Started this as the old thread was getting loooong

Michael, ILIV48 or Anyone,

Was your mechanic able to access the frt bar nuts to check tightening without removing a whole lot of stuff! Mine charged $137+ tax for F & R install which seems pretty good. Said he was surprised he had to take the "guards" off to access the nuts. We ended up talking about other things and I never had a chance to come back to the access bit.

When you went back for the 100km tighten, how did your mechanics (ILIV48, didn't you do yours??) access the nuts?? Alec's a bloody good guy and is looking for more info!

PS used to be chief engineer on Katayama's JGTC team, and he thought that Hymee's exhaust was a pretty nice set up, especially complementary on the method of mating to the internediate pipe!!

 

The front ones are cumbersome to install and guards were removed on mine , the price you paid seems reasonable after 100km you can easily tighten them no need to remove anything .

The rears are a breeze to install and tighten .

I hope this helps you out :D

cheers
michael

 

Same here. The tightening was done without removing the plastic gaurds.

 

thanks guys

 

Here's a dodgy pic of the clamp kit. Thumb included for scale

Part No's are W0405-27 (R) and
W0405-18 (F) if anyone is interested.

The clamps are just your standard 'self-fastening' clamp (not the correct term!) - no crimping tool required, just a set of pliers or vicegrips.

As you can see I have not yet installed mine, nor my swaybars! Any Sydney recommendations?

 

Finally got mine installed by Mazda.

Knocks quite badly at the rear! Anyone else have this? Mazda claims it is becuase of the size of the rear whiteline.

 

Never heard of this from anyone else i think mazda is telling you BS ,

THEY POSSIBLY INSTALLED THEM WRONGLY A TEN YEAR OLD COULD DO THE REAR SWAY BARS .

cheers
michael

 

Knocking generally indicates the nuts are not tight enough (ie. the nuts that hold the swaybar bush to the chassis). If you tighten these more to about 23-25Nm with a torque wrench the knocking will probably stop.

 

Thanks ILIV48,

Went for a quick drive just now, will have a proper look on the weekend. Fair bit of creaking and groaning, large knocks from rear when rolling over speedbumps.
Will do a few more k's to settle in and then tighten up the nuts.

 

When you check the bushes also check that they are well greased too as the lack of this can also create similiar noise (creaking)

Although from what you just described in the last post from my experience with friends cars it really sounds like the bolts are too loose. Don't leave it too long to check as if it is too loose you may damage the bushe's.

 

Well I think I have found the cause of the knocking issue.

I believe the incredibly skilled Mazda mechanics have installed my rear swaybar UPSIDE DOWN. It's rubbing on the frame.

Tomorrow I will be taking it off and putting it in the right way. I dont have a torque wrench so on Tues I might pay a little visit to Mazda....

 

Man those guys are stupid , i figured as much i have found myself a good rotary mechanic and i would not let mazda mechanics even wash my car .
The head guy is great but the rest are hopeless .

cheers
michael

 

Yep, I took it out and put it back on 'the right way up' and what do you know all is nice and quiet. Very happy now. Not so happy with the clowns at Mazda. I took photos for evidence beforehand.

For a $240 install charge you'd think they knew which way was up eh? I believe they went for the 'correct sticker orientation' approach in deciding which way to put the swaybar in.
They've also put the clamps about 4 inches away from the bushes themselves. Not helping a great deal there.

 

Useless... Pathetic... Hopeless... Stupid. I think that about sums up the installer (I call him that as mechanic is simply not deserving)

I thought about saying was it installed the right way up but thought no, Mazda's not that bad. Lesson learned... Yes they are!!!

 

That's twice what Mazda charged me for my install.

 

Yes I noticed that wildcard.

Obviously the vast distance between Sydney and Newcastle is to blame for the 100% price hike....

 

Mazda mechanic = idiot with WDS..

What they did to Muzz has proven the above theory beyond reasonable doubt.

 

Our RX8 sway bars are now fitted with our "Lateral movement locking kits".

Quote from Whiteline in an E-mail.

Does this fix up the problems these bars were having and therefore a safe buy?

Cheers.

 

Yes now you should not have any problem about them moving


B...free
michael