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Are the rear toe links supposed to wiggle? [Video]

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Old Jun 11, 2014 | 09:27 PM
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ahmadhasib's Avatar
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Are the rear toe links supposed to wiggle? [Video]

Whine going over speed bumps or bumps at slow speeds, I'd hear an occasional Kline KLANK. I out the car up on jacks and found the rear wheels don't have play when I shift the wheel left and right, but is making a very light clicking sound. Upon further investigation, I found these tow links that that I believe to be the culprit of the noise. Are they supposed to wiggle like this? What is the process to fix this issue?

Also, would this be the reasons why the car pulls to The left under hard acceleration and to the right while coasting (off the gas)?

RX-7 Rear Toe Link Loose - YouTube
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Old Jun 11, 2014 | 11:41 PM
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Could always be a worn bushing. When was the last time they were replaced?
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Old Jun 12, 2014 | 07:53 AM
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That movement is normal, the toe link is a spherical bushing so it can move around.

If you get pulling under acceleration/deceleration many times it's low air pressure in the tires. Make sure they're 32psi all around. If one or many is substantially lower that will cause some major weirdness.

Dale
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Old Jun 12, 2014 | 08:11 AM
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Actually I think they're in rubber, not a spherical. But I'm with DC, being in rubber they will deflect like that. They're only designed for tension/compression.
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Old Jun 12, 2014 | 10:31 AM
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Yep as dale said it's a ball joint/spherical type bushing so you can twist them but there should be no play in and out or if you can feel play when pushing the wheel assembly in or out you have a bad toe link and this is really common, even on 50k mile or low mile FDs.
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Old Jun 12, 2014 | 12:06 PM
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Yes, the toe links are spherical bearings mounted in rubber from the factory as the others have said.

In my own personal experience with as little as 1mm play at the wheel in the toe links the car feels like it is trying to kill you.

I bought new $$ Mazda links as the racing class I was in did not allow aftermarket. A bonus was that Mazda updated the toe link design and improved it (the adjuster in middle).

Poly bushings are sold to replace these factory spherical bearings- they will cause binding/creaking in the rear suspension and make your car handle poorly over rough surfaces- but they sure are cheap.

If you go aftermarket, buy something with quality sealed heim joints. A friend put Megan toe links on his S2000 and they wore out in about a year.
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