Hey guys -

Worked on a customer's car some more this weekend. I've noticed a few weird things - I'm slowly getting the suspension back up to snuff, did the rear pillow ***** about a week or two ago and that made a BIG difference.

Backing the car out of my driveway, I got a clunk from the front end. Also, while driving the car around, if I make a left turn, then resume going straight down the road, the steering wheel will be cocked over to the left a bit. Turn right then go straight, the wheel will center itself back up. Uh, yeah...

Few things I found -

- The swaybar end links on both sides have TONS of slop. I can easily twist them about by hand. I compared to the end links on my car, and I couldn't move those at all.

- Pulling and twisting on the sway bar did get me a clunk, so I think I'm on the path.

Also, the sway bar mounts looked to be in good shape. He's an older guy and doesn't beat on the car, so I wouldn't expect them to have been bottomed out or anything excessive.

So, to start with I'm wanting to get him new swaybar endlinks. New ones look to be approx. $60 each, or Mazdatrix has heim joint endlinks for $74 a pair. Since the heim joint links seem to be cheaper, that might be the way to go. But, I want to make sure they won't be noisy, transmit more vibration or harshess, or wear out quicker - remember, this is an old guy driving the car who just wants the suspension happy .

Once I get the end links whupped I'm going to get the car aligned. I'm almost wondering if the alignment bolts aren't properly tightened and the car is changing alignment as it goes around a corner.

Any thoughts or ideas?

Thanks,
Dale

 

Rack mounts loose or shot? The shift in steering wheel position is a clue...

 

Haven't investigated that far. I found the sloppy sway bar end links and stopped there as I went to take my car apart to compare.

Never heard of problems with the steering rack mounts - are there rubber bushings around the rack?

Dale

 

I got clunk noise when my steering wheel turned to left while backing up. What caused this noise besides possible defects sway bar mount and steering rack bushing. I was guessing maybe my lower arm ball join and tie rod are worn out. Hope someone can help

BC

 

Sway bar end links can give clunks but they won't change the steering alignment.

I'd go with stock end links, exposed heim joints likely won't last as long. Check sway bar mounts while your at it.

Check upper control arm bushings, hit the control arm front to rear along the axis of the bolts with a dead blow hammer. There is a TSB on those IIRC.

I've never heard of steering racks coming loose, I have heard of front subframes being loose though.

 

It's happened to at least three of us:

https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-specific-1993-2002-16/memory-steer-317006/

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...hreadid=265138

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...hreadid=263819

Dale, I bet the steering not centering is due to loose steering rack mounts. When my car did it I couldn't figure out what the heck was going on until I decided my symptoms could only be the result of the rack moving. One of the bolts on the left mount had fallen out!

 

Thanks everyone! I'll order the stock sway bar links today and give everything another look-see when I next work on the car.

Dale

 

OK, well now I have heard of it.

 

Not to interrupt, but where did you see these? I can't find them in the suspension section of Mazdatrix's online catalog.

I'd also like to find heim joint end links for the rear suspension to replace the stock plastic crap. Anyone know where I can find them?

 

http://www.mazdatrix.com/h93-95b.htm

Scroll down to the second thing before the end - just below the stockers, can't miss it.

They only have front links, though - I don't believe I've seen rears.

Dale

 

Near the bottom of the page.

http://www.mazdatrix.com/h93-95b.htm

I have never seen anything for the rear other than stock except for the special parts I believe M2 made for their bar. Think it was M2, not certain. The links were essentially a twisted, double ended heim joint. I know I saw a pic here once but I can't find it. Seems it was a custom item because they were tough to come by.

 

I just installed a set of their endlinks last saturday. it is really easy. the thing that took me the longest was putting in the spacers. this isn't hard, but it have fat fingers. It should take less than a half and hour for both sides.