Well after putting up with that loud, annoying *** clunk for 2 years and trying to solve it over the years I finally got it. I started out with new M2 trailing arms, NOPE...next were Pettit toe links, NOPE.... finally I just gave in and bought the (6) rear pillow ball bushings in the rear and I'll be, its like a whole new car. The rear end is not only a million times quieter but its a whole lot tighter. So for those of you with clunks in their rear and I KNOW there a a TON of you that do this is the thing to do. I bought the bushings from Ray at Malloy for $43.00 a peice times (6), had a friend, THANKS TED, remove the upper and lower control arms at his shop for free and had the new bushings pressed in for $40. I saved alot on labor, the Mazda dealership wanted $300 plus $21.00 a bushing. I have to say its relieving driving the car with no clunks. For being a decade old it is as tight and sounds like a brand new car. Just thought I would share my happy experience.

 

Gotta ride in the CYM today. Must say it does feel like a whole new machine. I recommend the bushings to those who are in need.

 

Yeah I bet Ron. I also bet it looks good sitting in your driveway right now since I let you "borrow" it for the night huh?? hehe.

 

So you need 6 of these rear pillow ball bushings?

Are they $43 a piece or $21 a piece?

THanks.

-Dan

 

$43 each. List price is >$60 each. But it's worth it.

-Max

 

The Mazda dealership wanted $21 a piece to get them pressed in, the bushings cost $43 a piece at Malloy and Max is right...they are definitely worth it, I know this now.

 

Who or what is "Malloy and Max". Do they have a website or some info on them?

 

Im in need too...bushings are next for me.

i cant wait.


j

 

malloy is a mazda dealer that sells parts at reasonable prices instead of the bs mark up at normal dealers, they should be listed in the vendor section.

 

When I said Max I was referring to maxcooper.

 

ONeBadRx7: do you have the part numbers for the rear pillow ball bushing?? tanx

 

Hey guys, I am assuming these are the OEM bushings. Did you consider the MAZDASPEED bushings? Is there a disernable difference between the two? Obviously the MAZDASPEED bushings are more expensive. Are they worth the extra cost?

 

The part number is FD01-26-220.

 

So we need 6 of these lil bushing guys for the rear only? What about the front?


-Dan

 

6 are required for the rear. There are none of these bushings in front.

The "bushings" are actually sperical bearings. The only way to improve them would be to make them last longer. There is no way to improve them from a performance perspective, so Mazdaspeed and aftermarket vendors don't sell upgrades for them.

Here's my DIY replacement guide:
http://www.maxcooper.com/rx7/how-to/...lls/index.html

-Max

 

What about the Windup / lash in the differential itself? Has anyone dealing with the clunking issue looked at getting the diff rebuilt to remove excess lash?

I hear a lot of gear chatter when reversing at slow speeds out of my driveway. I usually modulate speed with the clutch and it seem to slap the gears a lot. Kind of rickety sounding.

Thanks in advance,
Brian

 

oh, good looking out guys. what else should be replaced when i put new shocks and springs in?

raj

 

I had the annoying clunk and I just replaced 6pillowball bushings and it solved my problem. I didn't change the toe-links nor the trailing arms. Plus I used Max Cooper's method of installing them and it worked out great. Although I only used one 6 inch grade 8 bolt and maybe 20 spacers.

I am just glad Max had his instructions cause I didn't want to spend extra money to have someone else do it.

 

Ditto that arutha. I did the bushing replacement this weekend and my nasty clunk is totally gone. I also ended up using only one bolt and maybe 10 washers. Some bent, but it didn't seem to hurt anything.

Anyway, thanks a billion for the fantastic write-up, Max. I would have never thought to use that bolt & socket method and removing those suspension parts and taking them to have the bushings pressed out would have been a LOT more trouble!

 

OK, I think this is becoming a cult or something! Yes, I have had a clunk for over two years that I couldn't figure out (replaced about everything in the rear suspension). Yes, I did finally get the pillow bushings from Malloy (great price, friendly service, no shipping charge, couple of freebies); Yes, I did use Max Cooper's wonderful instructions (note: use a grade 8 bolt the first time and save yourself a trip to the store); Yes, I am happy as a clam with no noises in my rear suspension! Imagine that!

 

Are the 6 pillow ball bushings in teh upper control arms? I just ordered new arms, everytime I hit the brake it clunks.

 

I sometimes get a nasty shuddering effect when starting to move the car from a stop. it's kind of like wheel hop but not. the car just shudders for ten feet or so. is that the bushings? I was thinking the differential mount

matt

 

 

Hey also... do the main pillowball... part pillow part rubber one that is on the inside of the lower control arm... got rid of my wheel hop in reverse... also the jim lab busings helped... and 6 pillow *****.. and the two diff bushings... and the control arms and toe links... finally... still get some jumping when accelerating... its the diff bushings though... since those are stock hardness and the rest are stiff as $hit. I guess the Kaaz doesn't help much either.
-Ryker

P.S. hate this "cannot be displayed" crap that happens when I post

 

I get some sqeaking from the front of my car when going over speed bumps and getting out of the car. Sounds like when you are jumping on a bed. Anyone have some ideas as to what this could be? I have eibach springs and tokico illumina shocks. My guess is some bad bushings or something. Never got around to checking it out since I have too many other problems with my car. Just thought I would throw that out and see what you guys think.