Where do you find the ball joint bushing for the rear upper control arms?!? The car is in the shop having every bushing replaced on it...except that one because I don't have it. It didn't come with the "full" bushing set.

I can't find them anywhere except for the dealership, who is very proud of them. Didn't know the part was four pieces smashed together. They want to sell all four freakin pieces separately, eventually costing me around 200.00 for two sets of little bitty stupid parts. I can't reuse the old ones because they are so jacked up. The previous owner was a douchebag and a half.

I found something on this link, but don't know if it's what I'm looking for:
http://www.mazda-parts.com/partscat.html

I've attached a couple of pictures from the shop on what's needed. The diagram is a little blurry, but it can still be made out. Thanks and smash something for me.

 

was that a Ray Crowe price quote b/c if it isn't it's not the lowest price you can get.

1-888-533-3400 ask to speak with Ray in Mazda Parts. It's the only mazda dealership that's on my speed dial.

 

they're usually referred to as pillow ball bushings and I think they cost around $60 apiece from Ray. You should also buy the dust booties (~$2 apiece) but you probably don't need to replace the snap rings. There are a total of 6 of them and you might as well replace all of them while you have the car down. They are a common wear item so I wouldn't blame their condition on the previous owner of the car.

 

what full bushing kit did you have? i need to replace pretty much all of mine except the diff and i would like to make sure i order one that comes with everything.

 

A "full bushing kit" doesnt come with all the bushings you need, unfortunately. It only comes with the bushings that replace the stock rubber bushings and not the pillow ***** in the rear. You actually need to order the 6 rear pillow ***** w/ dust boots from Ray Crowe at Malloy Mazda (about $400) along with whatever bushing kit you chose. Malloy is the cheapest place you can get the pillow ***** unless you can get a kickass discount at your local dealer and theres really no aftermarket company that makes the pillow ***** since the factory units are pretty good.

 

I ordered the full Powerflex bushing set. I went through JKL Engineering to get them. Talk to Kevin.

 

If normal wear is for these to look like they've been through a paper shredder and flopping around in the control arm, maybe I should buy extra.

 

I'd say they have a "normal" life span of about 80k miles. Maybe up to 100k. For all 6 Ray had a deal years ago for all 6 for 300.00. I don't think you can get the same price now but close enough.

Ray is a great guy to deal with and the service is top notch.

 

I have sets of low mile JSpec suspension arms.. All with under 30,000 miles and ZERO pillow ball slop or ball joint slop

Buy a full Set of arms, front and rear, with super low miles from me and be done. Take all of your arms off and install the low mile ones..

Full front sets: $445.00 Shipped
L&R LCA's
L&R UCA's

Full rear Sets with diff mount $465.00 Shipped
L&R UCA's
L&R LCA's
L&R Tow links
L&R Lower links
Diff mount

Package deal on a Complete front and rear set: $650.00

Cheaper by far!

 

Ray has them a lot cheaper, call him and be done with it....



Later

 

Pillow ball bushings are never included in the standard bushing sets. That's because they have a ball joint inside of them to allow a much larger range of motion. They should pivot around in all directions, but they should not have play.

It's not uncommon to need to replace pillowballs, however that location I believe is lightly loaded compared to some other pillowballs elsewhere in the rear suspension.

Dave

 

check out http://www.powerflexusa.com/


http://store.powerflexusa.com/shared...unt2=745689034

 

These are the bushings I have. I have talked to Powerflex, they don't make the pillowballs. I'll contact this Ray person and see what he has to offer.

 

Ordered them today and will be here in two days. Ray says thanks.

Thanks everyone for your help!

 

Thanks for the offer, but everything else is in great shape.

 

Try spooledupracing to.