Six hours.

"for Michigan" (formichigan) 07/09/2017 at 20:39 • Filed to: wrenching, Mazda3, Suspension

5

17

That’s how long it took me to replace my front left sway bar end link. Only three more to go…

For those of you in drier, warmer climates, that’s what 150k miles and 10 years of road salt does to the underside of our cars.

greasemonkey235097 > for Michigan 07/09/2017 at 20:58

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Mazda3?

Sweet Trav > for Michigan 07/09/2017 at 21:00

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HOW?

Deal Killer - Powered by Focus > for Michigan 07/09/2017 at 21:05

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I’ll count myself as lucky, it took about a 1/2 hour each to do both front links on my Focus. Which is good, because they’re rattling, again.

RacinBob > greasemonkey235097 07/09/2017 at 21:06

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Did you find a fix for the front end shake? If yes, what was it?

for Michigan > greasemonkey235097 07/09/2017 at 21:10

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Yup.

for Michigan > RacinBob 07/09/2017 at 21:14

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Haven’t fixed it yet. Waiting on new half-axles to arrive tomorrow and I’m just going to go through and do a suspension refresh. Control arms, wheel bearings, tie rods, and sway bar end links.

for Michigan > Sweet Trav 07/09/2017 at 21:15

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Rust.

for Michigan > Deal Killer - Powered by Focus 07/09/2017 at 21:16

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That’s what I was hoping for, but rust had other plans.

Urambo Tauro > for Michigan 07/09/2017 at 21:17

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That might just be the longest sway bar link I’ve seen.

for Michigan > Urambo Tauro 07/09/2017 at 21:17

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It’s crazy long. The rears are much more reasonable.

for Michigan > Sweet Trav 07/09/2017 at 21:19

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I ended up having to grind the nuts off of the studs in order to remove the old link.

Sweet Trav > for Michigan 07/09/2017 at 21:52

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in Michigan you should learn to expect rust.

Nick Has an Exocet > Urambo Tauro 07/09/2017 at 21:59

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That’s exactly what I was thinking.

for Michigan > Sweet Trav 07/09/2017 at 22:33

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Didn’t expect it to be this bad on a 10-year-old car, but I probably should’ve known better. Pretty sure my 18-year-old Honda was less rusty though.

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > for Michigan 07/09/2017 at 23:37

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I normally try to see it the nuts will break loose, but if it gives me any hassle I reach right for the metabo or dremel if it’s tight. A couple minutes of sparks and it’s all done. I feel your pain.

Needmoargarage > for Michigan 07/10/2017 at 09:37

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Ugh. I never owned a Sawsall nor acetylene torch before moving out here to MI. Now it seems I use them for almost every job.

for Michigan > Needmoargarage 07/10/2017 at 19:44

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I need to get myself a torch.

Or move to California.

The first option seems a little more within my means.