Phineas

Now that I 'think' I have the coolant leak/overheating issue uncontrol, I need to drive it to the law to get it VIN verified.

Shocks and struts are shot, bushing gone. It sounds like a mechanical monster going done the street hit holes in the pavement.

Any recommendation on front and rear struts and shocks? Do I need springs, too. The manual shows springs separate.

On line shows just struts. Just shocks. One or both with springs.

Can you buy a package that has everything; shocks, struts, bushing, mounts, bellows, whatever else?

mazdaverx713b

iTrader: (91)

Thread moved to the tech section.

I recommend Tokico Blue's. They are tough to find but incredible once on the car. Mix them with some Racing Beat springs and the ride is amazing!

t_g_farrell

iTrader: (1)

Tokico blues will be hard to find I think. You could go with the RB springs and the ktb strust and shocks either from them or RA (much cheaper). For frontend bushings go poly on everything and in the rear do new poly on the swaybar links and the watts linkage onlty. Leave the 4 rear end links alone unless you see they are bent or otherwise not servicable. News can be had with the rubber bushings in them from Mazda or Atkins or others.

sommmatt

iTrader: (2)

Any new strut is better than a blown strut. The cheapest part store shocks will be worlds better.

The springs are 36 years old if original. The rears tend to break. If your ride height is even all the way around I wouldn't worry too much about it, but if you are sagging in one or more corners you should do a thorough inspection.