3rd Generation Specific (1993-2002) 1993-2002 Discussion including performance modifications and Technical Support Sections.
Sponsored by:

Toe link bushings bad again

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 19, 2018 | 09:55 PM
  #1  
Mrmatt3465's Avatar
Thread Starter
Lousy Crew Chief
Tenured Member: 15 Years
Top Answer: 1
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,105
Likes: 115
From: Sacramento, Ca
Toe link bushings bad again

Hello,

So I replaced my inner toe link bushings with Mazdacomp and my outer toe link bushings with OEM roughly 8k miles, 6-7 track days, and 2 years ago. When I had the rear jacked up the other day, I checked my suspension and noticed I could once again steer the rear wheels from 3 and 9 o’clock. I isolated the worn bushings down to the outer only. When I pry between the hub and the toe link I can see the smallest amount of movement and can replicate the “clunk”. Just wondering if anyone else has had similar luck with stock outer toe link bushings? They’re not terrible to replace and they’re about $80 through my Mazda account I’m just more annoyed at this short lifespan.

Matt
Reply
Old Apr 20, 2018 | 01:02 AM
  #2  
BLUE TII's Avatar
Rotary Motoring
Tenured Member: 25 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 8,479
Likes: 932
From: CA
How much toe in are you running?
What power level?
What tires?
Which rear upper arm bushings?

Just curious, I don't have any answers for you except you can try to run closer to 0 toe if you aren't already and put something more solid than the stock sliding toe bushings in the rear upper a-arm of you haven't already.
Reply
Old Apr 20, 2018 | 07:16 AM
  #3  
Mrmatt3465's Avatar
Thread Starter
Lousy Crew Chief
Tenured Member: 15 Years
Top Answer: 1
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,105
Likes: 115
From: Sacramento, Ca
In the rear I’m running 0 toe in/out. Power level is a tad over 300whp and I’m on stock wheels with Bridgestone RE-11’s in 245’s. Rear upper A arms are stock bushings as well. I’ve read a lot of yes and no’s for poly bushings in the toe links. Im back and forth on replacing them again with stock or putting a poly bushing in just the outer location.

Matt
Reply
Old Apr 20, 2018 | 10:01 AM
  #4  
mdp's Avatar
mdp
Always Bad Advice
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 327
Likes: 87
From: San Diego
Were both the left and right sides bad? If only one side was bad, on the failed side was the new dust boot that you used all snug and sealing all the way around?
Reply
Old Apr 20, 2018 | 10:50 AM
  #5  
BLUE TII's Avatar
Rotary Motoring
Tenured Member: 25 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 8,479
Likes: 932
From: CA
Mrmatt3465
In the rear I’m running 0 toe in/out. Power level is a tad over 300whp and I’m on stock wheels with Bridgestone RE-11’s in 245’s. Rear upper A arms are stock bushings as well.


Crazy.
I’ve read a lot of yes and no’s for poly bushings in the toe links. Im back and forth on replacing them again with stock or putting a poly bushing in just the outer location.
Definitely don't do poly bushings in the toe links as it will bind up the rear suspension movement.

I asked about the rear upper a-arm because stock ones have "sliding bushings" that move fore and aft to do dynamic toe/caster changes. Them moving around will give you a bunch of toe braking and accelerating on track and put more stress on the toe link spherical *****.

For a track FD you should eliminate the front upper a-arm, front lower a-arm and rear upper a-arm sliding bushings so that your suspension holds its correct geometry.
The dynamic toe "sliding bushings" were put in to make the FD "safer" in an age before electronic dynamic stability control.
Once you eliminate the dynamic toe you get rid of that weird squirmy feeling FDs have when you go to wide/grippy tires.
Reply
Old Apr 20, 2018 | 12:28 PM
  #6  
Mrmatt3465's Avatar
Thread Starter
Lousy Crew Chief
Tenured Member: 15 Years
Top Answer: 1
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,105
Likes: 115
From: Sacramento, Ca
Originally Posted by mdp
Were both the left and right sides bad? If only one side was bad, on the failed side was the new dust boot that you used all snug and sealing all the way around?
New toe link bushings come with boots preinstalled. Boots are still serviceable and tight, and both sides are bad.

@BlueTII

Ill look into getting new rear upper A arm bushings. My fronts were already changed out since they were noisy and rocked back and forth. I still have a lot of bushings that are OEM, but I’m slowly changing things out for mazdacomp

matt
Reply
Old Apr 23, 2018 | 11:43 AM
  #7  
Smokey The Talon's Avatar
Long time on-looker
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
iTrader: (33)
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 886
Likes: 50
From: Columbus, OH
FWIW my endlinks on my aftermarket toe arms seem to wear out about every 2-3 seasons and develop play. It just might be a wear point on cars that get tracked often.
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Truslide
2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992)
16
Jul 26, 2013 01:47 AM
jmw23712
3rd Generation Specific (1993-2002)
3
Oct 15, 2008 07:09 PM
wstrohm
3rd Generation Specific (1993-2002)
9
May 27, 2002 05:30 PM
OneBadRx7
3rd Generation Specific (1993-2002)
20
Mar 27, 2002 02:58 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:12 PM.