Okay quick question, I'll be buying and replacing the pillow ***** in the rear. Everyone sells them in a package deal of 6. I have been reading the FSM and I just want to verify. Each upper arm has 1 pillow, the I-arm has 3 each, so a total of 8 pillow *****? I have rear end clunking so I'm just trying to get rid of it.

Local rotary shop says I have 3 worn pillow ***** in the rear control arms and both toe control bushings have play. I don't plan on replacing all bushings, just the toe ones and all pillow *****. Which bushings controls toe? Thanks.

 

Check out juan's website: J-AUTO - Bushings, Suspension, Performance Upgrades for Mazda RX-7s

If that doesn't do it for you, you can go to powerflexusa.com and they sell all bushings individually.

Just so you know, you can also buy a full set of pillowballs from juan's website

 

Total of 6 pillowballs for the rear end

To be honest, I'd replace the lot, did mine a few weeks ago - Most we're perished.

 

Yeah I'm ordering from Juan. His prices Are unbeatable. Just trying to understand the suspension better.

 

How's the PFC treating you?

So, after reading a bunch of threads on this board I jacked my car up (to allow the wheels to move freely) and pushed / pulled on the rear wheels at 3 and 9 o-clock to check the toe links and then 12 and 6 o-clock to check the pillow *****.

Somewhere along the line I realized that this works better if the car isn't jacked up. The tires may be in contact with the ground but the bushings are sitting as they would normally. The play in a bushing is much more obvious this way.

Anyway, if you have a buddy push / pull on the tires you'll probably be able to look under the car with a flashlight and see what bushings are to blame for any movement. LOL ... given the age of the car, it's probably all of them.

 

I've attached an image which shows the location of the 6 pillow ***** (colored red). Each upper control arm has one pillow ball and each lower control arm has two pillow ***** (the trailing arm is bolted to one of them). Hopefully this helps people in the future

Thanks! I'm an authorized Powerflex vendor and sell the bushings as a kit (saves you money) or as individual bushings. My shipping costs are lower than Powerflex too Don't forget about SuperPro bushings. They're also sold as a kit or as individual pieces and the price is right for a high quality bushing.

 

I just did this process last weekend, changed the handling of the car instantaneously. If I sneeze, I change lanes, ie very responsive. I also changed out the toe link bushings at the same time, not that much more work. Take off the toe arms, drop them off at a machine shop to get pressed out and the new ones pressed in. Use the socket and bolt technique to do the pillow mounts at the same time. All in all, about a 3 hr job for my first time doing it.

 

First thing I did to my FD when I bought it. Full Power Flex bushings and new Pillow *****. Definitely do it all at once and reap the total benefit.

It's very easy to see which bushings are a metal shim and which are rubber when you start taking it apart. Very straightforward.......

 

Thanks for all the help guys. I'll be doing this job soon. Going start tear down while I wait for the bushings to come in. I'm also installing some springs and fix my power steering at same time. She should handle like a dream after all this and no more annoying clunks hopefully.

 

you can always let me know if you run into some trouble. I can take side jobs on the weekends at my new dealership ;-)

-Eric

 

Thanks Eric! I doubt I can get it over there once she's all torn down. Maybe ya can help me press them in. Lol