Not technically a technical question, but I thought I would post it here for a little more exposure (also posted in the Parts for Sale section).

Does anyone know where to buy fhe following suspension and steering boots and bushings?

Outer tie rod end boots
Front control arm ball joint boots
Lateral link boots

Trailing arm bushings
Trailing arm pillowballs

I've tried various auto parts stores, but they don't carry any of these parts. Haven't tried the dealer yet because working with the dealers in town has been a PITA in the past. I don't want to have to purchase the entire part (i.e. the entire tie rod end, or a new lateral link), and I figure someone out there sells replacement boots and bushings.

 

Mazdatrix.com

 

If the boots are bad, it's likely that the grease has escaped and the ball joints are shot. New tie rod ends are cheap, new front ball joints are cheap if you have S4 arms with the replaceable ones. Dunno about the rear lateral link.

 

The tie rod end boots are wasted, so like you said, the tie rod ends should be replaced. I have an S5 GXL and the replacement controls arms with new ball joint are $400 each (MazdaTrix). Not cheap. The rear lateral links are $160 each (Mazdatrix). But these boots are just starting to crack. Was hoping to replace them before they end up like the tie rod end boots. Thanks for the info.

 

See if you can find someone parting out an S4 and buy the control arms off them, the replaceable ball joints for them are like $40 each.

 

I have a spare lateral link and a spare right side trailing arm if you are interested.

 

PM sent.

 

For future reference Energy Suspension Parts has the tie rod end boots, and the control arm ball joint boots in polyurethane. Part numbers are: 9.13103 for the tie rod end boots, and 9.13105_FrontBall for the control arm ball joint boots.

 

I just found a writeup for the lateral link boots: CLICK ME