Knocking everywhere... new bushes?

[ascari]

I'm pretty sure I have the typical pillow ball bush knocking. So I'm going to buy some. Is J Auto the best/only place? If so, what kind of import tax could it be?

Also, what other bushes could I replace while I've got the car in the air? Or what other stuff could I do at the same time?

 

[JoeLanger]

super pro bush kit as well as the pillow balls if you want to do more, much bigger job though

 

[jdmr_neil]

I would suggest oem mazda bushes. I replaced all of mine years ago for oem and they are still in perfect condition.

I often hear aftermarket bushes are too crashy especially pillowball.

 

[ascari]

I'll go for the OEM pillow bushes then. I'll look into the super pro bushes, probably leave for part 2 if too big a job.

Is J Auto the only place for these? Does anyone know the likely import tax if it is?

 

[SiH]

I replaced the pillows with Mazda and the business with Powerflex purple.
Best upgrade I did to the whole car tbh, just the right amount of feedback, it's a wonderful thing.

 

[ascari]

I replaced the pillows with Mazda and the business with Powerflex purple.
Best upgrade I did to the whole car tbh, just the right amount of feedback, it's a wonderful thing.

How bigger job was it, pillows vs purple? 1/2 day each for the full car? I'm quite new, but learning fast(ish)

 

[JoeLanger]

Would be a full day easy to change all bushes, maybe even day and a half.
Pillowballs on there own maybe half a day.

Goes a lot easier with a press, but it can be done with threaded rod and various sized spacers.

IMO it's neither here nor there whether you go j-auto or Mazda for pillow balls.
If you're going to go polybushes though, super pro are a much better design/engineered than powerflex, and cheaper too.

 

[ascari]

It might sound dumb, but I guess I just call a local Mazda dealership for the pillow bushes? I called them once before and they either didn't want to deal with me or they quoted a crazy price.

 

[jdmr_neil]

My local dealers have been pretty great with even little things thing like clutch release bearings.

 

[JoeLanger]

It might sound dumb, but I guess I just call a local Mazda dealership for the pillow bushes? I called them once before and they either didn't want to deal with me or they quoted a crazy price.

Yeah, just ring the next one if that happens. the should be around the £400 mark I believe?

 

[ascari]

I'll try the next dealer along then. Thanks for the tips.

 

[rotors7]

I bought a bush extractor kit in a nice case from ebay, it worked a treat with all the bushes.
I can't remember off hand but it wasn't too expensive.

 

[ascari]

I bought a bush extractor kit in a nice case from ebay, it worked a treat with all the bushes.
I can't remember off hand but it wasn't too expensive.

I've heard that mentioned before, I bet I'm gonna wish I had one when I start, so I'll check eBay for something.

 

[rotors7]

I'd initially made up a gadget with threaded rod and used socket heads before I bought the kit.
My bodge job only shifted a couple and was a real pain.
I used a blow torch to heat the arms as well as the ebay tool and they all came out without too much fuss.

 

[Nas80]

Also have new pillows and poly bushes. Totally transforms the car.

 

[welshkid]

What do people have against the J-auto pillow balls?
I'm going to be picking up some along with a set of superpro bushes for the same reasons as above.
Saw a good video of a non-press way of removing bushings using a puller:

 

[Paulm]

Think mine will need doing, cant decide between stock, delrin or superpro

 

[ascari]

What do people have against the J-auto pillow balls?
I'm going to be picking up some along with a set of superpro bushes for the same reasons as above.
Saw a good video of a non-press way of removing bushings using a puller:

Nice find! Would the same kind of bush puller work on pillow bushes?

 

[welshkid]

Nice find! Would the same kind of bush puller work on pillow bushes?

Not sure, but this video is good too (from essex rotary, they have a 2nd one with more details too

 

[BenLewisMAV]

If you go with J Autos and they start knocking you can get replacement spherical bearings to go in them fairly easily (ABT12's iirc). Also be careful with using heat/flames on suspension arms that kind of heat will easily change the properties of the metal.