The Red Green Machine

Chat to do with your MX5/Miata/Eunos Garage Ride(s).

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greenMachine
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Re: The Red Green Machine

Postby greenMachine » Mon Jun 30, 2025 10:56 am

It wasn't easy :shock: :lol:

I emailed him, got no response, then PMed him through MT. Once communication established he said he could supply the FUCAs, either the sleeve (most likely to be the wear item) or the full bearing. So I immediately ordered a full set of four bearings. Haven't seen the invoice yet, but that was just a day or two ago.

The irony is that I am not totally convinced of the need. Yes there is minor, extremely minor, amount of movement in one. But the suspension shop doesn't know the detail of what is installed, just they are obviously non-standard, so ANY movement is a red light to them. I'll be happy though, regardless of whether these stay on the shelf as spares.

What have you done with your sways? Scrolling through the megathread I found some delrin bushes for the rear sway, very neat and simple, I could knock those up in nothing flat. I am wondering what I may be to do with my big RB front bar, as the poly bushes there are just about dead, I think I need to do a bit more research.

:mrgreen:
I never met a horsepower I didn't like (thanks bwob)

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NB SE - gone to the dark side (and loving it 8) )

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ManiacLachy
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Re: The Red Green Machine

Postby ManiacLachy » Mon Jun 30, 2025 12:33 pm

I've just got polly front and rear on the sways. They seem ok for now.

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greenMachine
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Re: The Red Green Machine

Postby greenMachine » Sat Jul 05, 2025 8:42 pm

I made a wip post, but lost it. So this one may be a bit long ...

Last few days have been focused on the front end, broadly speaking. The actual suspension is buttoned up again, so I have stripped the front clip, crash beam and associated tinware, pulled the radiator, disconnected the cold-side IC pipe, amd probably some other stuff I have forgotten.

The list included getting the AWR mounts sorted and installed, installing the new splitter mounts, re-doing the ducting, mounting the oil cooler and installing the pressure gauge for the coolant.

AWR swaybar mounts

Earlier post touched on these - approach with caution. The more I think about these, the more I think it is just AWR's non-existent QC. If both wouldn't fit, I would say I was given NA ones (do NAs have narrower chassis rails?), but when one fits up nicely, and the other is literally impossible to fit because it is ~4mm too narrow - I call crap QC. The replacement RHS went on with only a modicum of encouragement. Then of course I had to go out and buy a tap to clean up the crappy threads in the mount so I could get the bolts on. I hope that is the end of the problems.

Image

Well no, it is not

Image

This is the radiator support, notched to allow it to fit around the AWR mount - it could be enlarged to remove that leftover piece, as it twisted a little as it was tightened but everything still fits. The LHS didn't require notching, go figure.

Splitter mounts

These are battleship grade steel, massively over engineered and overweight.

Image

the LHS will bolt up ok, but not the RHS, there is a major clash with the IC cold-side pipe. So, a short while later ...

Image

and, a bit later again ...

Image

To be continued ...>>>>
I never met a horsepower I didn't like (thanks bwob)

Build thread

NB SE - gone to the dark side (and loving it 8) )

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greenMachine
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Re: The Red Green Machine

Postby greenMachine » Mon Jul 07, 2025 2:54 pm

Update on the AWR mounts - Mania have got back to me, they have heard from AWR - mounts are same for NA and NB, difference is a bolt. No explanation for the problem though.

Looking like a QC issue. Suggest that, if you plan on using these, check the width of the AWR before removing the OEM mounts.

:mrgreen:
I never met a horsepower I didn't like (thanks bwob)

Build thread

NB SE - gone to the dark side (and loving it 8) )

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ManiacLachy
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Re: The Red Green Machine

Postby ManiacLachy » Mon Jul 07, 2025 5:05 pm

I'm just glad to know it wasn't me doing something incorrectly, which was my assumption!

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greenMachine
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Re: The Red Green Machine

Postby greenMachine » Mon Jul 07, 2025 8:14 pm

I'll keep my vitriol under control, it is possible AWR will come up with something more.

All I will say is 'it is disappointing'. If I had been dependent on this car for my mobility, I would have had a lot more to say, but The Barge has kept me on the road.

Yes, the amount of time I, and Mania, spent looking at the problem was not trivial, but totally wasted, because of misplaced trust in a supplier - who brags about his products being 'proudly made in the USA'. Bring on the Chinese versions I say!

:mrgreen:
I never met a horsepower I didn't like (thanks bwob)

Build thread

NB SE - gone to the dark side (and loving it 8) )


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