MX5 NC Bushes

Author
Discussion

Mistrale

Original Poster:

195 posts

150 months

Thursday 8th December 2022
quotequote all
Hi,

My sons 2010 NC RFT has just failed its MOT on the front lower rear suspension bushes and I’m looking at options.

1. 2 new lower arms - found them new for £130 each.

2. Replace the rubber bushes. Found the bushes online but no idea which ones I need - can anyone help?

3. Replace with poly bushes. I presume it isn’t sensible to do just the lower arms, the upper arms should be done too?

The cost of option 1 and 2 is similar, but removing the old bushes looks a pain.

It’s also failed on a rear shock. These vary from £33 to £170 online. Whichever I buy, should I do a pair, or just the failed one?

Thanks

Nickp82

3,405 posts

100 months

Thursday 8th December 2022
quotequote all
Removing the bushes is the easy part , it’s installing them that’s the tough bit (ime)

replacement arms are the most straightforward route, if the £130 ones seem to be of decent quality go for those.

If the car is a keeper and budget allows, poly bush the lot would be a good option . I fitted Super Pro to mine and they seem very good (I can’t say for sure how good as I changed lots of other stuff and had never driven the car prior)

Re the shocks , if it’s a Sport Tech model (or an edition based off that) it will have Bilstein shocks but either way yes you should definitely look at changing both.

Evoluzione

10,345 posts

250 months

Thursday 8th December 2022
quotequote all
They aren't easy to get out, putting the new Poly ones in is relatively easy. Some info here:
http://www.duratecnc.co.uk/?p=439

Mistrale

Original Poster:

195 posts

150 months

Friday 9th December 2022
quotequote all
Thanks for the info. I assume that just replacing the bottom arm bushes with poly bushes, and leaving the uppers as standard for now, is not a sensible course of action!

I suspect the money put into the swear box on a diy job will soon equal the amount the garage will charge for the job!

Evoluzione

10,345 posts

250 months

Friday 9th December 2022
quotequote all
It depends how worn the uppers are and only you know that. It's simple enough, jack car up, wheel off, put long pry bar behind bushes and lever on them. They don't suffer as much as the lower arm ones, which are often difficult to get off as the rear through bolt can be seized solid.
There is no easy or cheap way around it and it's the same story at the rear too.