www.oemfordparts.com/partdeta...&CategoryID=77). I've been looking for some for a while and if these fit the price sure can't be beat.

The also list camber adjustment kits (bolts, not strut tops), coil overs, and more. Some cool stuff.

Are motor mount inserts allowed in STS if I use the stock mounts?

Also, what springs do you use? I've got Eibach because I originally wanted a smoother ride but the car sits high in the butt.

tom

Davard

The ZX2 front swaybar is 2 or 3mm larger than the Protege LX front bar, so only the outer bushings would work. And I think the rear is a different size as well. If you are planning on getting aftermarket bars (Suspension Tech F/R and/or Compass rear), they come with poly bushings.

Motor mount inserts of any kind (or stiffer mounts) aren't STS legal. Don't know why you'd need them...I'm still on all my original mounts.

I am currently on H&R MX-3 springs, but I'll soon be on coil-overs. Our lots are too bumpy for the limited front suspension travel afforded by these springs when combined with the Mazdaspeed MX-3 struts I'm running. My car is about as low as you can go, but with the stock springs on these struts, it was tail-high.

The camber bolts look pretty good, if a tad expensive.

temrich

Which coilovers are you getting? I've thought about them myself (our local lots are tiny and rough) but the cost/unemployment issue keeps coming up.

tom

Net Seven

What about some strut mounts. I bet those help you out a lot too, if those little pieces of rubber help. Any aftermarket performance, or super duty ones out there for a pro?

Davard

Coil-overs are just sleeves that fit on the struts. Fairly generic. I have a friend at Diamond Star Specialties (they do Eclipse/Talons) who is fitting his kit with different springs.

The coil-overs are a new item being made by Maximum Motorsports . They make Mustang parts, but are branching out. Their top mount caster/camber plates should be around $200-250. Final prices haven't been set yet. Mine is the prototype. It may incorporate a STB (Strut Tower Brace) in the design for a little more.

KYB makes replacement strut mounts available through the Tire Rack and performance pieces through Mazda Motorsports.

If you join Mazda Motorsports (see link on site for info), the parts are at dealer cost. All you need to do is race twice a year and send results to Mazda.