You Get What You Pay For

"MM54" (mm54mk2) 03/04/2018 at 15:11 • Filed to: FB RX7

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I’m a big proponent of things like “you get what you pay for” and “buy once cry once” but when OEM motor mounts are $40 a piece and all the aftermarket ones are <$12 I’ll take a gamble.

In this case, the RX-7 motor mounts (uses two) are $40 a piece for original-durometer, or $70 a piece for the ‘competition’ stiffer mounts. Meanwhile, Rockauto lists a few options, all in the $8-$9 range. Since it takes about 15 minutes to change them, I figured I would throw a set of the $9 mounts on, and if they failed in a few months, replace them again.

As I found out today, they don’t even make it that far - about half an inch too big in both diameter and thickness, they are on their way back to Rockauto (which I discovered doesn’t refund your shipping when the parts don’t fit so I get to pay $7 to learn these don’t fit).

Looks like it’s time to decide if I want to spend $80 or $140 for my motor mounts...

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > MM54 03/04/2018 at 15:29

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That’s a bummer. I ordered break rotors from tire rack once and they were too small. They were standard Galant rotors not the VR-4 ones.

Aremmes > MM54 03/04/2018 at 15:33

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Rockauto will also not refund your money if their ordering system changes your shipping address because it thinks it’s wrong, even if your order history shows numerous shipments with the correct address. I prefer to order from Advance or Auto Zone now since with them I can return the part to any of the nearby stores.

jminer > MM54 03/04/2018 at 15:42

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Yeah, rock auto isn’t perfect but I just ordered the parts to redo the brakes on my focus for less than half what the box stores would charge.

Also their catalog is amazing for old automobiles, I can get a ton of parts for my Scout there which were shared from many other automakers when the parts counter guys just stare at me blankly.

MM54 > Aremmes 03/04/2018 at 15:44

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I’ve not had much issue with them other than the whole “different warehouse shipping” scam; for the most part you can’t beat the pricing/selection.

MM54 > jminer 03/04/2018 at 15:45

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I’ve not had much issue with them other than the “different warehouse” shipping charge scam, but that can often be worked around somewhat. It is a very good selection and pricing for sure - I order from them all the time (and the growing mass of magnets on the fridge can attest to that!).

I don’t think this “these don’t work” is the fault of Rockauto - I think these parts are just wrong from the manufacturer, who either thinks they work or just assumed that since they’re a disk, they would work. They probably don’t sell a lot of 12A motor mounts.

dogisbadob > MM54 03/04/2018 at 16:04

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well, the aftermarket mounts last about as long as a rotary engine :p

No really though, $40 isn’t bad for an OEM motor mount. They can often exceed $100!

In regards to the competition mount, check RX7-related forums and see others’ experience with them.

Ash78, voting early and often > MM54 03/04/2018 at 16:08

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When OEM and aftermarket are 20% different in price, good for you!

When they’re 80% different, well...

Hopefully RockAuto reconsiders this vendor relationship. That’s pretty bad.

MM54 > Ash78, voting early and often 03/04/2018 at 16:27

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I mentioned in my very-character-limited “description” that pictures vs OEM are available if they want to follow up.

MM54 > dogisbadob 03/04/2018 at 16:28

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I’m on the forums; I hadn’t been able to find much about the aftermarket mounts, everyone’s running OE or home-made, and now I see why.

Mine’s at 180k and running strong.

winterlegacy, here 'till the end > MM54 03/04/2018 at 16:48

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Speaking of motor mounts, I probably have to redo the ones on my Legacy. There’s a questionable shake and I’m pretty sure it’s the mounts.

MM54 > winterlegacy, here 'till the end 03/04/2018 at 16:57

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This didn’t have anything majorly saying “hey these are bad” but they are old, cracked, and deformed so replacement is in order while I’m doing a bunch of other work to it.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Aremmes 03/04/2018 at 17:00

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all of a sudden since christmas my online purchases can’t find my house. the creepy one was it couldn’t locate my address, so I had it routed to my PO box, only to then have fedex slap a sticker with my home address?!?

RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire > MM54 03/04/2018 at 21:50

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That’s furkin’ turrible.

I went with aftermarket motor mounts which were 1/4th the price of OEM, but thankfully they fit and work as expected. Had Amazon reviews to depend on though.

Matt Urban > MM54 03/07/2018 at 16:22

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should have know it was a Mazda. my wife’s 5 chews those damn things up

MM54 > Matt Urban 03/07/2018 at 18:31

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Mine are original (as far as I can tell) from 1985, and aren’t exactly bad, just old and starting to dry out (and are a bit squished from age) - I’m mostly doing preventative and “while I’m in there” maintenance this winter.