Well, I have had these since klast summer and I now have the time to put them in, I have a jack and jack stands, decent tools and decent mechanincal skills. I am considering doing the job myself. I reaize that the pressing of the bushing will require a local garage but...am I getting into more than I should? Is it a major job what tools will I need I might not expect or issues I may encounter. Any help would be great. i looked around.

Jared

 

www.mazdatrix.com has a good write up with pics on their site. Worth checking out if you haven't already.

 

I did but I wanted a second opinion I guess. I looked in the fsm and it looked major...

 

Naa its not too bad should take part or most of the day though, you just got to remove the rear hubs from the axels not to big of a pain

 

For those who have done it do you recomend the Toe Elim Bushings?

Does the car handle better?

Chris

 

I needed a big copper headed hammer to remove the axle shaft from the hub, but other than that its not hard to do.

 

Don't pay someone to do that job!! Do it all yourself for free in like 3 hours. Simple hand tools and a vise are all you need. The car will not handle better but it will feel better. Technically the car should pull more Gs with the stock system functioning correctly.
The eliminators will allow the avarage driver to drive closer to the limit. Those stock bushings are not in there that tight. Either pound them out with a big hammer or use a vice and two large sockets to press them out.

 

3 hours...really? I had them in my last turbo and it helped with corering like nuts. i have an 87 with other suspensions mods, racing beat springs, strut brace, and tok. blues.

last night I had to correct the placement of the upper strut mouts into the towers so that the little white dots are pointed in and up. that was pain...

 

3 hours is probably optimistic for a first timer, but it's not that hard, they're right, you need basic hand tools, a selection of sockets, and a vice.

They don't really help the car handle better, but they make the car predictable, no more feeling like the car's back end is going to jump out on you suddenly, so as a result, you feel more comfortable to push the car harder.

PaulC

 

I cannot remove the knuckle assembly from the spindle rear axle, everthing leading up to this has been cake. what do I do now, just whack the spindle with a hammer tp push it back and sepearate it from the knuckle?

thanks guys

jared

 

I had the same problem. Don't hit them. I made a simple device to do the job. Use two steel plates. Drill 9 holes in the first one (5 to match the bolt pattern of the hub and 1 hole in each corner). Cut a hole in the center of the that plate with a torch. Make it big enough for the plunger on a small bottle jack. Then drill four holes in the second plate (1 in each corner). Loosely bolt the two plates together with long bolts. Then bolt the assembly to the hub. Put a bottle jack between the two plates. Two pumps on the jack and the axle stub will pop right out. I promise.

Rob

 

uh.....thanks Rob Ill...........try that. just kidding. Ill try a gear puller but I am worried about screwing up the bearing. I dont want to seperate the 2 peices you know what I mean. Wioll I sepated the bearing if I use a puller...but you did so maybe I answered my own question...

thanks Rob

jared

any other stories or advice

 

I tried a puller. I couldn't get it to work. That's why I made the "press". I don't think it's a good idea to hit your car with a hammer. The press isn't that hard to make. Only took about an hour.

Rob

 

Its just I dont have a torch or the tools really. Your technique does pull on the outer bearing assemblt though right, Rob, no doubt your mrhtod is sweet, I just dont have the resources. I highly doulbt the wife would authorize that right now. Id like an air-compressor before that anyways but...i want a lift too and a ...ect

 

get a deadblow hammer 5lb rubber one should do the job nicely if you got some muscle if not look around for a 8lber

 

Spray the axle splines with WD/40, then a dead blow hammer. Next time grease those splines to help keep moisture out and prevent corrosion.

PaulC

 

Ive sprayed and beat the crap out of it with a dead blow hammer. heated, sprayed and beat...this stinks man...I am right there I its discouraging when you get stimyed but a seamingly minor thing like this. I just wasted another 1.5 hours of my time tonight. Souldve brought it to a shop and made it thier problem.


thanks guys. gonna go set my car on fire now

jared

 

got it. had to use a gear puller on the hub and then pound the center or the gear puller....other side, poped off no problem, the reason was because the lateral link was buted for awhile before I bought it and it packed the axle into the bearing. thanks guys
Jared