[SGs FUZION]

Just came back from cruz with new urethane front & rear swaybar bushings installed. Subtle yet effective upgrade. Virtually eliminates side to side rock/roll (flawble dawble)... flatter cornering...much tighter...BIG improvement over OEM 'bubblegum bushings'! This was done on stock sway bars...24mm frt & 16mm rr. Bushings are Energy Suspension blk greezables. Total r&r [email protected] 3hrs... @ $30 for all 4. 14mm deep socket for rears...no jack needed...less then an hr. Fronts were @ 1hr + each...remove tire for easier access...15mm shallow socket for passenger side frt&rr nuts...15mm 12pt combo rench (THIN WALL BOX END IS A PLUS) for drivers side frt nut...did not have to remove anything else or drop anything (ie subframe) to accomplish this easy ...inexpensive...yet noticable handleling enhancement.

 

[WiKDMoNKY]

Pics????

Where did you buy them?

 

[SGs FUZION]

Frt & Rr bushing pix 2morrow....PerformanceCenter.com

 

[WiKDMoNKY]

How about a direct link to the ones you bought???

 

[SGs FUZION]

PIX OF BUSHING INSTALL...

FRT DR SD...

FRT PS SD...

RR DR SD...

RR PS SD...

 

[eiching1]

SG Can you tell me which bushings you purchased? and did you just do the mounting bushings and not anything on the links? Here is the link to Performance Center for ref.

http://www.performancecenter.com/pr...&sf6=Sway+Bar+Bushings+&+Bushing-Bracket+Sets

 

[SGs FUZION]

Hi eiching....i have the Black 24mm Bar Diameter Greaseable Sway Bar Bushing Set, Part Number: 9-5160 for the front & Black 16mm Bar Diameter Greaseable Sway Bar Bushing Set, Part Number: 9-5154 for the rear...no links at that time. I now have @ 8K miles and they have been an effective suspension enhancemant for minimal $. When the summer tread & rims go on ...soon...i'll lube. I will also check links for 'play'...if loose...research aftermarket...otherwise OEM. Any other ?'s...feel free to inquire....take care.

 

[eiching1]

SG, Thanks for the info. I am also looking into replacing the rear bar with a stock Mazda 6 bar (19mm) since I can get that for about $40.00 shipped. So for about $80.00 total I can firm things up abit. I am not into doing to much beyond that, this is my work car and I drive 20,000+ miles/year, plus I am getting a used SCT tuner so I don't want to spend too much money. If your are looking to replace the links at some point I know there is a post by hwm3 that says he knows where to get aluminum replacements. It might take me awhile to move on the sway bar issue since I don't have a lot of spare time right now. My 17 year old has a car that needs some TLC and my 12 year old plays travel baseball. I will let you know how I make out. Thanks again.

 

[mechanicboy18]

SGs Fuzion, do your new bushings make any kind of noise after install? I was thinking of going to a mazda 6 stock size(19mm I believe) rear sway bar and new bushings all around like you did.

 

[SGs FUZION]

Hi mechanicboy18....none whatsoever....I prelubed all mine liberally with antiseize compound (graphite impregnated grease) before install...some recommend a silicone based lube...but just about any grease will do. If anyone has a preference or recommendation...please chime in.

 

[kaboom]

I always use white lithium, or teflon grease here @ work.

 

[mechanicboy18]

[quote author=eiching1 link=topic=60975.msg1281498#msg1281498 date=1174496509]
SG, Thanks for the info. I am also looking into replacing the rear bar with a stock Mazda 6 bar (19mm) since I can get that for about $40.00 shipped. So for about $80.00 total I can firm things up abit. I am not into doing to much beyond that, this is my work car and I drive 20,000+ miles/year, plus I am getting a used SCT tuner so I don't want to spend too much money. If your are looking to replace the links at some point I know there is a post by hwm3 that says he knows where to get aluminum replacements. It might take me awhile to move on the sway bar issue since I don't have a lot of spare time right now. My 17 year old has a car that needs some TLC and my 12 year old plays travel baseball. I will let you know how I make out. Thanks again.
[/quote]

where can you get the sway bar for that cheap??

 

[eiching1]

On Line Mazda Parts

http://www.trademotion.com/partloca...42&make=22&model=Mazda6&year=2006&catalogid=2

I suggest that you call them first. The above link is for a 2006 Mazda 6. If you search 2005, it shows -2- different bars. I have no idea what the difference is. Also, if you order the bushings from Performance Center, use code "cdfree" to save $10.00 on shipping.

http://www.performancecenter.com/pr...ategory_name=Suspension+&+Chassis&clearance=0

If you do this please post to let me know how you made out. It will probably be my next mod. Good luck!

 

[mechanicboy18]

Not only which sway bar, but which bushing to use?? There are several bracket sizes to choose from, if SGs Fuzion is still on here can you chime in with which one you used?

edit, I looked at the 05 and only found one sway bar, and it's identical to the one on the 06

 

[eiching1]

[quote author=SGs Fuzion link=topic=60975.msg1281439#msg1281439 date=1174494578]
Hi eiching....i have the Black 24mm Bar Diameter Greaseable Sway Bar Bushing Set, Part Number: 9-5160 for the front & Black 16mm Bar Diameter Greaseable Sway Bar Bushing Set, Part Number: 9-5154 for the rear...no links at that time. I now have @ 8K miles and they have been an effective suspension enhancemant for minimal $. When the summer tread & rims go on ...soon...i'll lube. I will also check links for 'play'...if loose...research aftermarket...otherwise OEM. Any other ?'s...feel free to inquire....take care.
[/quote]

That's strange. One day I hit a link in one of the other forums and it had -2- diff. bars. Anyway, here is where SG told us which bushings. However, he used the stock sway bar. So you have to bump up to a 19MM. (or check with OnLine to make sure it is 19MM first). Got it?

 

[mechanicboy18]

OK, so I have 9-5156(19mm) rear and 9-5160(24mm) Front. Anyone know if the stock rear swaybar on the Mazda shown here

http://www.trademotion.com/partloca...42&make=22&model=Mazda6&year=2006&catalogid=2

Is solid or hollow?

 

[mechanicboy18]

OK, well still no answer to my previous question, I do have an update. I received my front bushings today and tried to install them. I was successful on the passenger side, but not the driver side. The damn front nut hits the steering rack!!(look in the first pic by SG) How did you get your nut past it? I didn't have the tools to take it loose to get it off so I couldn't finish the job.

 

[kaboom]

[quote author=mechanicboy18 link=topic=60975.msg1399586#msg1399586 date=1178771709]
OK, well still no answer to my previous question, I do have an update. I received my front bushings today and tried to install them. I was successful on the passenger side, but not the driver side. The damn front nut hits the steering rack!!(look in the first pic by SG) How did you get your nut past it? I didn't have the tools to take it loose to get it off so I couldn't finish the job.
[/quote]

you can lower the back of the sub frame. Not hard, 2 big bolts in the back, probably 2 smaller ones on the sides.
I think he wrote to use a 15mm box end 12 point wrench on the d.s. front bolt in his original post? Word of advice, a 12 point wrench may be easier to manuever, but a 6'er is the way to go, I never use 12 point wrenches on anything, unless it is a 12 point bolt. Makes for stripping. What I would do is use a shallow, 6 point, 15mm swivel socket on a ratchet (air ratchet in my case) and lower the sub-frame if i had to.

 

[mechanicboy18]

Lowering the subframe wouldn't help, because the rack for the steering is also connected to the subframe. You can only get a 12pt boxed end wrench in there in the first place, at least on my car. The nut can't come off the bolt on my car. I tried prying the rack out of the way and was able to turn the nut a little bit more, but not near enough because I was afraid of cracking the case. In order to get that bolt off on my car the steering rack must be at least loosened.

 

[waldo]

Loosening the steering rack is only another 3 bolts. You wouldn't even have to take them all the way out, just enough to pry it out of the way. I think they're all accessible from the firewall side.