Swaybar bushings, what is everybody using?
Swaybar bushings, what is everybody using?
I am reasonably certain I am going to go OEM when replacing the fronts on my 5 this spring. Do not want to deal with periodically greasing urethane ones to be honest.
Sorry, do not have any real life experience to offer for a mazda5.
I have used urethane replacements on another vehicle (grand marquis) and to be honest the difference in feel was pretty negligible.
Javelin wrote: Well, I accepted the insurance check and signed over the title, the Falcon is officially history. Somebody's going to get a great deal on the wheels, brakes, and engine from the junkyard. Pour one out and reminisce about the good times:
What happened? FB photos no workie.
I have Maxxis Victra MA-Z4S on my 5. They have had decent traction throughout the winter and have worn like iron: http://www.maxxis.com/catalog/tire-67-102-victra-ma-z4s
In reply to failboat: Poly, need to be re-greased? I guess I am going OEM then.
Typically you grease poly bushings or they get squeaky over time. They usually come with some grease for the install, sometimes aftermarket kits come with new mounting hardware with zerk fittings for easy greasing later.
I never had mine long enough to the point where they started making noise again so I couldnt tell you how often you need to regrease them.
Once the snow is gone, I am going to replace the following:
• Front and Rear Swaybar bushings I am going to use Moog (unless someone else has a suggestion on brand)
• Spark Plugs, any suggestions?
• Cabin Air Filters ( I have the sport model so I heard that it is straight forward)
• Potentially going to replace the sound system with s GPS unit.
In reply to trigun7469:
I just put a bunch of MevoTech's premium line stuff on the Saturn and am impressed with it. Ben suggested them.
Plugs - NGX Iridium IX or Laser Iridium, don't bother with anything else.
Cabin air filters are kind of hilarious to change, but very easy on the Sport. The bottom one slides out, then the top one drops down in it's place. I used the NAPA Gold/Enviro Shield 
The stock radio blows, replace it.
In reply to Harvey:
I have no idea. The photos are still where I stuck them on FB. Maybe FB hosting isn't the brightest idea. Sigh.
I have poly RSB mounts, when I change the oil I rotate tires and grease the fittings. No biggie. They are what came with the JBR RSB though....
Plugs spec'd were insanely expensive for mine (2012), not sure why but I crossed them to a motorcraft plug and it has been great. Only changed them at 98k though.
My radio is fine, I'm not an audiophile anyway.
Really Rockauto?? Front and rear sway bar bushings have to ship from 2 different locations??
Ordered front and rear moog replacements and will install with some grease like so: http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?123770069-How-to-fix-your-rear-Squeaky-Squeaky-in-less-time-than-it-take-to-drive-to-the-Dealer
cheap first step to trying to quiet things down. Could just add grease but if taking them apart might as well put new bushings in. Rear end is getting nice and squeaky with the warm weather and front occasionally sounds a little clunky. Want to try and fix all these noises before moving onto installing springs.
even though I plan on a RSB eventually, I'd rather spend $10 on oem style bushings now to potentially isolate the problem instead of $200 on a swaybar to find out the bushing wasn't the issue.
I just ordered the parts from RockAuto kind of stupid that my stuff is coming from two locations. Oh well at least I got a 5% discount.
Has anybody changed their manual trans oil? what did you use/recommend?
I have in a 3, same trans. I've used redline MT90 and amsoil manual transmission GL4. Do not use a standard gl4/gl5 combo gear oil, they aren't as good for manual transmissions and the one time I did as that's what was local, shifting quality was much worse. Once the good stuff was back in, quality improved again.
I changed mine with motorcraft fluid, not sure the spec I can go Look at what's left but I'm changing it every 30k since the trans are prone to shadiness.
I put Royal Purple Syncromax in mine if I remember correctly...
How many quarts?
3 exactly
I'm running the idea of a 5 by the wife. This will be pure appliance. Since this seems to be the official Mazda 5 thread, few questions:
1) What should I look for when looking at one? Any potential rust spots? Any mechanical issues that may be easily seen before/during a test drive?
2) How reliable is the automatic transmission? I never seem to get an answer on this when talking about the 3. Is it stressed in the 5 application? How is servicing it? Does it require dropping the trans to change the filter? Is there a big mileage difference between the manual and auto? Fueleconomy.gov shows them both getting almost equally poor mileage.
3) Any other long term reliability problems I need to worry about?
4) I see swaybar bushings mentioned above. What are the common sources of clunks/rattles on these as they age?
I have no good answers for the questions above. My wife's '10 has less than 35k miles and has been trouble free.
That's less that 8k per year.
We have never seen very good mpg out of it but our/her driving is not really the high mpg type.
Rooftop storage detailed in this thread:
http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/off-topic-discussion/mazda-5-roof-racks-or-rental-car-discount/100138/page1/
I was afraid of the MPG. Its just difficult to swallow as this would likely get maybe 20mpg in her commute and will be replacing a 45mpg prius.
When I see Prius V models from the quarter view, they look alot like Mazda5's to me.
If we were in the high mpg mode, I would consider a Prius V.
Oh, I'd be all over one if they were made before 2012. The buy-in for a V is a lot higher than a Mazda 5. If everything else with the 5 checks out, I'll just have to deal with the mileage.
ProDarwin wrote: Oh, I'd be all over one if they were made before 2012. The buy-in for a V is a lot higher than a Mazda 5. If everything else with the 5 checks out, I'll just have to deal with the mileage.
Oh, how I agree.
Is Fiat doing huge discounts on the 500L? I don't think I have ever seen one on the road that was not a rental car. Lots of rental flooded onto the used market should drive prices down. Of course, this is all only if you are willing to gamble on Fiat.
A quick visit here says $4,500 off in the Great Lakes Region
http://www.fiatusa.com/en/incentives/offers-model/?ccode=CUX201405BFFM44A
Starting at $19,200 - $4,500 = $14,700 for new.
ProDarwin wrote: I'm running the idea of a 5 by the wife. This will be pure appliance. Since this seems to be the official Mazda 5 thread, few questions: 1) What should I look for when looking at one? Any potential rust spots? Any mechanical issues that may be easily seen before/during a test drive? 2) How reliable is the automatic transmission? I never seem to get an answer on this when talking about the 3. Is it stressed in the 5 application? How is servicing it? Does it require dropping the trans to change the filter? Is there a big mileage difference between the manual and auto? Fueleconomy.gov shows them both getting almost equally poor mileage. 3) Any other long term reliability problems I need to worry about? 4) I see swaybar bushings mentioned above. What are the common sources of clunks/rattles on these as they age?
I have a couple of spots of rust on the rear wheel arches. They were there when I bought the car, apparently mine was a PA car (I live in VA so wouldn't expect rust).
Can't speak to AT longevity, although I did have to do a clutch at 80k which didn't make me especially happy. Other forums complain a lot about the 5 eating tires, but that really hasn't been my experience.
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