Finished replacing my end links

"for Michigan" (formichigan) 07/11/2017 at 17:49 • Filed to: Wrenching, Mazda3, Suspension

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Front right only took an hour. It put up more of a fight than the front left, so I just went straight for the Dremel. Ground off the old nuts, popped out the old shaft, popped in the new shaft, and torqued down the new nuts.

The rears put up no fight at all and I had both done in less time than it took to do the front right.

No more clunking from the rear! The front links didn’t help my shaking, but I didn’t expect them to. However, I think I may have finally tracked down the cause of my front end problems.

This is the rear bushing on the front right lower control arm. It appears that it has split down the middle and is no longer locating it’s end of the control arm properly. Thankfully I already have a shiny new control arm ready and waiting to go in the car.

Takuro Spirit > for Michigan 07/11/2017 at 17:59

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Good find! Hope that cures it. NVH problems are the WORST, especially when you tackle all the common causes first.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > for Michigan 07/11/2017 at 18:38

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I’ve got to do shocks on my 2006 Mazda3 and am dreading getting that front shock out of that cast piece. There is a youtube video of a guy beating on it with a 20lb sledge. I think my end links are fine but both front shocks are blown.

for Michigan > Takuro Spirit 07/11/2017 at 20:16

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Yeah, ever since I had that shop do my brakes, they’ve been squeaking and grinding and it’s driving me nuts. That’s the next project after I get the shake worked out.

for Michigan > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 07/11/2017 at 20:17

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Yeah, I want to put some Bilstein monotubes in, but I don’t want to deal with that knuckle at all.