I just picked up a new (old) RX-8 in Memphis. It has some minor problems, but I got a hell of a deal on it. At the moment, one problem towers above the rest: it has a dying front universal joint. I figured that would be no big deal and used it to get a lower price on the car, however I've found that it's nearly impossible to actually find one. I called a local Mazda dealership and they told me that I had to buy an entire driveshaft, coming in at a whopping $600 dollars just for the parts. I can easily do the repairs myself as a universal is a fairly simple and easily accessible part. I was hoping that someone can connect me with a vendor, online or over the phone that can supply me with a universal. It is a 2005, automatic 4-speed, and as I stated previously it's the front joint that's on the fritz.

Thanks for reading.

 

http://www.wholesaleimportparts.com/...shaft_2005.php

$260.75

If you got such a smokin deal on it you should expect to put some money up for parts.

edit: just noticed thats for manual transmission but maybe you can search and find one for automatic.

 

Thanks for your reply, but as you said in your edit, that's a manual, and that site doesn't carry what I need for an automatic. I've put hours into scouring every place I could find on the internet with no luck finding anything for an automatic. You're right about me getting a deal and how I should expect to spend more in parts, the problem is that the money I spent (6k) was my entire budget and then some. An RX-8 has been my dream car for years, and I was planning on a cheaper car, but this one popped up in Memphis and I was on it as fast as I could drive there. So, essentially, the money I spend here is coming out of my food budget, and not spending another $600 would be nice.

It was stupid of me to put myself in this position, but for any other modern car a dead universal is $100 and a couple hours work and I expected such.

 

Have you tried http://onlinemazdaparts.com/ ?

 

^^^ what he said...
Add Mazmart and Mazdatrix to the list, too.

 

true that--call Paul at Mazmart and he may have a complete used driveshaft for an auto that you can get very reasonably--tell him olddragger sent you and get $1 off the price!
By the way --welcome to the club--lots of good info buried in here.

 

Or add a $1......

How you been OD??

 

mention NYCGPS to Mazmart and u get $2 bux off the already low price.

I BEAT U OD !

 

dang- i am loosing my touch..............

 

Thanks for the replies and useful information. I managed to pick up a complete driveshaft with the universal on ebay for $80 shipped. It was used but even so it's an absolute steal, and it should be here early next week. I'm very excited about my RX-8 and may well become active with the community here, as it seems very solid. I spent the entire day working on it and got a lot done, the only things I was unsuccessful in were cleaning the taillights and fixing a rough idle.

The taillights are in good condition, but a seal was broken in the trunk and it was driven on gravel roads causing them to get a little bit dusty inside. I am a perfectionist and this will not do. I disconnected them and removed all of the lights and sloshed water around inside of them, but they're still dirty. Any suggestions?

I have read that cleaning the throttle body can fix a rough idle, but I haven't got around to it yet. Does this actually work? I also read that the motor mounts have been known to collapse and checked them accordingly but they're fine.

 

Clean the TB, ESS, MAF. We will go from there.

 

I think you'll be going alone on this trip ...

 

HAHA, ok i'll give it to you. Ya got me on this one, didn't realize it was posted that long ago.