Just replaced the subject parts to rid our '94 of clunking noises. Mazda dealer wanted $888 +tax. Bought a pair of bushings for $99 and had them pressed out/in for $20. Only problem was stripping the hexes off the inner lock nuts due to wrench/fuel tank interference "cocking" the tool. Otherwise was a pretty smooth job. The "press" guy said he used 1200 lbs of force to press out the old bushings. No wonder I broke a 4" C-clamp trying to do that myself!

Since the toe link adjusting nuts were not touched and the links went back on the same sides of the car, is it necessary to re-do the rear toe-in alignment? Had a full 4-wheel alignment about 3 months ago.

---- Bill

 

I would say so, the new bushings will have "moved" the ball joint slightly, and with the "motion ratio" of the toe links vs toe, a few thousands will make a difference.

Really, it depends on how much you care… if you don’t race, and have a tendency to wear your rear tires out from wheel-spin before they have a chance to wear unevenly, you probably will be able to judge for yourself after a few minutes in the car. Rear toe problems are really obvious via the seat of your pants.

X

 

does ur toe link bushing have any play at all? the ones on my car have alot of play, i got a set of used ones, still have plays. is it suppose to be like this?

 

wstrohm

What bushings did you use? Where did you get them? I'm about to undertake the same project. I heard mazda comp makes a bushing set that is stiffer than stock. Not sure what the price is or where to get them though. I have decided to pass on Jim's bushings because I don't want to deal with the squeeking noise.

-Chris C.

 

www.MazdaTrix.com has those bushings.

What kind of shop did the "pressing", cause I'm looking into this too. These new bushings will/can make a difference on how the wheel sits so I would defiantly do an alignment, they're only like $50.

 

GsrSol, thanks. It comes out to around 800 for all the rear bushings Maybe I can learn to live with jim's bushings

 

I did the M2 toe links and trailing arms so that eliminated some of the bushings. The only ones I was gonna replace with oem were in the lower control arm and I think they were $57 a piece. Either way it gets expensive.

I don't know that much about Jim's bushings, when I heard they were all solid I quit reading because I figured that would be too much for a daily driver and I wanted to keep some rubber back there. I may have the wrong concept but I do know that everyone that has them, loves them. But then again it depends on what your car is used for.

 

Folks,

Thanks for your replies. I'll have an alignment done.

To answer some questions, I bought the bushings from the local Mazda dealer for $99.02 the pair, although they can be bought individually. The Mazda part number is FD01-26-230 for the outer bushing of the toe link. Mazda calls the part a "Ball, Pillow" (they are TRW parts). The shop that pressed them for me was Freeway Auto Supply (they have a machine shop in the back) in Mission Viejo, CA. Just call around to various machine shops and eventually you should find one with a press. The toe links should have ZERO play. With the rear of the car jacked up (leave the handbrake on for this test), put one hand at the front and the other at the rear of the tire and try to rock it left and right. The wheel should not move even slightly. If it does, then it will move while driving, wear the tire, and make an incredible amount of noise, something like having a loose jack in your wheelwell.

Again, thanks for your responses!

---- Bill

 

I just got the three per side bearings for the lower (2) and upper (1) controll arms. I am replacing the toe links with the Pettit ones $200. The bearings I got from Mazdaformance for $45 per so?? Remember that Jim's bushings do not replace the bearings. There are bearings and bushings on the rear suspension. The clunk is normally from bad bearings.

 

Donovan,

It is my understanding that only the outer bushings ("pillow *****") of the rear toe links normally wear to the point of needing replacement; the inner ones are larger diameter and can take the forces applied without much deformity. As for the other bushings/bearings, I will have to cross that bridge when the time comes. The Irvine Mazda RX-7 tech says the toe link outer bushings are the "weak sisters" of the Series 3 rear suspension parts. (Our '94 is at 69 K miles.)

---- Bill