which parts do i need?
 

so i get my car back from the mech today...replacement cats were put in...the car is much quieter and i noticed my actuators working...:D...anyways, the car is so quiet without the exhaust leak that i notice a noise coming from the rear...it may be the bearings...it starts out sounding like "wa--wa--wa-wa-wa-wawawa" as i go faster till it becomes a constant "waaaaaaaaaaaaaa"...so i'm imagining its the bearings...i checked mazdatrix and all they have is the retainer collar...i search some more and see rx7world has everything...so do i just get the bearings? or do i get the retainor collar, bearings and seal?

also, i guess i will be taking it to a shop...i've searched and read the PITA this can be to do...:(

anyways, thanks in advance for helping me get a parts list for my mechanic...

BTW - if anyone has a combo switch selling for cheap or giving away let me know...i've got that highbeam problem and figured it would be easier just to switch it out with a working combo switch. thanx!

victoria british sells a bearing kit for 19.95 a wheel

Believe me get the Mazda wheel bearing, I never found an aftermarket rear axle bearing worth a damn. Yes you will need a new collar and seal.
Email www.mazdaformance.com for a price.

I would take the axle shaft out myself and have a shop press of the old bearing and to install the new one. Cost for labor to it is about $35 per axle.

John

The axle bearings really arent that hard. Just rent an axle puller from AutoZone, then take them to a machine shop with the new bearings. Cost me $25 to have them both pressed on. I bought the wheel bearing kits from VB.

It may sound too simple but how are the tires back there. I've had many whine before throwing the tread, espaecially when the weren't rated for the speeds I was running them!

all four tires are a bit dry and i know i need to change them out...are there any other symptoms i can check for if the bearings are bad? this way i'd like to confirm. if i lift the rear and jiggle the tires does this mean the bearings are bad? if i lift the rear would the tires not spin freely? what other things can i do that will confirm its the bearings? since the noise is coming from the rear i figure i'd rotate the tires tomorrow and ride it to see if the noise then comes from the front...

thanks for all the input and appreciate more on the syptoms...

take a rear tire off and spin the hub
youll hear the bearing if its bad

I'm with that.You should be able to hear if you spin it with tire off between that and the rotate you should be able to narrow it down.

unless the brakes drag :p:

I would bet it's probably wheel bearings, as that seems to be a common problem in 7's...

My '79 has noisy wheel bearings, which do the exact thing you're describing, except mine is almost unbearable at highway speeds.... :eek:

i popped the drum off and just spined the hub to check mine