Just got done with the pillow ball bushings in the rear, took 3.5 hours total including time it took to get all my tools together and to put them all away. Not as difficult as I expected it to be. I initially thought I was going to do the job with a self built press as outlined in MaxCoopers write up, but somebody asked me why I was going to buy all those washers, nuts, and bolts when I could just rent a ball joint press. I didnt know the answer to that question so I just rented the ball joint press at Autozone and it made the job a snap! I still had to use a 24mm socket to press the bushings out and back in as the included press spacers were all too big. MaxCoopers site was still great for pictures of what all needs to be done.

I still get a little noise from the toe links but the pillow ball bushings eliminated about 90% of the clunking in back.

I definately recommend anybody who is somewhat mechanically inclined to do this themselves. I would say this job was about a 6 on a scale of 1-10.

 

How many pillow ball bushings are there in total?

 

Did you replace them with stock bushings or did you go with something else?

 

Ive heard stocks are very acceptable.

 

There are 6 of them.

 

right, and I believe stock is the only thing available. There isnt really any way to improve the design so nobody bothered to try.

 

Was this to get rid of the ******* clunking from the rear suspension?


Do you have the link to Maxcooper's site?

 

Check the Suspension and Handling Links sticky in the suspension section. I have it in there.

 

Yea... that's them. Expensive little suckers

 

The Jimlab unobtainium bushings replace those though don't they?

 

NO. The only parts available for the six pillowballs are the stock Mazda replacement parts.

 

No they dont. Those bushings are with fixed center. Pillowball bushings rotate in the middle.

 

I recently replaced some of the bearings myself. I went out and bought a c-clamp bearing puller kit for around $80. It was on sale, and was a pretty good deal. I was very happy with the kit until DamonB (that bastard ) showed me a similar kit for about $30 less. It worked very nicely, and I can use it next time I want to press out other bearings.

https://www.rx7club.com/suspension-wheels-tires-brakes-20/pillow-ball-joint-repair-tool-298809/

 

Oh, I get it. Thanks.

 

Thanks guys.

 

Sweet, I should stop by Harbor Freight this afternoon and check out that set. The set of receivers looks like it would be a very nice thing to have. The 3 that the one I rented came with were a bit of a pain in the *** to use since none of them fit anything quite right.

 

Ahh, I love Harbor Freight. Just for future reference, how much were the pillow ball bushings?

 

The bearings run anywhere from $35 to $60 each depending on where you are purchasing them.

 

Yeah, I just found a guy in the FS section selling them for 210 a set. Thanks tho!

 

Guys, just buy the small hydraulic press at harbor freight. It was about $60. It's about 10 tons or force and is much easier than any other tool.

 

Actually, the c-clamp allowed me to remove the two bearings I just replaced, without taking the arms off the car.

 

..and in order to use it you have to disassemble the entire suspension to get the pieces on your press. Those are great for stuff like a-arm bushings but a waste of time and effort just to do the pillowballs. It's far faster to use a large c-clamp type press or maxcooper's nut/bolt/socket method.