Mazda Rotary Club

General => General Technical => Topic started by: REX-boy on September 28, 2007, 01:38:02 PM

Title: false economy?
Post by: REX-boy on September 28, 2007, 01:38:02 PM
had my rex for a month and felt it was time to get it checked over by a proper rx-7 tuner. a few bits were noticed including worn rear bushes. i knew they were bad as she was a cow to keep in a straight line!
 
the tuner wants arround 500 notes all in for 5 bushes and labour:
 
1. is this about right :xconfused
2. how easy would these be diy (on the floor outside) :confused:
3. would your average tech :bandit be able to do this cheaper, and to the same standard
 
Thoughts from this brilliant collection of rx brains please!! :Thumbsup!
Title: false economy?
Post by: DC-TYPER on September 28, 2007, 01:50:50 PM
just like any other car mate, depends who you trust with your car.
 
do you have a break down of the £500 cost?
 
wouldnt do it on the drive though
Title: false economy?
Post by: Brett on September 28, 2007, 02:02:05 PM
Standard RX7 bushes can be very expensive - a couple will reach over £100 each once VAT has been added (On a 2nd gen anyway - can\'t imagine things got any cheaper on the 3rd gen) so 5 bushes, plus labour could be £500.
Title: false economy?
Post by: memski on September 28, 2007, 02:16:59 PM
You don\'t need a tuner to change your bushes, here are your options:

1) Take the car to a local garage and have them changed there.
2) Remove the suspension arms and take those to your garage to help cut costs/time on them removing the necessary parts.
3) Have a go yourself with the aid of a vice and a big hammer :D

Wouldn\'t recommend the last one if you\'ve not done it before but all the above should be cheaper than £500 for 5 bushes. You\'ll need a realignement afterwards too.
Title: false economy?
Post by: shaunwil on September 28, 2007, 02:33:58 PM
Depends if its the spherical bearings in the rear, they are £50 each plus vat. It is a job you could do your self. Poly bushes aren\'t all that expensive. Around 300 quid for the parts and then its just removing stuff and putting it back together.

Cost me quite a bit to change both bushes and spherical bearings, plus the tracking needs to be checked after too.

Shaun
Title: false economy?
Post by: shaunwil on September 28, 2007, 02:34:54 PM
Some need as much as 6 tonnes of force to remove. The smaller ones about 2 tonnes. Can be done with a piece of threaded bar and sockets.

Shaun
Title: false economy?
Post by: thetera on September 28, 2007, 02:35:30 PM
The trickiest part will be getting the old bushes out - chances are they\'re pretty much welded in after 10-15 years!
 
Apart from that the rest you could do yourself - polyurethane bushes are far cheaper but are also harsher for road use
Title: false economy?
Post by: REX-boy on September 28, 2007, 03:12:11 PM
thanks guys, i was a motor mechanic for 6 years inc. apprentiship so id hope to be able technically, just facilities that limit. ie coz the work i have done on cars (mainly fords) has been done in a garage with ramps and hydrallic presses etc, and a focus is a tinsey bit different to a rotary beast! i might have a go at taking off the bits and giving them to the garage, any pointers about striping the bits or where to get parts from, bushes and spherical bearings??
Title: false economy?
Post by: chris on September 28, 2007, 03:23:43 PM
the only tools you need is a large pair of circlip pliers, a hammer and a vice, nothing to them really,
Title: false economy?
Post by: Aceman on September 28, 2007, 03:53:06 PM
I got my bushes from REWorx ages back..

Think they worked out £50ish each the ones I needed (dunno if that\'s inc vat and/or inc delivery)..

I think you can get poly bushes slightly cheaper, but I\'ve no idea on what they\'re like..

So £500 inc vat don\'t sound too bad being honest for 5...

If you can do \'em yourself though, I would.. Wish I knew the first thing about vehicle mechanics....
Title: false economy?
Post by: ianelvar on September 28, 2007, 04:03:27 PM
http://www.maxcooper.com/rx7/how-to/suspension/pillow_balls/index.html

I used this guys procedure with no trouble at all. Easiest job I\'ve had on the rex so far tbh.
Title: false economy?
Post by: Ricco_04 on September 28, 2007, 04:14:40 PM
I\'m lucky my mate has a press, it\'s an easy job to do with one of them!
Title: false economy?
Post by: REX-boy on September 28, 2007, 05:41:03 PM
Quote from: ianelvarhttp://www.maxcooper.com/rx7/how-to/suspension/pillow_balls/index.html

I used this guys procedure with no trouble at all. Easiest job I\'ve had on the rex so far tbh.

thanks 2 everyone so far, checkd out the site looks ok when layd out like that. can anyone give me list of parts needed to do the full rear inc. spherical bearings with maz part no. if pos? thanks again
Title: false economy?
Post by: philiwily on September 28, 2007, 07:40:19 PM
(http://www.mazdarotaryclub.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=31718&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1182271832) (http://www.mazdarotaryclub.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=31718&d=1182271832)
Gives you an idea Whats what
Title: false economy?
Post by: REX-boy on September 28, 2007, 08:32:44 PM
cheers philiwili that is a brilliant pic, thanks
Title: false economy?
Post by: m4drx on September 28, 2007, 08:45:05 PM
i really want to do this but.... :(