SWAT81

iTrader: (14)

I know i should be replacing my bushings all around fron and back. The back makes a "clunking" sound when I drive slowly or sometimes driving in neutral. The front makes this sound when I go over little bumps. Its a different type of a sound though, like a lose joint rattling together (plastic hitting metal sound).

Now this being said theoratically am I in danger of something happening while driving? or is this something that's annoying but ok to have until i save up money to have it replaced?

2nd question that isn't related to the suspension I believe is a break question. Sometimes, not all the time but sometimes when I break I hear this loud clicking sound. Not constantly but just once each time I stop. Is this normal? I also did a break pad change on December 2003 so I dont think there should be problems... Any ideas?

shawnk

It sounds like you are describing my car!!!

I have all the same noises. I have noticed the clunk has gotten better since I got my new wheels/tires so maybe something to do with offsets? There are alot of "clunk" threads - I did the pilowball replacement and it made no difference except I lost $160 and a saturday afternoon.

The rattling is annoying but I havent gotten annoyed enough to look around to see what it is. I suspect it may be the power steering cooling "S" flopping around.

I have put in a DIY wilwood kit and I think I may have been off 1/16" when I got the bolts (diameter so there is a little play) so I get a click under heavy breaking. I am going to take the whole thing apart before I go to a track event because someone said something about brakes being important at the track and for some reason I believe them.

Shawn

ZeroBanger

the back of your car is your suspension bushing. Its one of the rubber bushings, probably the lower bushin on the lower control arm, just a guess.

SWAT81

iTrader: (14)

that's odd so changing your bushings didn't get rid of the sounds from the rear? I'm hearing alot of different stories about this "clunking" sound from the rear.

About the breaks I changed them (break pads) last December which was 6 months ago, they been working fine besides the weird loud click sound.

zullo

Clunking would likely be fixed by pillow ball replacement in the rear. Mine was cured (and symptoms were exactly as you describe).

If you jack up the car and push, pull and twist the rear wheel you can maybe tell which joint(s) are loose.

Pillow ball replacement does nothing for bad toe link or forward trailing arm bushings, so you might want to rule those out first.

SWAT81

iTrader: (14)

I'm confused, are the pillow ball sa,me as the bushings? I'm seeing both phrases used for the same subject every once and a while. I'm assuming pillow ball and bushings are separate parts to be replaced?

What would you recommand using to replace the trailing arms and toe links? M2? Something affordable ofcourse...

zullo

mazdatrix.com/h93-95c.htm

Pillow ball bushings (6 in all) are part 26-2200-FD01

Also known as heim joints, these are metal on metal
bushings as opposed to the other rubber bushings in
the suspension.

SWAT81

iTrader: (14)

dang so many to replace this looks like a $600+ job