New upper mounts

[Jason@SportsCar]

Might have to try a set of these.

http://www.cusco.co.jp/en/parts_product/centerlock_pillowball_upper_mo.html

[cruz-gsr]

those look very interesting.

[TOUGEghost]

Where can you order those from?

[yaris 2sz]

did you saw the notes?
''designed to be used only with CUSCO ZERO series suspension units only''

[ilikerice]

did you saw the notes?
''designed to be used only with CUSCO ZERO series suspension units only''

PFFT! They just saying that so you buy thier suspension. :tongue:

How much is 30k yen in dollars now-a-days?

[Jason@SportsCar]

did you saw the notes?
''designed to be used only with CUSCO ZERO series suspension units only''

The press release also says: Centerlock pillowball upper mounts apply to all CUSCO suspension systems with no hassle. Also can be installed on other brands with the use of special nut & collar combination.

I would be surprised if it could not be made to work with other struts. Hell, we were able to fit an inverted mono-tube race shock to the OE mount, just takes a little imagination - in our case a Delrin cutting board was sacrificed to make custom bushings. :laugh:

The USDM press release that was emailed to me says $400.00, but they are not here yet. :drinking:

[cali yaris]

So this is a straight mount, with no adjustability. Looks pretty cool, although adjusting camber on the fly would be pretty cooler.

[Jason@SportsCar]

So this is a straight mount, with no adjustability. Looks pretty cool, although adjusting camber on the fly would be pretty cooler.

I would be happy to just eliminate the play/bind that is in the stock mounts. I hate the way they move up and down, which makes the shocks less effective, and allows the alignment to change. We tried runner ours a bit tighter, with no intermediate nut, and it made it super hard to turn. :mad:

Sure a camber plate would be nice to have, but space is tight up top, and the crash bolts get you close.

[Jason@SportsCar]

Just talked with them... One set is being air freighted in next week so we can test fit them. It appears as though these were made for the JDM, and they are not 100% sure its a go for our cars, although I can't see what the hang up would be. They have lots of options for the bushing that fits inside the bearing, so fitting other brands of shocks should not be an issue.

I will let you know how it turns out. :thumbsup:

[mazilla]

Just talked with them... One set is being air freighted in next week so we can test fit them. It appears as though these were made for the JDM, and they are not 100% sure its a go for our cars, although I can't see what the hang up would be. They have lots of options for the bushing that fits inside the bearing, so fitting other brands of shocks should not be an issue.

I will let you know how it turns out. :thumbsup:

:w00t:

[cali yaris]

This is great Jason, thanks for pursuing it, we all benefit.

[Jason@SportsCar]

:drool: The first set to hit the states are now on my desk... Must resist leaving work and go install these. :burnrubber:

When I went to pick them up I took one of my struts with me. Not only does the bearing accept my AST strut, the thread pitch on the Cusco nut is even the same. :thumbsup:

I can't say for sure, but I believe there is a good chance these would fit any strut that uses a 12mm pin top mount.

I am going to try and get one in the car tonight.

When you compare this piece to the stock rubber mount it is incredible. The stock upper strut mount is likely the worst bushing on the car. By design it allows the top of the strut to move in all directions, so the suspension does not bind. This movement results in camber change, and creates a dead spot in the shock dampening by allowing it to move up and down as you bounce between loading the busing on the underside of the fender, and catching the washer on top.

This Cusco mount should take all of the play out, while maintaining free movement. I expect this should make for much more precise turn in, and better control of the springs.

I can understand why a lot of manufacturers did not jump on building this part. You have a very odd space to fill, and no camber plate to market. But I am super glad Cusco stepped up to the plate, this should be a massive improvement over the stock parts.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tRnpBxlF_3M/Tfp3rnyaJjI/AAAAAAAAAr0/dWWPRxvIcMk/s1152/2011-06-16_14-06-32_853.jpg
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4qGwJslEpl0/Tfp32KjEjgI/AAAAAAAAAr4/JOWom69lQaM/s1152/2011-06-16_14-07-09_338.jpg
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wZZNZRNmRzg/Tfp4BXCPKnI/AAAAAAAAAr8/cP2eqCHgGpI/s1152/2011-06-16_14-08-36_644.jpg

[Jason@SportsCar]

It gets better... The Cusco Centerlock also fits the OE Yaris shock.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-W2_j_30rCds/TfqQvLD2qzI/AAAAAAAAAsU/xo1hyIpDw2g/s1152/2011-06-16_16-10-47_991.jpg

[WeeYari]

It gets better... The Cusco Centerlock also fits the OE Yaris shock.

:thumbsup:

It's a hella lot of coin though. :eek:

[Jason@SportsCar]

:thumbsup:

It's a hella lot of coin though. :eek:

It is... But people spend more on dumber stuff. :laugh: It's also MSRP, a Cusco dealer may sell them for less than that. :iono:

[YarisSedan]

I need to get me a pair of these now that my factory strut mounts are blown. Its annoying having creaking every time i turn.

[auxmike]

That's $371 US dollars, folks.
Bear in mind it will increase interior cabin noise too.
All tolled, I would love a pair!

[TOUGEghost]

I want!!!

[Kongo-Otto]

Bear in mind it will increase interior cabin noise too.


Thats it. These parts actually reduce driving comfort. Of course it is no problem for a race car but i would not mount these in a daily driver.

[Jason@SportsCar]

Thats it. These parts actually reduce driving comfort. Of course it is no problem for a race car but i would not mount these in a daily driver.

That is usually only the case with a poor quality bearing, or if the shock or mont is a poor fit.

I have experienced both over the years. This will be the first Cusco part I have ever used, but so far they look like good parts.

[Kongo-Otto]

Has nothing to do with the bearing. The rubber part is there on street cars for some good reasons, i.e. isolation (or decoupling?) and less stress for the monocoque. I don't know all the words in english. Sorry.

I had a solid mount at my Toyota Starlet many years ago. Vibrations and any other noises from the suspension and tires have been significantly louder inside the car.

You don't need comfort in a race car and you don't like the side effects of a rubber mount in a race car, too. Thats for sure. And of course a race car usually has many bars to stiffen up the body. Cusco is known for high quality parts, i had some braces from them at my Starlet. Any part was a perfect fit and had flawless engineering.

[Jason@SportsCar]

Has nothing to do with the bearing. The rubber part is there on street cars for some good reasons, i.e. isolation (or decoupling?) and less stress for the monocoque. I don't know all the words in english. Sorry.

I had a solid mount at my Toyota Starlet many years ago. Vibrations and any other noises from the suspension and tires have been significantly louder inside the car.

You don't need comfort in a race car and you don't like the side effects of a rubber mount in a race car, too. Thats for sure. And of course a race car usually has many bars to stiffen up the body. Cusco is known for high quality parts, i had some braces from them at my Starlet. Any part was a perfect fit and had flawless engineering.

I had Moton suspension with solid mounts and bearing on my daily driven RX-8, no issues what so ever. Using quality parts means a lot. Bearings have gotten a bad rap over the years because some companies use low quality parts, a sloppy or loose bearing is a great way to pick up noise. Parts that are tight and move smoothly force the shock to do its job.

[Jason@SportsCar]

And they fit. :thumbup:

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-rRN06N4z0o0/Tftu_Nby38I/AAAAAAAAAss/jy2V_wpiGn8/s1152/2011-06-17_08-11-00_623.jpg
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-UiMgYfFedM4/TftvNpn6ZPI/AAAAAAAAAsw/TtjsuNQoeKM/s800/2011-06-17_08-11-33_613.jpg

[jekqmb]

Nice Jason, looks great!

[ilikerice]

I can only imagine getting the tools in there to adjust those with a DD with the wiper cowl and that aluminum black pan that the wiper motor sits in..

I can barely get one hand in there with a allen key to adjust my dampers on my shocks. I may pass on this mod actually, UNLESS I do end up pulling this off the streets for good any only track it.

Personally I can hear any bump rattle and shimmy in my car, but if it sounds normal, I can tune it out with no problem.. I dont think my exhaust is very loud but other people do. Its normal to me..

[Jason@SportsCar]

I can only imagine getting the tools in there to adjust those with a DD with the wiper cowl and that aluminum black pan that the wiper motor sits in..

I can barely get one hand in there with a allen key to adjust my dampers on my shocks. I may pass on this mod actually, UNLESS I do end up pulling this off the streets for good any only track it.

Personally I can hear any bump rattle and shimmy in my car, but if it sounds normal, I can tune it out with no problem.. I dont think my exhaust is very loud but other people do. Its normal to me..

Cusco includes the wrenches required to install the Centerlock. But yes, you could have a hard time adjusting your shocks. Inverted AST struts FTW - my adjustment knob is on the bottom. :biggrin:

You could fab up a custom adjustment tool... On the back of my RX-8 it was not possible to reach, or even see the top of the rear shock to adjust it. One of the Moton dealers came up with a cable that attached to the top of it, and we could fit it between the gaps in the body.

Cut an allen wrench, glue one end into a braided steel brake line, the other in the top of your shock. Remote adjusters. :cool:

[cali yaris]

Inverted AST struts FTW - my adjustment knob is on the bottom.

So are Silk Roads. :smile:

[YarisSedan]

After looking at the price at oem ones 100 and these about 200 its really not that expensive figuring they will outlast oem ones. I am wondering of a machine shop can fabricate solid upper strut mounts all the coil overs already have them.

[cali yaris]

all the coil overs already have them.

Not for the Yaris that we've ever seen. However, Cusco is now offering them with their coilovers, with a higher price to include them.


Here is another option for the underneath part: TRD upper mounts from Japan. VERY hard rubber.

http://www.microimageonline.com/images/products/suspension/TRD/48609-NP900.jpg

[YarisSedan]

Not for the Yaris that we've ever seen. However, Cusco is now offering them with their coilovers, with a higher price to include them.


Here is another option for the underneath part: TRD upper mounts from Japan. VERY hard rubber.

http://www.microimageonline.com/images/products/suspension/TRD/48609-NP900.jpg

How much do those run for as a alternative. I just emailed cusco and they quoted me 400 even US PLUS the cost of shipping.

[justjesus]

i like these parts. the cusco upper mounts.

jason, have you taken them to the streets/ track?

[cali yaris]

TRD mounts are about $200. CUSCO mounts will be in stock soon, less than $400 but not by much.

CUSCO coilovers will also have this option as an upgrade. :thumbsup:

[Jason@SportsCar]

i like these parts. the cusco upper mounts.

jason, have you taken them to the streets/ track?

Plan is to get the new engine in this weekend, then get the body back together and a new tune the week after... We tentatively plan to test the new setup on Aug 5th. Seems like a long ways off, but time is flying.

[cali yaris]

That will come soon, can't wait to hear/see/read

[bzinn 1]

Honestly those are a pretty cool part.....price is actually not bad either....think about it we spend how much to make stereo go bump.....my sub and box were that much.

I like it will fit on OEM struts,might be a nice upgrade for a person who is building a fun car....never made any money building a car but I sure had fun doing it.

We upgrade just about everything on the car suspension wise,this is just one more thing to make the car feel like it is on rails.

[dylan8]

will the TRD mount fit in yaris sedan(NCP93)?thanks

[cali yaris]

^ Yes they will.

[why?]

Not for the Yaris that we've ever seen. However, Cusco is now offering them with their coilovers, with a higher price to include them.


yea, but the cusco coilovers are $3300 or so according to the link right there, ouch.

These are definitely on the dream list though. Anything that makes the car understeer less.

[cali yaris]

I'm surprised no one has jumped on these TRD mounts. :iono:

[Jason@SportsCar]

I'm surprised no one has jumped on these TRD mounts. :iono:

It might be useful if you could get a durometer reading from the two different parts. Most people wont understand the numbers themselves, but if you could show that the TRD part was say 30% stiffer, it might help convince people to upgrade from rubber to rubber.

Mazdaspeed offers a lot of "stiffer" rubber parts like TRD does, and neither of them seem to market them well, very little information is ever given. People understand that a bearing or poly bushing is different/better, but when you see it is still rubber it is hard to grasp that it is an upgrade.

A tire durometer gauge like the one from Longacre could be used to get numbers off of both parts.
http://www.longacreracing.com/catalog/item.asp?id=237&catid=9

[cali yaris]

how about this one:
http://www.virtualvillage.com/digital-shore-durometer-tester-scale-a-001480-233.html?utm_source=googlebase&utm_medium=shcomp

Seems like a nice tool to have around.

[Jason@SportsCar]

how about this one:
http://www.virtualvillage.com/digital-shore-durometer-tester-scale-a-001480-233.html?utm_source=googlebase&utm_medium=shcomp

Seems like a nice tool to have around.

Any of them will work, all you need is comparative data.

[Jason@SportsCar]

Testing these on Saturday at Willow Springs. :biggrin:

[Jason@SportsCar]

I had no idea Willow Springs was so bumpy... With the massive rubber mounts gone I can now feel every bump on the track. Steering effort has been reduced, which is a really good thing with no power steering and 10" wide slicks, and you can really feel the shocks and springs hard at work.

I would not recommend these for the casual "street" guys, it could make your daily drive a bit more abusive depending on things like your spring rates and tire profile, but this is an autocross/track must have.

[cali yaris]

^ Excellent.

[aeipee13]

Sorry for bringing an old thread back to life.

Anyways, I had to send my KW's in for a rebuild. Hit a huge pot hole and some how it was the rear passenger side strut that went out. I decided to buy a pair of the Cusco mounts after reading this thread.

Plus I figured the cabin noise blah blah blah, is kinda lame because any other car without the centerlock front suspension sits on some type of harder mount/camber plate. When I get my suspension back I'll take a couple shots of them mounted.

Jason, thanks for the testing them out and providing real feed back.

[bzinn 1]

Must be nice to feel connected more to the suspension...cool part.

[cali yaris]

some how it was the rear passenger side strut that went out

If it's a Yaris, that's a shock back there.

I decided to buy a pair of the Cusco mounts after reading this thread.

Hopefully you bought them from us? We're cheaper. :thumbsup:

[aeipee13]

Oh yeah, I guess you're right it's a shock back there. I got them directly from Cusco but I buy pretty much everything else from Micro Image.

[NJ Drive]

Anyone have a source for the TRD mounts?

[Viperoni]

I had no idea Willow Springs was so bumpy... With the massive rubber mounts gone I can now feel every bump on the track. Steering effort has been reduced, which is a really good thing with no power steering and 10" wide slicks, and you can really feel the shocks and springs hard at work.

I would not recommend these for the casual "street" guys, it could make your daily drive a bit more abusive depending on things like your spring rates and tire profile, but this is an autocross/track must have.

Has the grip of the front end improved at all?