I think I know the answer already but I don't like it so I hope I'm wrong 
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The DD/occasional HPDE Miata appears to have some slight suspension damage (see posts towards the end of that thread). As dean1484 points out, at least one of the bushings in the driver's side rear suspension is damaged (I think it's actually at least three, basically all the upper arm's suspension bushes) and will need replacing.
This here cheapskate who would like to get the car off the axle stands before it hits four weeks in the air - which is getting unlikely as I find more E36 M3 that needs fixing - and I first thought that just replacing the three damaged bushes should suffice. Especially if I can get two with a used control arm . However the suspension bushes are 17 years old and several of them aren't looking too hot anymore so I'm a bit concerned about mixing old and new.
I am assuming that the Right Thing(tm) would be to stop being cheap, order an IL Motorsports bushing kit and get going. The only flaw in that plan seems to be that on the FM site, they suggest you need a press to get in the bushings. I don't have a press or access to one and I don't currently have the space otherwise it would be HF time again. That would suggest that I'd need to farm out the job and that isn't going to be cheap.
The alternative would be to poly the suspension myself, but I'm getting the impression that polybushes aren't that great for a mainly road car.
What sayeth the font?
In reply to BoxheadTim:
Just get a used UCA and be done with it?
It need to replace the top bushing in the upright at the very least as that's damaged and not part of the UCA. I'm also tempted to get both upper and lower CAs as I don't know if the LCA sustained any damage.
There's nothing wrong with poly bushings on a road car, you may get some squeaky noises but that's about it.
I wouldn't mix new/used, but then again I'm a bit off.
I'm getting ready to order all new bolts for the Miata suspension. Every nut/bolt thats coming off to refurb the suspension, gets replaced with new.
I hate, hate, HATE to redo work, or to undo work I've done to go back and do something left undone while I was there the first time.
When I did my early NA's suspension I removed all of it and installed an Energy suspension full urethane bushing kit and a Flyin' Miata stage 2.5 kit as well as their chassis rail and butterfly braces. For what it's worth I also did the clutch and a timing belt and replaced every seal and gasket I met on the way.
Yes, it's a pile of work.
Yes, the car is completely right and tight and needs literally nothing in the foreseeable. Gas, oil, drive it.
Look at it this way - would another week or 2 up in the air now be worth no weeks up in the air for years to come?
When I rebuilt the suspension in my SpecMiata I replaced all the bushings with new stock ones. There was no press involved. Between a selection of sockets, pipe couplings, chunks of pipe/tubing and a bunch of hardware store nuts and bolts I pulled all them out. The replacements went in with my bench vice and soapy water. With the soap some of them would actually pop back out. It was a relatively easy job after I perfected my technique and figured out what sizes of "tools" to use.
motomoron wrote:
I hate, hate, HATE to redo work, or to undo work I've done to go back and do something left undone while I was there the first time.
When I did my early NA's suspension I removed all of it and installed an Energy suspension full urethane bushing kit and a Flyin' Miata stage 2.5 kit as well as their chassis rail and butterfly braces. For what it's worth I also did the clutch and a timing belt and replaced every seal and gasket I met on the way.
Yes, it's a pile of work.
Yes, the car is completely right and tight and needs literally nothing in the foreseeable. Gas, oil, drive it.
Look at it this way - would another week or 2 up in the air now be worth no weeks up in the air for years to come?
I agree.. that is why I did my Ti with all poly.. I do not even get squeaks
In reply to DeadSkunk:
Out of curiosity, how long did that take you?
In reply to motomoron:
There is the "let's do it right the first time" factor, but there's also the "I need this thing back on the road because the wife's car need to go into the shop and we're out of spare vehicles" factor.
Oh, and changing the suspension bushes on this thing is no guarantee that it'll stay off the axle stands for a month, let alone years. Unfortunately I keep finding things with it that aren't quite right.
In reply to BoxheadTim:
I was building the car from a bare shell and refurbishing the parts as I put them back on. It probably could be done in a weekend if you have everything you need to take it apart. I had the car up on 4 jackstands and the was no need to get it back together on a deadline.
If you can't have the car off the road for any length of time just do one corner at a time. It'll be drivable with new and old bushings.
BoxheadTim wrote:
I think I know the answer already but I don't like it so I hope I'm wrong .
The DD/occasional HPDE Miata appears to have some slight suspension damage (see posts towards the end of that thread). As dean1484 points out, at least one of the bushings in the driver's side rear suspension is damaged (I think it's actually at least three, basically all the upper arm's suspension bushes) and will need replacing.
This here cheapskate who would like to get the car off the axle stands before it hits four weeks in the air - which is getting unlikely as I find more E36 M3 that needs fixing - and I first thought that just replacing the three damaged bushes should suffice. Especially if I can get two with a used control arm . However the suspension bushes are 17 years old and several of them aren't looking too hot anymore so I'm a bit concerned about mixing old and new.
I am assuming that the Right Thing(tm) would be to stop being cheap, order an IL Motorsports bushing kit and get going. The only flaw in that plan seems to be that on the FM site, they suggest you need a press to get in the bushings. I don't have a press or access to one and I don't currently have the space otherwise it would be HF time again. That would suggest that I'd need to farm out the job and that isn't going to be cheap.
The alternative would be to poly the suspension myself, but I'm getting the impression that polybushes aren't that great for a mainly road car.
What sayeth the font?
Might not need a press, sir.
http://mazdaroadster.net/showthread.php?611-Howto-Bushing-swap-DIY-tool-for-5
With one of these and an impact gun, you should be able to do the job in a day assuming your car isn't completely rusted together.
If I'll get the tools to remove the bushings together in advance I have everything to take the suspension apart. I needed to buy some tools to swap the shocks out so I think I've got everything.
Fortunately the car is a SoCal and then desert car. I haven't found a single bolt or nut so far that wouldn't undo. Still freaks me out, I'm used to having to use angle grinders and similar tools of persuasion on my cars in the UK.
Ended up ordering a set of poly bushes and the lower and upper control arm from FM. The lower was a "just in case" purchase as I didn't fancy finding out that the lower arm was damaged as well and then would have to wait another 3-4 days for the replacement lower arm.
First SCCA PDX of the season is on April 21st. Wish me luck that I get the car back together in time for that.
