24 January 2025
Speak to one of our experts.
Speak to one of our experts.
26 February 2025
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Advice Blog
Hi there, fellow MX-5 enthusiast, Ellis here – Proud owner of a Turbo Mk1 and lifelong MX-5 fanatic.
If you’re anything like me, you love the raw driving feel of the Mazda MX-5 (Especially the earlier models) The perfect balance of nimbleness, top-down thrills, and grin-inducing cornering keeps us coming back for more.
But let’s be honest—after a few years (or decades in my Mk1’s case), certain parts start to let the side down; The humble door bushing can be improved significantly, with extremely low effort & cost.
Let me explain why swapping out the rubber bushings for Polybush’s 27AS polyurethane door bushings is one of the easiest—and most satisfying—upgrades you can make to your MX-5.
You know that satisfying thunk when you close a solid car door? That’s partly thanks to door bushings. Those little guys make sure your doors align properly, helping to keep everything rigid and rattle-free. On an MX-5—where chassis stiffness plays a big role in handling—well-aligned doors aren’t just about avoiding squeaks; they’re about keeping that legendary road feel intact.
The factory rubber bushings? They’re fine—when new. But Mazda designed them for comfort and cost-effectiveness, not long-term performance. So what that means is:
Ageing Woes: Rubber doesn’t age gracefully. Sun, rain, heat—you name it—rubber gets hard, cracks, and eventually just gives up. (This is the same for tyres, suspension bushes etc.)
Door Misalignment: As the rubber ages and deforms, your doors start shifting more than they should. There’ll be annoying little rattles, vibrations, and that frustrating “loose door” feel.
Potential Knock-On Damage: Misalignment can wear out door latches and hinges. Ignore it for too long, and you could be facing repairs that’ll hit your wallet harder than you’d like.
Here’s where Polybush comes in—and let me tell you, after fitting these (and other parts) to my Mk1, the difference was night and day! I think you’ll love them because:
Durability That Lasts: Polyurethane laughs in the face of heat, moisture, and UV. These bushings will outlive your car’s engine and we all know they go FOREVER!
Rock-Solid Rigidity: Polybush bushings aren’t just stiffer, they’re made to fit the door cup properly, which means less door movement and a more solid feel when you shut the door.
Bonus: it helps preserve that all-important chassis stiffness, and increases audio quality.
Bye-Bye, Rattles: With proper door alignment restored, say farewell to those cabin noises that make you crank up the radio.
Fit-and-Forget: These are designed to last the lifetime of your MX-5, saving you money, increasing performance and making it a nicer car to drive.
The 27AS bushings are fit for all MX-5 generations—Mk1 through Mk4. No faffing about with modifications; they’re a direct swap for the OEM parts. Installation’s straightforward too—if you can handle a screwdriver and an Allen key, you’ll be done in less than 5 minutes. And once they’re in? A satisfying clunk appears, your doors feel secure, the whole car feels just that bit tighter and the audio quality improves.
Easy—head over to MX5 Parts. They’re our trusted MX5 distributor, they stock everything an MX-5 nut like me (and probably you) could ever need.
Look, I get it—door bushings aren’t the flashiest upgrade. They’re not shiny wheels or a new exhaust, or in my case, a hybrid turbo! But trust me, the difference in how your car feels is massive for such a small mod. With the Polybush 27AS bushings, my Mk1 feels more solid than it has in years. No rattles, no vibrations—just me, the road, and that pure MX-5 joy.
So why let something as simple as worn bushings detract from your driving experience? Make the swap, and fall in love with your MX-5 all over again.
See you on the twisties!
— Ellis
OE Reference: NA01-62-681
OE Reference: NA01-62-681
