mazdaspeed or OEM mazda sway bar mounts
04-30-05, 07:08 PM
#1
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mazdaspeed or OEM mazda sway bar mounts
After reading about the possibility of cracking the frame rails with the stock mounts, I want to upgrade my sway bar mounts just to be safe on the track, even though my stock ' 93 mounts are still fine.
I am a little confused after these posts by DamonB and TurboJeff from old threads:
As of 2005, are the Mazda mounts the same as the Mazdaspeed mounts? If they are not, what is the price difference and how could I go about getting the mazdaspeed mounts if I am not a registered Mazda racer?
I am a little confused after these posts by DamonB and TurboJeff from old threads:
Originally Posted by DamonB
The oem mounts are improved but still not enough. Basically the mounts look exactly the same except they have an additional layer of metal on the flange where they bolt to the frame. They are still for all practical purposes a stock mount and twist or fold back fairly easily. Mazda Competition's upgraded mounts are a totally different animal however, they look like these below. They are only available from Mazda Competition (now Mazdaspeed) and NOT over the parts counter at the dealer.
Originally Posted by turbojeff
Mazda makes 'em cheaper than anyone. They are updated with a additional piece of metal to reduce flexing of the captured nuts in the frame rail which can cause cracking.
I think the sway bar mounts are $28/ea from Mazdaspeed motorsports.
I think the sway bar mounts are $28/ea from Mazdaspeed motorsports.
05-01-05, 06:57 PM
#6
Originally Posted by Hellspawn
Here's the picture of the mazdaspeed mounts DamonB included with quote I included above:
I'll take a look at those widefoots, but trying to be economical.
I'll take a look at those widefoots, but trying to be economical.
Those don't look much stronger than the stockers imo. Go with the widefoot cast mounts for $215 if you want to save a little $$.
05-02-05, 07:02 AM
#7
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Originally Posted by turbogarrett
Those don't look much stronger than the stockers imo.
The ones I built from scratch are very similar. 3/16" steel mounting plates with 1.25" steel tubing between them. Bullet proof.
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05-06-05, 01:22 PM
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Originally Posted by DrPJM1
Widefoots are the best way to go.
Thanks DrPJM1 and Mahjik,
Hellspawn, we've talked via PM, but I thought I'd reply here for some of the other
readers. There are a number of companies making replacement swaybar mounts
for the third gen, as well as those that offer various types of braces to prevent
excessive movement of the OEM mounts (which can lead to mount and/or frame
damage).
What makes the Widefoot Mounts different (and SCCA legal), is that they're a fully-
integrated fix to the original Mazda design problem, which is due to the offset load
path of the factory mounting bolts. The offset loading causes a rocking motion to be
induced every time the swaybar is "activated" by any force that causes side-to-side
motion, such as going around a corner or hitting a bump. This nearly constant
flexing leads to metal fatigue of the stock mounts, and sometimes the frame rails
they attach to.
While other mounts are available that are stronger than stock, their designs do not
fix the original problem, or may incorporate additional bracing that links the mounts
from side-to-side. This may not be legal under certain sanctioning bodies.
The Widefoot Mounts have a unique, and highly effective integral brace/clamp
that functions as a third (triangulating) fixation point at the frame, by clamping
over an existing frame rail flange. This, along with the extremely stiff design
of the mounts, prevents any rocking caused by the offset loading. Also, the mounts
are purposely designed to reduce load inputs from the swaybar by being shorter than
stock mounts. By raising the swaybar up off the road, the leverage of the input
forces are reduced, as well as impact loading from racetrack curbing or road
debris (especially important with lowered cars).
While I'm very proud of the design, I think the best representatives of the mounts
are the people that use them, now many hundreds of 3rd gen owners. Yes, the
Widefoot Mounts are expensive (although cheaper than ever through the Group Buy),
but ask anyone who owns them if they're worth it. Also, the new 7075-T651 mounts
will be the strongest and lightest I've made. I stand behind the Widefoot Mounts,
and will always offer support, frame rail repair advice (always check the condition
of the rails when replacing the stock mounts), and replacement parts, in the very
rare case when they're needed.
Thanks,
David Breslau
Widefoot Racing Co.
05-06-05, 03:15 PM
#9
Originally Posted by turbogarrett
Those don't look much stronger than the stockers imo. Go with the widefoot cast mounts for $215 if you want to save a little $$.
That said, I would definitely go with the widefoot mounts, especially now that there is a group buy going on. I would have also bought mounts from David, but I had no idea he was producing them again. They are not much more expensive than the AWR mounts, and you get a better engineered product.
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