Can bad toe link bushings cause "clunking" also??
 

Well when I bought my car the rear end was clunking, which I knew they were infamous for doing. I replaced the shocks and trailing arms(M2) and the clunking is still there, mostly when I hit a bump the makes the rear end drop a little, could bad toe link bushings cause this. I had it up on the hoist today and hit the side of the wheel inward and you could see the bushing move a little and come clunking occured. I cant determine if the clunking is most likely coming from here or from the differential bushings??? Any input, advice would be greatly appreciated since the noise is driving me fucking nuts!!! THanks guys!!

There are several rear suspension bushings, but it sounds like you have found one of the offenders at least. I recently replaced the trailing arm and toe link bushings and I've still got an occasional clunk higher up on the right side. More bushings to replace.

Jack up car..hold wheel at 3 and 9...if you can rock it..most likely that is the toe link...

That is the same place I get the majority of my clunking also, right side. Thanks Johnny I am going to try that tonight. Should it move at all, or not even a little?? Thanks for the info, any one else want to throw in there 2 cents?? Oh and I had a shop install my trailing arms, he said he made them the same length as the stock ones with the adjustment bolt on the M2 arms, is that what he should have done?? Thanks guys!!

yeah I replaced my trailing arms with m2, stopped teh clunking until this weekend. Talk about annoying as crap!!! Well I am going to try pettits toe links and see where that gets me.

ttpowerd, when are you planning on getting them?? when does it do its clunking??? let me know if the toe links help. I noticed when i first got the trailing arms installed it cut down on the clunking alot but seems to be right back again, maybe my stocks werent that bad afterall, never hurts to have better trailing arms though,

Steve

my car clunks also, and i am planning to replace the bushings and whatnot, but the weird thing is that it seems to clunk more in the morning before it warms up. Does this make any sense? bushings dont need to warm up. maybe it is something wrong with my differential??

Is there anyone out there that once had clunks and got rid of them?? If so what did you all have to replace, we need some help I think, lol, thanks!.!

Oh and running Tokico 5ways with my stock R1 springs wouldnt have anything to do with this would it??

Steve

That's only 2 of them
 

There is like 16 spearical bearings/bushings and at least 8 of them in the rear. The M2's only replace 2 of them. MazdaTrix sells them for $57 (quoted/"estimated" over the phone)but they can cost as high as $100ea.

Since these bearings are good for about 80,000mi most of us are just starting to get the problem.

Valspeed's website has good info on it, but the link is at home.

Same problem here too. So what other bushings and/or other issues could be causing the clunking noise if you install the toe links and launch kit (replaces the trailing arms right?) from pettit? are there still other bushings that need to be replaced that those two pieces don't cover?

oooh.. since we're only running into the rear issues now, how long until the front ones come up......suck.

If you go to the Mazdatrix web site, you see pics, part numbers, and prices of the other bushings\bearings in the rear. It'll run you a few bucks. http://www.mazdatrix.com/h93-95c.htm

Had the clunks.

Turns out my exhaust was loose.

I had quite a lot of clunking on my 95 (only 54k on it too). It almost went away after replacing the toe link and trailing arm bushings. I've still got an occasional clunk from the right, so eventually I'll have to replace those bushings too.

I had M2 toe links, the bushings wore out, and I need to replace them. Clunking stopped.

When I was doing my trailing arms I also noticed that by rocking the wheel, the the lower contol arm bushing (where it meets the hub) was bad too.

I don't think trailing arms are likely to affect clunking. They only replace the bushing at the body end of the arm, and the stock one is rubber (i.e. not likely to clunk). Unobtanium bushings will also not eliminate rear end clunking.

There are several things that can clunk:
- Toe links, M2 replacements are good, but will wear out eventually at which point you can just replace the ball ends
- Pillow balls, there are six in the rear suspension (total) and there would be no way to improve them (except maybe to make them last longer ;)) so get the Mazda parts from Mazdatrix or another source. You can install them without a press, here's my instructions:
http://www.maxcooper.com/rx7/how-to/...lls/index.html
- Wheel bearings go bad. You need to remove the hub carrier and have them pressed in and out.

I've done the first two and eliminated my clunking. Then my wheel bearings went bad. Ugh! ;)

-Max

Wow, there is just too much to deal with back there, lol. My mechanic also said it could be my wheel berings, is there a way to tell, you know by pushing the wheel a certain or something,

Steve

Carlotta Rattles
 

My FD has 142K miles on the chassis. The only suspension changes have been the Eibach springs (see sig.) I love my FD's chassis noises. They help me wake up in the mornings on the way to work! It still points the general direction I aim it, but I know all sorts of bushings and links and joints are gone or going. So, be encouraged, some FD's are like the Eveready Bunnie! Oh, I've named her Carlotta Rattles because the little plastic inserts in the doors are cracked, the glove box doesn't fit too tight and the interior light blinks on and off when the headlights are on, the radio doesn't work, and... but when turbo things open up around 4500 rpm in second and the ported motor and exhaust mods allow the extra kick (not the stock surge, but a kick like an old four barrel opening up back in the old piston engine days of my youth) I gladly put up with the other little clunks. I know, it needs to be fixed, and I will, but my almost 5 years in this car (got it when it had 54K in July of '97) have convinced me that the chassis is relatively sturdy and most things deteriorate gradually. Wish I had known about this forum when the Unobtanium Bushings group buy was going on...

I am going to order them int he summer sometime. First I want to get a B&M short shifter then I will get the toe links and then I have to get a clutch and flywheel. This summer is going to be deticated to getting my car running right again. I am also going to check out the other bushings. Thanks Max!

Mine pulls or pushes to the right
 

Wheel bearings make noise when the car is moving (get louder with speed). Spearical bearings (bushings) make noise when you stop.

Does enyone elses pull or push to the right?

http://www.geocities.com/valspeed/

Part_1
Bushings, etc

Where can I get wheel bearings and info on installing them? This sounds like my problem....when I put on the brakes it stops but when I accelerate or cruise at a constant speed I get the "clunking"