FD Rear Balljoint Replacement
FD Rear Balljoint Replacement
Has anyone tried Max Cooper's hand-tool method for replacing the rear six ball joints? If so, how did it work out for you guys?
Are there any local suspension shops (Renton, Kent, Seattle, ???) that anyone would recommend to have bushings pressed out/in?
Are there any local suspension shops (Renton, Kent, Seattle, ???) that anyone would recommend to have bushings pressed out/in?
Worse comes to worst, I know of a good suspension shop in Bellevue (TruLine), but their labor charge can be a little on the high side, so I'd like to save them as an ace up my sleeve.
I'd prefer to do as much of the labor myself in the convenience of my own garage before I sub out this kind of work.
Out of all of the experienced RX7 pilots in this forum, someone must have done this job already = )
I'd prefer to do as much of the labor myself in the convenience of my own garage before I sub out this kind of work.
Out of all of the experienced RX7 pilots in this forum, someone must have done this job already = )
Last edited by Nateness; Nov 18, 2008 at 02:53 PM.
I had mine done by a shop in LA before I moved up here, but I know Max from my time in LA and his writeup should be dead on and accurate. He was / is a stickler to detail and honest in his writeups.
His write-up definitely makes him appear credible, but I would just like to talk to someone to see if there were any "hiccups" in the process, or any additional pointers to prepare to do the job. Max's write-up is missing a lot of pictures due to his camera battery dying in the middle of the job, so I was hoping to get some more info. Things always seem clearer to me when I get more visuals... no pun intended =).
Not sure if you can afford it, but it's quickest / easiest if you buy another set of mechanicals and do the bushing swap on them, and then you just have to do the mechanical replacement on your car. Often times you can pickup cheap rear suspension parts on the forum. Also as well as the pillowballs you should think about replacing / upgrading the toe links and also replacing the differential bushings, while you are at it, that should do most of your rear suspension (except for the trailing arms, IIRC).
themcneal, that is EXACTLY what I am planning! I also thought it might be a good time to throw on a diff brace at the same time (hell, you could even make an excuse to put a cat-back on if that happens lol)...
The scarcity of polybushing kits is making me wonder if its more practical to just do the ball joints now and get a proper alignment before the spring track season. Save the other suspension changes for next winter perhaps. I'm hoping to get out to an Alfa driver training day in early March...
The scarcity of polybushing kits is making me wonder if its more practical to just do the ball joints now and get a proper alignment before the spring track season. Save the other suspension changes for next winter perhaps. I'm hoping to get out to an Alfa driver training day in early March...
Last edited by Nateness; Nov 19, 2008 at 12:40 AM.
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Might as well change the fuel filter while you are under there around the diff since it's such a PITA to get to.
See if someone is parting out a bushing kit, you may be able to get only what you need.
An Alfa track day sounds fun, what track(s) do they go to? Pacific?
See if someone is parting out a bushing kit, you may be able to get only what you need.
An Alfa track day sounds fun, what track(s) do they go to? Pacific?
Sounds like I will have to budget out a lot of time for this maintenance excursion haha...
I think the Alfa day is going to be at Pacific... this will be my first time w/ the RX-7 at any track, though I have some experience with my old MR2 GT-S at Bremerton.
I think the Alfa day is going to be at Pacific... this will be my first time w/ the RX-7 at any track, though I have some experience with my old MR2 GT-S at Bremerton.
