Front Control Arm Bushings DIY?
 

Looking for a DIY to install these bushings..I'm thinking it's not too hard, but time consuming for sure. Tried a site:rx8club search for it..not really finding anything. Called the local shop nearby and they quoted me $675 with alignement and installation. I already have the bushings. Seems really expensive to me but I'm not sure what it "should" cost.

I ordered the upper and lower control arm bushings for the front suspension since I'm hearing a soft repetitive "thud" or "clunk" when I use the brake at lower speeds before stop and it's definitely coming from the front end. I can feel it in the steering wheel and brake pedal when it happens and it's not all the time only occasionally, but it is slowly getting worse.

Going to jack up the car in the next 30 and just look around the area, but I don't want to start working on it without proper instructions as I've never done this before.

Thanks in advance

I'm making a 99.99% bet that there is nothing wrong with the existing front control arm bushings.

This happened with a German Rex after a period of "noises" at the front in curves etc, etc.

http://img5.fotos-hochladen.net/uplo...l8unxbwp4m.jpg
http://img5.fotos-hochladen.net/uplo...v207huzfj4.jpg

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the bushing looks fine, lol

LOL....That wasn't the bushing :)

I also doubt the bushing is bad. I would check the endlinks..they are known to fail often.

The only time you will have a bushing problem with that joint is if the bolt rusts and you have to cut the whole thing apart to free it :)

And those German TSB is for the control arm problem on some early models with the ball joint end...not there :)

If you determine the bushing are bad, I suggest taking the control arms and the new bushings to a shop after removal and have them press them in and out. The labor will be much cheaper. It very easy to ruin the control arm or new bushing without the right tools.

Thanks for the replies. Those were scary photos. My control arms look solid, I felt around the whole area for any kind of cracks or anything strange. After checking it out it's looking like the ball joint on the passenger side. I'm no mechanic by any means, but after comparing it to the driver side I can see a difference. The fit doesn't look as 'neat' or 'snug'. I took a photo, but have to run to work. I'll update this w/pics tmrw

Look up methods for properly checking ball joints. Its more than just a look.

I experienced similar noises in my front suspension last year. The issue my car had was that the lower control arm cam bolts were seized to the metal sleeves inside the bushings (due to salt and winter driving). I had the dealer do the work as I was concerned about being able to press out the bushings myself. The dealer had to hack saw the bolts to remove the lower control arm, then they tried to press the bushings out. Mind you that this is a MAZDA dealer, with a specific bushing press machine designed for this application, and they were unable to remove the bushings. They had to take it to a local machine shop that had a higher tonnage press in order to remove and reinstall new bushings.

There is a little more information at the below thread if you are interested:
https://www.rx8club.com/trouble-shoo...-autox-219251/

a long time ago there was a recall about some front suspension arms that could crack. I forget the details, but perhaps people with 04 models need to take a second look?

Yea, I had horrible thoughts after seeing those pics.. heh. Going to jack the car up again and try to get better pics then what I took yesterday and to just take a longer look at the control arms again. Called the dealership just a few mins ago and scheduled an appointment for Friday. Will know for sure (hopefully) what the problem is.

possible causes

loose bolt(s)/nut(s)
broken part(s)
brake pad(s) shifting (normal)
control arm ball joint(s)
control arm bushing(s)
shock(s) and/or mount(s)
sway bar bushing(s) and/or endlink(s)
wheel bearing(s)
lugnut torque

Thanks Team Rx8.

I felt around the whole area of both driver and passenger side upper and lower control arms. No structural damage on them that I can feel/see. I'm pretty sure it's my ball joints that need to be replaced. (Links to photos below). Best I could do with only 2 jack stands on a gravel driveway before work. Before this problem, I pulled the trigger with my tax refund and got new d2 coilvers, control arm bushings (upper/lower), AP sway bars (front/rear) with new mounts, and was about to order more stuff until this !@#$ happened.

To be clear, I don't hear the clunking all the time, it's only occasionally when I'm coming to a stop. It is becoming more frequent..or at least I feel like it is. Could just be annoying the hell out of me. It's very soft, and would be unnoticeable with the radio on if I couldn't feel it on the brake pedal. Never happens while turning, hitting gas, not feeling it when braking at over 40mph.

Needless to say I'm not driving it very much. And when I do it's within a 6 mile radius.

Here are the pics:

http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/u...cious/pic1.jpg
http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/u...cious/pic2.jpg
http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/u...cious/pic3.jpg
http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/u...cious/pic4.jpg
http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/u...cious/pic5.jpg
http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/u...cious/pic6.jpg
http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/u...cious/pic8.jpg

Edit: Fixed the links

that shiny bit needs investigation.

good catch, I didn't even look at the pic

Back from the shop and turns out it was just dirty calipers. Cleaned everything out and put the tires back on. Everything is fine and the noise is gone. Made em check the ball joints and control arms and they tell me it's all good. Will prolly need new brake pads next time I get the car serviced. Was a relief because I was honestly expecting worse news.