I'm planning on doing some rear suspension work on the on my '90 GXL. Part of this job may entail replacing the pillow ball bearings. Has anyone ever found the need to replace their pillow ball bearings? Are they a common wear item on the 2nd gen? I know from reading the 3rd gen board that they were on that generation.

 

I've never seen any wear out. they have dust seals on them and they don't actually articulate much...

 

Agreed, they don't go bad in this location. Leave the pillow ball, install DTSS eliminators and PBM solid upper hub bushings that replace the rubber upper hub bushings. This will make the hub mounted completely solid to the trailing arm.

 

Ok...thanks for the suggestions. I didn't think the pillow ***** would typically go bad since they don't see much movement. I've already installed the DTSS eliminator bushings. Did this many years ago. I'll look into the PBM solid upper hub bushings.

 

Ok...thanks. That what I thought. BTW, the dust seals are no longer available from Mazda.

 

Unless you are really beating on the car on the track they are not 100% needed, but certainly will help a bit since your DTSS is deleted.

Here it is installed, it is the gold bushing in the picture.

 

Very nice! So, do these bushings eliminate the need for the stock fiber washer?

 

Correct. No washer needed anymore. I hate that setup. The hub just slides off now. No more hitting the hub with a hammer and working around the washer to get the hub off.