StormBeforeDawn

So this is what my poor '83 GSL is looking like. Rear axle and bearing failed, thankfully not on the highway. The axle itself has some damage as well, I'll get some photos of that in a bit as well.



It's pretty mangled, and I don't know how much I need to replace to get this running again. This is a bit out of my league and I could really use some advice as to how to proceed. Can I just pop the remnants of the bearing and seal out and replace them, refill the lost fluids and expect things to turn out? Or am I going to be replacing a lot more of the system?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Edit: Here is the rear axle.

KansasCityREPU

iTrader: (9)

You'll need to use a photo hosting site and not your google mail so we can see the pics.

StormBeforeDawn

Good news the differential end of things seems undamaged, and I did not lose as much fluid as I originally suspected. The busted bearings came out fairly readily, but the axle I am uncertain if it is still useable, and replacements seems to be hard to find. Mazdatrix was out, and my local napa sure doesn't carry them.

I think my best course of action is to take out all the bearing sets and replace them. I was planning on doing shocks and springs anyhow, so I may as well replace all of it in one go. Once I have more time to sort out all the little parts I'll need for this rebuild, hopefully you guys will be able to catch if I do something exceptionally stupid.

Currently my biggest question is if I can continue to use that axle, although I'll have more questions later as to which parts in specific I will need for the rebuild.

StormBeforeDawn

Shoot, I could see them fine, it never occurred to me that others would be unable to. Here they are.

j9fd3s

iTrader: (3)

i'd think there is a really good chance you need an axle... BTW that thing must have sounded like there was a squadron of B-17's flying over you....

StormBeforeDawn

Since I had had the car it had always been a loud, but not that much louder then other old cars I had driven, but when that bearing failed it was was thunderous. In hindsight I should have realized that the bearing was likely worn, and thought to replace them. Thankfully I was already in my driveway when the thing gave way.

StormBeforeDawn

So here is what I am looking at.

STRUT KYB (INSERT) H-363010 http://www.mazdatrix.com/getprice.asp?partnum=H-363010
SHOCK KYB GR-2 H-343140 http://www.mazdatrix.com/getprice.asp?partnum=H-343140
SUSP SPRING F&R SET 14080 http://www.mazdatrix.com/getprice.asp?partnum=14080
BEARING F WHL INNER 33-0470-8545 http://www.mazdatrix.com/getprice.as...m=33-0470-8545 (qty 2)
BEARING F WHL OUTER 33-0750-B002 [http://www.mazdatrix.com/getprice.as...m=33-0750-B002 (qty 2)
SEAL WHEEL FRONT 33-0650-1312 http://www.mazdatrix.com/getprice.as...m=33-0650-1312 (qty 2)
BEARING R WHEEL 26-151A-8871 http://www.mazdatrix.com/getprice.as...m=26-151A-8871 (qty 2)
BEARING R AXL COLLAR 26-1520-8531 http://www.mazdatrix.com/getprice.as...m=26-1520-8531 (qty 2)
SPACER REAR AXLE BRG 26-1550-0259 http://www.mazdatrix.com/getprice.as...m=26-1550-0259 (qty 2)
SEAL WHEEL REAR 26-1540-0187 http://www.mazdatrix.com/getprice.as...m=26-1540-0187 (qty2)

And then 2 quarts of this to refill the differential.
http://www.mazdatrix.com/getprice.asp?partnum=NEO-GEAR

So my big question is still the rear axle. Continuing to look at it makes me more certain that it will no longer be serviceable. However, mazdatrix is out of stock and other places that I have found that sell them seem shady at best. Where else could I pick up this rear axle? Also as far as bearings and seals go I have two bearings and one seal for each side in the front, one bearing, collar, spacer, and seal in the rear for each side. As far as I can tell this is the correct number?

Reading shows that I should take rear bearings into a shop to be removed and re-pressed, but the fronts are simple enough to do by hand.

Again, this is easily the largest project I have attempted on this car, so If I am doing something dumb I could really use a heads up.


Edit: There is a 80 rx7 at a local Upull. It's in good condition, and if it's rear axle would fit I happen to know that it has the rear axle intact and actually in decent condition. It is drum brakes vs my disc breaks, but mazdatrix lists 79-83 all as the same part, so I assume it would be a simple swap.

t_g_farrell

iTrader: (1)

Grab the axle(s) out of that pull a part 80s car and then swap them in. The other axle may not
be that much farther behind this one. The axle in the pics looks like its toast as the collar
probably wouldn't fit tight enough after all that "machining" done to it.

StormBeforeDawn

Yeah, it really looks like a 12 year old got at it with a lathe.

KansasCityREPU

iTrader: (9)

There are a couple of axels on the ebay site for about $30 right now.

StormBeforeDawn

Picked up a slide hammer, and am going to run to the upull today. If I don't have any luck there that will be option number 2. Thanks for checking. I'm surprised none of the regular online mazda part stores carry these. I guess more people are smart enough no to wreck them :|

j9fd3s

iTrader: (3)

ive replaced bearings, and seen people bend axles hitting curbs and things, but i've never seen a bearing actually fail like that, hence the B-17 comment.

i think once you get the new bearings in you'll be amazed at how quiet it is.

StormBeforeDawn

Perhaps you could tell me how to get my other axle off then? I had hoped to look at a functional bearing and seal set, as well as determine how functional they still were. I can't for the life of me get the axle out with the slide hammer, even with considerable force. I removed the brakes without issue, but on the other side the axle was simply loose and easy to remove. On this passengers side even solid hits with the slide hammer seem to be unproductive. There are some differences between my FSM and my car and it is proving problematic. How hard should this axle be to get off? I am concerned if I hit it any harder then I am that I will damage the vehicle.

DivinDriver

iTrader: (15)

This thread may help; Bearing swap on an '80 rear end, step by step. You can compare these pix to what you have and figure out what will swap fairly well.

https://www.rx7club.com/1st-gen-archive-71/how-rear-axle-bearing-seal-replacement-966704/

StormBeforeDawn

Yeah that is almost a picture perfect replica of my FSM. Unfortunately, mine doesn't look quite like yours. I have dis brakes in the back, so it simply isn't set up the same way. In step 12 you say to remove the four square headed bolts, but due to the differences between the two brake setups I think the three equivalents on my disc brakes can only be removed after I manage to pull the axle. I still can't figure out why it wont budge. There is nothing holding it on but 30 years of salt corrosion if I understand it properly.

KansasCityREPU

iTrader: (9)

The backing platt bolts MUST be removed or the axel will not come out.

StormBeforeDawn

With the 3 bolt design? Two of the bolts have access, but no way on the third. You can't get at both ends, turning it just turns the whole bolt. Also, with disk brakes the disk isn't even attached to the plate. I'll take another look at it over the next few hours and see if make sense of that, perhaps I am just not looking at this right.

StormBeforeDawn

Got it off. Friend of mine with a bit more car know how said he would do it for a beer. Basically it came down to me not knowing how to remove the disc from the axle. Seems like excessive force was the trick. I'll order the bearings and all tonight and pick up the axles in the junkyard asap.

DivinDriver

iTrader: (15)

The point I was trying to help with, was that you said you were planning on pulling parts from a junkyard '80 for use on your car.

Those pics are from an '80. I figured you might want to see what the differences looked like before committing time and money to pulling parts you may or may not be able to use. Always good to know what you're up against before making the investment, right?

StormBeforeDawn

Yeah, that is why I was kinda kicking myself. Didn't realize the brake disc came off the axle. I should have, because otherwise there is no way an axle from a drum brake system (the '80) would be compatible with mine.

StormBeforeDawn

Got my bearings, shocks, springs and all today. Local auto got the bearings cut and pressed. Problems started when I got to the seals.

Wrecked the first one, and thought I just goofed. took the second one, took a bit more care, and realized that it just wasn't going to fit on that side. Went to the other side, the undamaged one. Still wont fit. On a hunch I compare it my rear seal that I pulled from the "good" side. The new ones are bigger. Not by much, but ever so slightly they are larger in diameter. I will take a micrometer to them tomorrow to find out exactly how much of a difference there is. Long story short they are not going in. I verified that they are the correct REAR bearings I have not swapped them with the fronts, and the model numbers all check out, these should fit in. Grabbing my old seal I try to test fit it, and with a gentle tap or two it slides in.

26-1540-0187 is the part number, from mazdatrix. I have no idea why it wouldn't fit. Has anyone else had this issue? Do the old seals shrink with age? Could my differential hosing have warped? I have no idea what I have screwed up here.

Thoughts?

t_g_farrell

iTrader: (1)

Have you ever put bearing seals in before? They are supposed to be tight and they usually
require careful attention when first started so they don't go crooked. I usually have a piece of
pipe or large socket I've used in the past. That part number looks correct for an 83 axle.

StormBeforeDawn

I have not.

I carved a 2x4 so that is fit exactly around the edges of the axle. I wanted to use a socket, but I didn't not have one large enough. I just don't understand why the old one fits so easily and snugly. I had to break out another few tools just to get it out again, it's not like it was a loose fit.

t_g_farrell

iTrader: (1)

So the block of wood will work. To put it in, I first line it up on the hole and gently tap, tap all
around to evenly get it started using a dead blow hammer. When I say gently, I mean very softly,
you just want to get it started so it stays in there on its own but going straight in.

Once its in place I grap my pipe, socket or wood and lay it on the seal so it touches all around
and I smack the whatever I'm using centered on the seal. Not too hard but hard enough to
get it going.

Just keep doing this until its flush with the rim of the axle.

Its an acquired skill but, like riding a bike, once you get it down you'll never forget how to do it.

StormBeforeDawn

Alright, I'll order a few more (at least they are on $6) and just work a bit on the technique.