So I have had my Zeals in for a few months. I have noticed that in all types of driving I hear repeated "clunks" and shudders from the rear suspension when going over bumps and irregular surfaces. I am thinking it has to do with the rear bushings.

Does the presense of clunking necessarily equal degraded handling?

I have a Mazdaspeed Protege also and this car had a problem with clunking rear suspension. I took it in to get it fixed with new redesigned bushings from Mazda. (Mazda knew about the clunking issue and issued a TSB) and the clunk dissappeared and the handling firmed up considerably, no squirm.

I am wondering If my R with Zeals could benefit from new bushings if possible, or if the clunk is nothing worry about.

Thanks
Aamir

 

Check your front sway bar endlinks. Probably busted/snapped.

Edit - I should read the post before firing off an answer. That's what I get for posting while I'm supposed to be working. Totally missed the part about "rear". But check the front anyway.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by thk &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Check your front sway bar endlinks. Probably busted/snapped.</TD></TR></TABLE>

and the rears bushings for the swaybar..

comptech makes EXCELLENT replacements for like $30..

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by thk &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Check your front sway bar endlinks. Probably busted/snapped.</TD></TR></TABLE>
naw, me and others have had the same problem with japanese made coilovers, being the upper pillow ball mounts.

these coilovers were designed mostly for japanese circut tracks that are usually smooth as glass, and weren't made for bumpy U.S. roads.

right now i'm using the APEX-i 99spec N1s and get the same kind of chatter while driving slow going over very small road imperfections such as the tar lines that cover cracks in the road and so fourth

and yes, also check all of your bushings

 

i think i will buy new comptech bushings for the rear. I swear I feel a squirm when taking turns.

Can degraded or inadequate bushings cause loose handling feel in the rear?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JUN.R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
naw, me and others have had the same problem with japanese made coilovers, being the upper pillow ball mounts.

these coilovers were designed mostly for japanese circut tracks that are usually smooth as glass, and weren't made for bumpy U.S. roads.

right now i'm using the APEX-i 99spec N1s and get the same kind of chatter while driving slow going over very small road imperfections such as the tar lines that cover cracks in the road and so fourth

and yes, also check all of your bushings </TD></TR></TABLE>

Nope. Mine doesn't clunk at all.

Buddy Club Racing Spec with 12K/8K. Solid pillowballs with no rubber bushings.

 

Question: Does this clunking happen during or immediately after rain and driving on wet roads or through mild puddles?

And where does the sound seem to origionate?

And have you gotten under the car yet and yanked and poked and prodded everything yet?

 

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by thk &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Buddy Club Racing Spec with 12K/8K. Solid pillowballs with no rubber bushings. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yadda, yadda, yadda, we'll see how fast you are now with all that fangled JdM yO bLiNgNeSs soon enough swifty.

 

ahhh shiat~

 

Hehe.

You already had a sample at LRP.

 

My Zeals don't make any clunking now. When I first installed them I did get a clunking noise which I resolved by tightening the lower spring perch. I think the problem was that the lower perch was low enough for the spring to slip off the upper mount then "clunk" back into place.

Also, be sure to properly tighten all nuts and bolts. Somehow when I first installed them I didn't torque one of the bolts enough

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by AamirCWITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i think i will buy new comptech bushings for the rear. I swear I feel a squirm when taking turns.

Can degraded or inadequate bushings cause loose handling feel in the rear?

</TD></TR></TABLE>

I guess it could.. no personal experience with that, but any movement allowed over normal could create a different feel in the rear.. I think you'd have to drive pretty hard to notice those types of things though.. The comptech bushings aren't a bad idea even if yours are still ok..

and as the others said, check all the bolts for tightness..

 

Looks like im gonna be making another stop to Smitdog's Type-R workshop


to who ever asked. this happened regardless of weather, its just when i go over bumps.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by AamirCWITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Looks like im gonna be making another stop to Smitdog's Type-R workshop </TD></TR></TABLE>

maybe this time you'll stay and hang out and enjoy the B'more nightlife..

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mstewar &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

maybe this time you'll stay and hang out and enjoy the B'more nightlife.. </TD></TR></TABLE>exactly... I will take those zeals from you aamir.

 

I HAVE THE EXACT SAME CLUNK...

my rear shocks squeak as well. I think Yoshi's do this as well...

 

mine make some noise.. nothing unbearable though, and my interior is stripped.

it wasn't unexpected though, you ARE dealing with solid upper pillow ball mounts