Well i took my convertible to an alignment shop to get it checked out because the back end of my car starts swaying back and forth when i shift while accelerating hard and they said my left front and rear ball joints are completely worn out, my left knuckle bushing is needs to be replaced and my tie rod bushing needs to be tightened up i believe that was every thing he said correct me if messed up any of the part names. anyways with labor he said its gonna be around 800 buckaroos to fix yikes i say. does this estimate sound about right for this amount of work and parts.
thanks,
Tom

 

yup lots of time and time is money. they are probably getting parts from a mazda dealership and that can be extreemly expensive. If you can do it your self you will save a ton of money

 

from what I've heard getting those rear steer bushings in is a pain in the keister

 

Ok. I'll bite. Where are the instructions for installing the rear ball joints? How come my car did not come with them and should I sue MAZDA for short changing me?

 

what kind of tires do you have? are they inflated?
the fc has a very long lasting suspension.

mike

 

Well im about to go pick up my car im decideing to do the work myself i have the haynes manuel so putting the ball joints in shouldnt be that hard should it? how long does it take to replace one ball joint and how much should i expect to pay for the part.
i dont know about the knuckle bushing may need your guys help on that one or i might have them do that part. and we will see what happens when i get to the tie rod bushing.

 

http://www.mazdatrix.com/getprice.as...m=34-5500-FB01 http://www.mazdatrix.com/hsteer2.htm

 

The front end stuff is easy to do. Just order the parts from Mazdatrix. If your car is 89-91 the parts are more expensive because you have to replace the whole control arm instead of just the ball joint. For the rear you can take things apart, have the bushing replaced and then put it back together so you'll save most of the labor.

 

is the rear left ball joint different from the front one sold on mazdatrix? are they all the same thus why mazdatrix only sells one kind of joint for the series 4.

disrigard the whole rear left ball joint. i just need ball joints for the front of the car.

 

There IS NO BALL JOINT in the rear?!!! furthermore, I've never heard of a knuckle bushing!

You can't replace tierod bushings (since there isnt' one), but you probably need to replace the tie rods themselves (it is a 14 year old car). You probably need new ball joints up front (again, old car).

You can do the front stuff yourself (still need an alignment) if it's an 86-88, but 89-91 requires replacement of the entire control arm to replace the ball joint. but I'll warn you, it's somewhat involved, it may be easier to pay the labor if you're not mechanically inclined. But if you know your way around a tool box, nothing your average shadetree do it yourselfer can't tackle.

PaulC

 

Wowsers that @#$% is expensive!