Escort vs MX3 bushing compatibility

[Iantboyd]

Currently have a 91 egt that I am adding a turbo, replacing the transmission, putting coilovers and potentially adding urethane bushings and new sway bars to. From my understanding the mx3 and egt have slightly different sway bar styles, true? Also I bought the energy suspension kit on Zxtuner and have yet to install it but I'm also considering dumping the escort shell in the spring and transferring everything to an mx3. Will that bushing kit fit an mx3?

[FE3-323]

shortly. no- the swaybars are different

[Iantboyd]

just for clarification, The bushings I am refering to are the rear suspensions and front suspension pieces, not sway bar bushings. but thank you for your response.

[IMACHU2]

I used all MX-3 V6 suspension on my 323 project. I think the only stuff you will be able to use is the front control arm bushings......if you keep the metal part of the Escort #13's (see front suspension diagram)

This is taken from my work log.

The Suspension Set-up:
Front:
-MX-3GS Power rack
-MX-3GS Front sub frame
-MX-3GS lower control arms with E.S 4-3152G bushings. (Sexcort/323 # 13's)
-MX-3GS Brakes with KVR "J" hook rotors and Carbon Fiber pads
-MX-3GS Stabilizer bar
-MX-3GS Stabilizer end links.
-ES universal stabilizer bar mount bushings (if I get them to work)
-Eibach Pro-Kit springs
-KYB GR2 struts

Rear:
-MX-3GS Rear sub frame
-MX-3GS Altrom Trailing Arms
-MX-3GS Stealership lateral links
-MX-3GS Stabilizer end links
-ES Universal sway bar mount bushings (if they work again) LOL
-MX-3GS brakes new stock rotors with KVR Carbon Fiber pads
-Ractive strut tower bar
-Eibach Pro-Kit springs
-KYB GR2 Struts

Got some good old #13’s from my parents old 97 Escort. So I can use the Energy Suspension Bushings control arm bushings for an Escort on the MX-3 front suspension. You can use 323 ones also (I threw mine out…opps)







MX-326 GS rear suspension:

The trailing arms were from Altrom, my local Jobber hooked me up $43.45 each + Tax.

http://www.altrom.com/

Trailing arm is red in this diagram


The MaZda Stealership gives me 20% off. (I am the manger of the local Speed Shop). They touched me where my bathing suit covers to the tune of $373.50 + tax for the 4 lateral links.

I was past the point of no return. (I ordered all new parts for the MX-3 rear Suspension). If I were to do it again I would order new 323 lateral links from Altrom. They were less then $40.00 each. Then I would rob a 97-up Escort of it's trailing arms, rear hubs (big drum brakes) and re-bush the trailing arms with Energy Suspension Part# 4-7123G $52.99 Retail (at my boutique speed shop), you could likely find them cheaper LOL. If you really want rear disc brakes get an Escort GT set-up. MX-3 Callipers are supposed to be a pain in the ass too. MX-3's have a different sway bar set-up too. They use expensive little sway bay links $42 / $44 each! The 323 is 15mm narrower then a MX-3, but you could make it up in wheel spacers.....or leave it. Can you tell my car is 15mm narrower at the rear in this picture?? LOL (I am just rolling it around on MX-3 front sub-frame and 323 rear right now).

[FE3-323]

in that case they are interchangeable. altho their have been size differences in the front LCA (rear bush) and occasionally in the rear trailing arms.
the TTL's definitely are different size. (but its unlikely you'll be replacing those)

[Iantboyd]

Here's what I have, I know the racks are different, so really it's just the front lca's and trailing arms. I think I'll just install them, regardless of compatibility with the mx3.

[FE3-323]

steering rack bushings.......... trash em/sell em to a zx2 owner
the front LCA bushings..... front fits the rear is a small bracket. so you might have to use the protege/323 rear bushing bracket
trailing arm bushings will work

[Iantboyd]

Im going to just install them for now, it'll be about 6-7 months till im ready to move over to an mx3, thats even if I can find one that hasn't been basterdized.

[KAinjection]

those rack bushings will fit any 2nd/3rd gen escort.

You wont be able to use the swaybar endlink kit on the mx3 either, but I would imagine the sway bar body mount bushings will fit except the rear one, in which case just drill it out to fit. You will have to drill it out to fit an EGT anyway.

[Mazda_Powered]

steering rack bushings.......... trash em/sell em to a zx2 owner
the front LCA bushings..... front fits the rear is a small bracket. so you might have to use the protege/323 rear bushing bracket
trailing arm bushings will work

those rack bushings will fit any 2nd/3rd gen escort.

You wont be able to use the swaybar endlink kit on the mx3 either, but I would imagine the sway bar body mount bushings will fit except the rear one, in which case just drill it out to fit. You will have to drill it out to fit an EGT anyway.

exactly! Don't forget about the ZX2 front swaybar being 1" compared to the EGT/MX3 which only go up to 15/16" (maybe even smaller for the MX3?). The rears should be able to be bored out to the 21mm factory rear bar for the EGT/MX3 though as stated above.