Mark,GH,
Regardless of what name we give the sway bar mounts, we all realize they
will need replacement. Would you also argue that each time these
separate sheet metal parts are replaced with factory replacement parts,
they also have to be tack welded? My presumption is that Mazda used the
tack welds for production purposes, and then bolted the mount in place
for strength.
As you probably both know from experience, if the tack welded part
breaks at an event, cutting that tack weld can be a genuine pain, and
re-tacking is structurally unnecessary. Those replacement parts are
provided without replacement instructions, and it is not obvious that
welding was even intended. (Holes are not provided.)
Finally, would it be legal to just weld up the cracks, as long as there
is no intention of improving the strength? Obviously the annealed area
will be at a strength deficit.
BK
TeamZ3@aol.com wrote:
>
> Ghsharp@aol.com writes:
>
> << The allowance for drilling of holes for mounting bolts implies that you're
> not
> required to use the stock brackets if you don't want to, that additional
> mounting brackets_can_be used if you so desire. I'm not sure I'd try to
> bolt another bracket directly to the existing one, as you're getting into a
> gray area again rules-wise.>>
>
> I'm not sure we're all on the same page about which *brackets we're
> discussing. On certain Mazda's there is the swaybar bushing housing bracket;
> the bracket that holds the D-shaped pivot bushing, and there's also a frame
> extension bracket that the bushing bracket mounts too. My assumption is that
> GH is discussing the bushing brackets only.
>
> I looked at this extensively when I owned a 1993 RX-7TT that would break the
> frame extension brackets. My conclusion was that the frame mounting bracket
> is a separate part from the swaybar bushing bracket. As such, it would not
> be Stock class legal to modify, remove, or replace the frame extension
> bracket except to drill new swaybar mounting holes in it.
>
> <>
>
> Again, I think you'd be on very shaky ground to remove, modify, or replace
> the structural frame extension brackets on these cars. An aftermarket bar
> would have to work with the existing structural support brackets or around
> them. I think a competitor could make a very sound argument that these are
> frame structural brackets, not a part of the swaybar system allowances, and
> most likely win a protest. The fact that these structural brackets are
> flimsy, tack welded, and break when used with an allowable non-stock swaybar
> is inconsequential to the letter & intent of the Stock class rules. Besides,
> they're fairly cheap. Just buy several to keep on hand and inspect often.
>
> M Sipe
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