i installed a set of KSport coilovers but the rears needed to use the stock top hats (big black part that has the studs to bolt to the chassis) I pulled the rears out and found the upper bushings which retain the damper rod thru the top hat have worn out real bad and the squeaking is the aluminum bushing insert contacting the top mount and wearing the hole thru it, out of round. what could be causing the top bushings on teh rear struts to be wearing out so fast?

 

Sounds to me like improper installation. I have done many suspension installations on RX-8's and I have never seen anything like that, even on high mileage cars.

 

my bushings are fine, and I'm on my 2nd set of setup (Ohlins)

 

Yeah my bushings have 126,000 miles on them and are fine as well.

But I have seen with some coilover setups that use the top stock shock mounts are tough to get lined up properly in the rear. You just have to take your time. Maybe that is what happened and they forced it and things were not lined up properly.

 

you are looking at about $125 at most for a new top mount. Replace it and please dont try and "fix" or reuse the old one.

 

how would one properly install the rear coilovers to the factory top hat? i mean all it is is the damper shaft, two bushings( one above and below the top hat), washers above and below that, and an aluminum sleeve around the damper shaft that goes thru the top hat.

Does anyone know of aftermarket top hats that would be compatible with the KSports? if not ima sell these and get the powertrix ones or sumthing that comes with all the parts not half *** like these.

 

There is nothing "half ***" about using the OEM top hats Some of the very best kits on the market use the OEM top hats. Do not make the mistake of getting one coil over set up over another just because it dose not come with a fancy Top Hat.

 

+1, most of the better coilovers use oem upper mount. Just get one from a part out.
Sounds like improper installation.

 

okay thanks i guess. ill dis-assemble and take a look if it comes back again. can u guys speculate any further abut what may be improperly assembled? i mean it seems pretty fool proof to me. remove stock strut assy, remove top hat, install top hat using KSport hardware onto new coilover, slide into place on chassis, and bolt everything back up.

If it helps any, if i feel thru the frames in the trunk to where the top nut sits when fully assembled, theres a hole where the top nut comes amost thru. When i feel around in there, it seems the nut is sitting favoring the inboard side of the hole and theres a much bigger gap on the outboard side. is that normal?

 

No doubt in my mind something was loose. Good luck getting it sorted! I am on my third Suspension set up now. I know how it feels to be frustrated when something is not working as expected.