SRmotorsports rear sway bar is still annoying...
October-13th-2002, 05:55 PM
#1
Protege Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 9
SRmotorsports rear sway bar is still annoying...
It's nice and stiff, but I can't stop the squeeking.
All the bolts are definitely tight. The noise is coming from the bracket with the new poly bushings (the location is very obvious from underneath when you shake the car while it's on the lift). I've greased them three times. And I had the guy at Performance Imports (shop up the street) double check everything for me (he let me watch him -- great guy -- didn't even charge me for using his lift!).
Anybody know what might be wrong? The bushings and spacers seem to fit fine...
Thanks.
All the bolts are definitely tight. The noise is coming from the bracket with the new poly bushings (the location is very obvious from underneath when you shake the car while it's on the lift). I've greased them three times. And I had the guy at Performance Imports (shop up the street) double check everything for me (he let me watch him -- great guy -- didn't even charge me for using his lift!).
Anybody know what might be wrong? The bushings and spacers seem to fit fine...
Thanks.
October-22nd-2002, 07:07 PM
#6
Protege Newbie
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 11
well it doesn't matter now since you don't have them, but I'll tell you what they are anyway. Ground Control is a suspension engineering company. They make a coilover system (shock or strut body with the spring being inherently a part of it, not merely sitting on top of the shock or strut) that is very high quality and meant for racing. They things are clunky and noisy. If assembled poorly the clunking is very loud. On top of this, a squeeking sound occurs in the pillowball mounts of the suspension when these GC coilovers are installed. The stock pillowball mounts have rubber cores for comfort and quietness. Racing (full metal) pillowball mounts would eliminate this problem and give one with GC coilovers a more solid ride. However, I don't believe they make them for the Protege yet. You can install GC camber/caster plates in the front and that will solve half of the squeeking problem.
To see what the GC coilovers are go to their website.
www.ground-control.com
You do not have the GC coilovers though, so that would not be your problem. I have seen the stock pillowball mounts begin to squeek when someone has gone with slightly stiffer springs on their car. You may be able to lube them, but that is merely a temporary fix. This shouldn't be happening with any mazdaspeed parts or OEM parts though because I believe, in the case of the protege they are using a lot of MP3 parts to upgrade lesser proteges.
To see what the GC coilovers are go to their website.
www.ground-control.com
You do not have the GC coilovers though, so that would not be your problem. I have seen the stock pillowball mounts begin to squeek when someone has gone with slightly stiffer springs on their car. You may be able to lube them, but that is merely a temporary fix. This shouldn't be happening with any mazdaspeed parts or OEM parts though because I believe, in the case of the protege they are using a lot of MP3 parts to upgrade lesser proteges.
October-22nd-2002, 08:19 PM
#7
Protege Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 9
Tell me, is there any way to get the MP3 rear sway bar without getting the front (I've only seen them packaged as a front and rear set)? I'd gladly dump the aftermarket sway bar I now have... but I don't want to put the thicker front sway bar on... I understand it's a MAJOR deal to install it, and the front/rear set is way too expensive. I already have the MP3 strut tower bar, and I don't think I really need the MP3 front bar. Having a stiffer rear bar seems to help the ride.
October-23rd-2002, 12:54 AM
#8
Banned
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Silicon Valley, CA. 95110
Posts: 632
I was under the assumption that standard rubber shock mounts do not have pillowballs. The purpose of the pillowball is to eliminate the rubber bushing and in place of it use a solid bearing and solid shock mount.
When going to camber plates up front for example on any Ground Control system you will eliminate the stock rubber bushing mount completely and replacing it with a pillowball camber plate. At least that's what I've always understood.
http://www.jic-magic.com/suspension/flta2.asp
Just want to make sure we all gather the correct info. This way we can cross reference our info with each other. Let me know.
Thanks, Rishie
Ground Control is not a high quality coilover system in my opinion. It's okay. But a huge difference between a truly integrated fully adjustable coilover and the sleeve/threaded collar type. Here's what I have on my P5, I've had GC's in a ton of apps so I am speaking from pure experience. Price difference, huge.
This is Ground Control, just a spring basically and optional pillowball mounts mostly for the front.
When going to camber plates up front for example on any Ground Control system you will eliminate the stock rubber bushing mount completely and replacing it with a pillowball camber plate. At least that's what I've always understood.
http://www.jic-magic.com/suspension/flta2.asp
Just want to make sure we all gather the correct info. This way we can cross reference our info with each other. Let me know.
Thanks, Rishie
Ground Control is not a high quality coilover system in my opinion. It's okay. But a huge difference between a truly integrated fully adjustable coilover and the sleeve/threaded collar type. Here's what I have on my P5, I've had GC's in a ton of apps so I am speaking from pure experience. Price difference, huge.
This is Ground Control, just a spring basically and optional pillowball mounts mostly for the front.
October-23rd-2002, 12:57 AM
#9
Banned
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Silicon Valley, CA. 95110
Posts: 632
The SR rear sway bar is the AWR bar. So might as well get it from Mazda Competition or us. You can get it cheaper that way. Just an FYI. I got duped by that one too. My wholesale price was MC's regular price.
the white lithium should work well. I don't have any squeaking.
Rishie
the white lithium should work well. I don't have any squeaking.
Rishie
mine squeaks now!!!
October-26th-2002, 12:43 AM
#11
That's me!!
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 337
Originally posted by ARD MP5
The SR rear sway bar is the AWR bar. So might as well get it from Mazda Competition or us. You can get it cheaper that way. Just an FYI. I got duped by that one too. My wholesale price was MC's regular price.
the white lithium should work well. I don't have any squeaking.
Rishie
The SR rear sway bar is the AWR bar. So might as well get it from Mazda Competition or us. You can get it cheaper that way. Just an FYI. I got duped by that one too. My wholesale price was MC's regular price.
the white lithium should work well. I don't have any squeaking.
Rishie
October-26th-2002, 01:09 AM
#12
Banned
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Silicon Valley, CA. 95110
Posts: 632
I was referring to the 19mm bar. That's the one I got from SR and realized it was the AWR purchased through MAzda competition and marked up.
Now we purchase ours through Mazda Comp.
Rishie
Now we purchase ours through Mazda Comp.
Rishie
October-26th-2002, 01:21 AM
#13
That's me!!
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 337
Originally posted by ARD MP5
I was referring to the 19mm bar. That's the one I got from SR and realized it was the AWR purchased through MAzda competition and marked up.
Now we purchase ours through Mazda Comp.
Rishie
I was referring to the 19mm bar. That's the one I got from SR and realized it was the AWR purchased through MAzda competition and marked up.
Now we purchase ours through Mazda Comp.
Rishie
October-30th-2002, 09:50 PM
#14
Protege Enthusiast
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: St. Albert, AB, Canada
Posts: 109
Ive also got the 19mm sway bars and they squeak all the time. I've tried 2 different lubes and they stop the squeak for about a month before they need it again. It sure is a pain.
October-31st-2002, 08:38 AM
#15
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Dallas, Texas
Posts: 1,122
OK, silly idea for squeaky swaybars:
1) Remove bushings and brackets.
2) Drill a small (~3/32") hole through each bushing and bracket.
3) With a Dremel tool, machine a shallow, narrow (~1/8"x1/8") groove around the inside of the bushing, connecting to the hole you just drilled.
4) Weld or braze a Zerk fitting to the bracket over the hole.
5) Re-install everything.
6) Whip out the grease gun and lube the bushings with moly suspension grease.
7) Whenever the bushings start to squeak, repeat Step 6.
Yeah, it's old school, but it will work and you won't ever have to drop the swaybar to lube the bushings. The swaybar bushings are very easy to reach lying on your back under the rear bumper, so you probably won't even have to jack up the car.
1) Remove bushings and brackets.
2) Drill a small (~3/32") hole through each bushing and bracket.
3) With a Dremel tool, machine a shallow, narrow (~1/8"x1/8") groove around the inside of the bushing, connecting to the hole you just drilled.
4) Weld or braze a Zerk fitting to the bracket over the hole.
5) Re-install everything.
6) Whip out the grease gun and lube the bushings with moly suspension grease.
7) Whenever the bushings start to squeak, repeat Step 6.
Yeah, it's old school, but it will work and you won't ever have to drop the swaybar to lube the bushings. The swaybar bushings are very easy to reach lying on your back under the rear bumper, so you probably won't even have to jack up the car.