With my pending re-do of the "cheapo suspension" we checked everything out today and came up with the following:

1. Both upper ball joints had wet dust covers and need replacement. Lowers were fine.

2. Upper and lower spring seats were shot on the front, to the point where there was metal to metal contact on the drivers side.

3. Stay bar end link bushings were shot on the bottom. On the top they pivoted on almost a perfect axis, is this normal? I plan on replacing them all but we could not really tell if this was intended on the top, the bottoms were all chewed up. Stay bar mounts were in perfect condition on both sides.

4. Rear Tow Link bushings shot all the way around and a source of noise.

5. Trailing Arm bushings seem intact but will be replaced anyways.

6. All the shock boots were torn and useless.

7. Rear Stay bar centering pieces were broken but the bushings seemed to be in good shape, will replace anyways.

8. Exhaust heat shield was the source of my REALLY annoying squeak, to be riveted and fixed.

We inspected the pillow ball bushings and we think they are OK, no physical movement but we did not disassembled to inspect them.

The front upper control arm bushings looked like they had a gap on the front and back side, but it was symetrical and on all 4, so it looked like it should be there, anyone know if this is the case?

Unfortunetly I do not know the history of the car, so its possible the pillows were replaced already, how do you check besides just normal play?

I have a pretty bad clunk coming front the pass rear but I think that is the upper shock mount, which I planned on replacing.

Pretty much exactly what we expected, except for the upper ball joints.

Going to order all the parts, plus picking up a set of touring shocks with 50K on them tommorow afternoon and Eibach springs.

Hopefully get it all put together next weekend. If someone could answer the question on the upper control arm gap on the clevis side I would appreciate it.

 

Anyone?

I have to order some parts today and would like to find out how to see if the pillow's need to be replaced.

Also a replacement shock boot besides OEM.

Thanks

 

THe shock boot is part of the upper shock mount.

 

Thanks.

I ordered upper mount and got them the other day with the boots.. Was planning on doing it all today but my stay bar solid links didn't show up yet.

Hopefully next weekend.

 

How much were they, if you don't mind me asking?

 

Which ones?

Stay bar links were 90 I think? From Mazdatrix.

The upper mounts were about 50 a piece from Malloy Mazda.

Thats probably one of the only economical parts on the car, 50 for the upper mounts, studs and boots is not a bad price at all if you look and see what others charge for just boots by themselves.