I don't have a pic but its for the rear suspension, on the drivers side running long ways and it attaches to the body. I believe its the rear trailing arm bushing but I'm not totally sure. Does anyone know what I'm talkin about? Its making a thunk sound every time I hit the brakes and the arm has some play in it.
Do I have to get factory or is the an aftermarket bushing? Is there any advantage with aftermaket? I can try and get a pic if needed.
Thanks for any help.

 

The trailing link (arm) is just a piece of metal between the I-arm and the sub-frame. The only bushing is where it attaches to the sub-frame.

The toe link has bushings on either end with a threaded adjustment portion in the middle. It goes between the wheel hub and the sub-frame.

There are aftermarket parts available for these but they wear out more quickly than the stock ones (except maybe for Rotary Extreme's new parts).

 

Ok it must be the trailing link then. Any idea if this bushing replacable or do I need to replace the whole arm?

 

You have to replace the whole arm. With aftermarket trailing arms, you can replace just the bushing.

 

The trailing link has a bushing at the body and a pillow ball (spherical bearing) at the lower lateral link.

The Unobtanium kit comes with a reaplcement for the bushing at the body, but that would be an expensive option for replacement since it includes 18 bushings and you only need two. I expect the Unobtanium bushings to wear out after a while, too.

A less expensive option would be to get aftermarket trailing links, which use a rod end at the body side. These wear out faster than the stock bushings, too, but they are cheap to replace ($20 per rod end or less). DamonB posted a thread about protecting the rod ends on the toe links (which are the same as the ones used for the trailing links) in the Third Gen section that included some options that might extend the service life of the rod ends.

The only replacement for the pillow ***** are the stock Mazda parts. They are already spherical bearings, so I don't expect anyone to offer aftermarket replacements.

-Max

 

Thanks for clarifying that (and correcting me), Max.