Dewi
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May 8, 2018 14:18:57 GMT
Post by Dewi on May 8, 2018 14:18:57 GMT
Not been around here for a while, winter and family stuff turned my attention away from 5s for a while but work on the RS has been going on in the background over the dark months. Mostly renewing top and bottom steering ball joints and fitting U.S / Jap spec track rod ends among a few other things. I origially fitted I.L Motorsport ball joints bought from MX5 Parts but they were so tight I had to replace them with O/E Mazda parts. MX5 Parts were fine about it and refunded me on the I.L ones no problem at all as soon as they received them back. I took the car for a full alignment session last week - on a Hunter of course - and it's now handling superbly once again, with not a knock or squeak from anywhere, it's now pretty rattle free and an absolute joy to drive. I'd not driven it since last Nov and had forgotten how damned good it is, so was actually looking to swap it for a Triumph GT6 but I've shelved that idea for a while now  Some bits of work done over winter here: www.dewisant-photography.net/y_ogb_MX5_Page4h.htm |
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ianc
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May 8, 2018 14:30:53 GMT
Dewi likes this
Post by ianc on May 8, 2018 14:30:53 GMT
That's spooky, I was just reading about your write up yesterday!
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Dewi
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May 8, 2018 14:43:44 GMT
Post by Dewi on May 8, 2018 14:43:44 GMT
Oh yeah! - Forgot to mention, another thing that happened over winter was I swapped my Mk6 Fiesta ST150 for a Mk7 ST180 back in Feb - great fun!   |
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Dewi
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Post by Dewi on May 8, 2018 14:46:51 GMT
That's spooky, I was just reading about your write up yesterday! Not as spooky as the dream I had last night - which involved my lazy girl spaniel doing back flips on a gymnastics beam!  |
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ianc
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May 8, 2018 14:59:56 GMT
Post by ianc on May 8, 2018 14:59:56 GMT
Fiesta looks purposeful, not a sleeper!
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May 8, 2018 15:07:55 GMT
Post by JamesMk3 on May 8, 2018 15:07:55 GMT
Part of me quite likes fast Fords. I'd be very tempted to add a whiete GT stripe and powder coat some wheels to match.
I looked at a Mk6 ST when I was looking for an MX-5, having come from a standard 1.25 Mk6 Festa. In the end, the NC was a bit of an impulse buy, as it came from a mate of my old man though.
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Dewi
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May 8, 2018 23:32:19 GMT
Post by Dewi on May 8, 2018 23:32:19 GMT
Totally different cars, I love the ST (and the previous Red mk6 .... complete with stripes, James ) because they're basic, pretty nippy and serve well as a daily without breaking the bank, even insurance isn't that horrendous. The Eunos is more of a love affair though, I can have more fun in that at 40mph than I can in anything else at twice the speed - and I get to keep my licence. The missus has a Focus Zetec S with the new(ish)1.5 ecoboost engine - only the 140bhp one as opposed to the 180 but it doesn't hang about, it's got a decent amount of torque ..... as long as you keep the tuirbo spooled up. |
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May 9, 2018 10:13:52 GMT
Post by wannabe on May 9, 2018 10:13:52 GMT
fitting U.S / Jap spec track rod ends
Tell me more about these track rod ends... How are they different / better?!
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Dewi
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Post by Dewi on May 9, 2018 11:34:31 GMT
fitting U.S / Jap spec track rod ends
Tell me more about these track rod ends... How are they different / better?!
They came from the U.S and were expensive when shipping and import duty were added, but on the short drive I've done since fitting them and having the car aligned the steering does feel more positive, and there's less bump steer than there was with the UK ones - it was never that bad but it was there and it was annoying. Everything now feels tight, positive and rattle free but the top and bottom ball joints were also replaced at the same time so that will have had some effect as well. Were they worth shelling out all that cash for? On balance I think so, because every little helps in the final driving experience and the RS has now gone one stage closer to the car I always set about making - as in when someone who's never driven it before can have a go and come out of it with "Wow!" As happened last year when a Eunos owning mate had a go of it and commented on how solid and positive it felt compared to his. If anyone's interested the track rod ends came from "Miata Roadster" in California, link below. The total cost from there was $175 inc shipping and the import duty into the UK was around £35 such is our thieving govt who would get a teardrop out of a glass eye www.miataroadster.com/mazda/mazda-tie-rod-end-ball-joints/mzn02132280a2/i-412314.aspx |
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May 9, 2018 21:53:10 GMT
Post by wannabe on May 9, 2018 21:53:10 GMT
Tell me more about these track rod ends... How are they different / better?!
They came from the U.S and were expensive when shipping and import duty were added, but on the short drive I've done since fitting them and having the car aligned the steering does feel more positive, and there's less bump steer than there was with the UK ones - it was never that bad but it was there and it was annoying. Everything now feels tight, positive and rattle free but the top and bottom ball joints were also replaced at the same time so that will have had some effect as well. Were they worth shelling out all that cash for? On balance I think so, because every little helps in the final driving experience and the RS has now gone one stage closer to the car I always set about making - as in when someone who's never driven it before can have a go and come out of it with "Wow!" As happened last year when a Eunos owning mate had a go of it and commented on how solid and positive it felt compared to his. If anyone's interested the track rod ends came from "Miata Roadster" in California, link below. The total cost from there was $175 inc shipping and the import duty into the UK was around £35 such is our thieving govt who would get a teardrop out of a glass eye www.miataroadster.com/mazda/mazda-tie-rod-end-ball-joints/mzn02132280a2/i-412314.aspx
Awesome, thank you for the info
It mentions that they are designed for lowered cars - I wonder if they'd work just fine on non-lowered cars? (Do any exist??  lol) I think mine's about standard height - I will have to measure it...
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May 30, 2018 20:55:40 GMT
Post by quinvy on May 30, 2018 20:55:40 GMT
I think they were standard fittment on the cars with the Bilstein suspension as standard, because they were lower. I.e. RS, S special etc.
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May 31, 2018 8:48:06 GMT
Post by wannabe on May 31, 2018 8:48:06 GMT
I think they were standard fittment on the cars with the Bilstein suspension as standard, because they were lower. I.e. RS, S special etc.
But how much lower? lol
I need to search out ride heights info, I've definitely seen it somewhere before!
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lol) I think mine's about standard height - I will have to measure it... 
le sigh