Suspension and Subframes

[MiniMike16V]

Thinking of getting some HSD coilovers when the funds allow and was wanting to know the following.
 
Will lowering the car (even a fraction just so the wheels fill the arches better) effect the toe, caster etc?
If so what\'s the best way to fix this?
 
Also, I\'m wanting to replace the front and rear subframe bushes as they were looking a bit worn when I was under the car the other day. Has anyone here replaced them before, and how much did the job cost?
 
Will eventually go through and replace the bushes on most of the suspension components, but cost could decide how soon it gets done :3Confused
 
Thanks
 
Mike

[papercutout]

If you have car with adjustability, always get the re-alignment done after lowering it, it does help! Because yes, all camber settings etc do change, but you might well find you want to run more or less camber and toe in/out etc than it is set up as standard.

Would you do the subframe bushes yourself?


I\'m still chasing the idea of us (spax) producing coilovers, especially as my car will finally be on the road VERY soon and I\'ll need to sort the ride height out pretty quick :p It\'s kinda been put on hold due to one engineer leaving

[MiniMike16V]

I was hoping to get the geometry set up when i\'ve installed the coilovers, but not too sure how adjustable the stock parts are. Will I need any other upgrades?
 
I will be doing the subframe bushes myself yeah.
Just trying to source a stockist at the moment for them :confused:
 
Spax coil overs eh? I\'ve seen them a lot on the mini scene (my other car is a classic mini in the middle of a VTEC conversion!) and they\'re very good shocks!

[papercutout]

Have you checked Mazda rotary parts? I\'ve a feeling they\'ll not be listed on their site - try calling them. Otherwise Mazda will still do them, can\'t imagine they\'ll be cheap though.

Thanks, we don\'t do them for the FC yet, trying to get them made up atm. We\'ve been doing stuff for mini\'s for years, think they\'re the RSX520\'s off the top of my head (saddo!).

I\'m not sure about adjustability, it\'s not something I\'ve looked at yet either. There\'s a guy I know over here who\'ll be doing camber arms etc shortly, he\'s VERY busy though and so trying to do them in his spare time. Awesome fabricator though!

[colin5524]

If you look at my project you can see what i did. If your doing the suspension i would just remove all the shocks then disconnect the driveshaft and drop the whole subframe, doesnt take long and you can paint everything up and rebush it, looks good and as far as i can tell it makes a very good odds and everything feels tight(have only driven it about 2 miles at low speed)

[grinder]

you might have to fit an adjustable rear camber bar ( cant think of its exact name at the mo )

[MiniMike16V]

I\'ve found a load of solid bush kits from the States on ebay, so will do the rear subframe with those as they\'re not too expensive. Front subframe I think is directly bolted onto the car. Only parts at the front I can see with bushes are the lower suspension arms and engine mounts. The lower arms deffinately need replacing so they\'re getting the solid mount treatment too.
 
Will give Mazda Rotary parts a shout and see if they stock them too. It\'ll be great if spaz did fc coil overs! Keep me posted on if you do make some

[MiniMike16V]

Does anyone happen to have either the dimensions of the front control arm bushes, or maybe an old control arm from an EGi with bushes attached so that I can measure up please?
 
I have some material, harder than rubber yet softer than poly which i\'m going to make some more bushes from. Just need to know the diameter, width etc of the standard bushes so I can make some more.
 
Thanks :Thumbs-up

[Adam fc]

If your going to get coilovers get the hsd\'s as they have been said to better than hks coilovers.There\'s a cheap set of second hand hsd\'s on driftworks forum for sale at the mo.

When my fc goes into storage soon il be dropping the rear subframe and getting it sandblasted and powdercoated then put some decent bushes and a decent licking diff in.

I\'m allso after a rear camber arm and u can get them from the likes of mazdatrix.com.
Il be ordering one this week for mine.