For the K4 1 castings that is...

 

Wonder if a recall is applicable in Australia or is mazda Australia keeping its customersin the dark

B...free
michael

 

Do not be convinced that you can check out the control arms in the garage.

You cannot perform any of these analyses with a flashlight and a jackstand.

• eddy current
  
  
• ultrasonic
  
  
• X-ray (using film)
  
  
• resonance method, such as Fokker Bond or tap test
  
  
• magnetic particle
  
  
• fluorescent and dye penetrant
  
  
• video inspection
  
  
• thermography

All these NDI's are used in industry to check properties of aluminum forgings in the aircraft industry. You cannot trust your eyes alone.


I will however, look for that illusive forging stamp.

 

I just want to know where the casting mark is....

 

That VIN is an 05 number is it not? Where did you get that VIN?

 

looking at the picture that has the text in a different language, the casting mark should be on the top side of the lower control arm. The owner of MAZCARE here in atlanta is going to check his control arms, and let me know how to find the casting number. When he does, I will put that info in this thread if someone has not beat me to it.

 

unless your doing this every weekend, I wouldn't worry. If you are, I bet you can get a refund based on this issue. Not to minimize this issue, but I think this is freaking people out more than they should be.

 

sure it would be in the US a Model Year 2005. Other countries would call it a 2004.

 

ok then. My "05" could have these parts... hmmm. bummer.

 

I think erring on the side of safety is a good thing here. Not freaking out here, but my first track experience is definitely in jeopardy of happening.

 

whats your build date? ^^ and you understand that they have only found 2 in the states so far and that if someone hadnt posted the notice here you would likely have gone to your event none the wiser and had no problems..

 

Well I better be rounding up my stock front sway bar.
olddragger

 

does charlie have it over in the attic, or are you self storing?

he is storing an old exhaust for me.

 

August 04. Doesnt matter how many cars have been found. Well I actually read it on CNN.com not here. So now I AM the wiser.

In the aircraft industry it called a "safety of flight" isssue. And planes are usually grounded.

If I have the offending parts, I will NOT track my car, period. And I would recommend anyone in the same situation NOT to chance it.

 

hey Trhoads
Charlie has it if he hasnt cleaned house!
\OD

 

You mean Charlie won it in the poker game?

 

More Appropriately...WTF? :D

 

That's a normal drive down here - ever seen our roads..

 

I checked my passenger side lower A arm for the "K4 1" markings but didn't see them. All I found was a big "R" (right side?) and a diamond shaped symbol followed by "-1". So maybe the diamond somehow translates to K4. Or maybe the marking is only on the driver side component.

 

no casting marks on mine and I can almost read braille. The only thing i found was kind of a diamond shaped thing with a 1 to the right hand side of it (like the other old guy). Other than that both were baby smooth. Am I lucky?
Olddragger

 

Zoom.. The Pics I posted earlier were taken at Mazmart. They had a few on the shelf and all looked perfect. All were really low mileage though and from 04 cars. From the diagram that was posted before my post it looked like the cracks may originate from inside the socket where the ball joint seats. It's possible that the material is too thin there and it may not be visible from the outside until it's too late. The 2nd and 3rd generations use a similar style arm and ball joint and those never gave any problems. This problem will be corrected easily. Just a bad batch of castings. Replace the old one with the updated part. Done.

 

This is confusing. My car is a 2005 and was build in 10/05. The vin is lower than 148788 but it has a 5 for the model year. Your information would imply that some 2005 cars are subject to the recall due to the manufacturing date. But the NHTSA site only lists 2004 model years as being recalled.

So is my car safe for a track event next week or not? I certainly won't go if there is a possibility of losing a wheel. But I have already put over 5 hours on the car at the track at Sebring without any problems.

My control arms do not have any casting numbers that I can see except the diamond with -1 plus the left has a H9 (or 6H, can't tell which way is up) and the right has an R and an HH.

I guess I will have to wait for more clarification.

 

i would think the info supplied to/by the nhsta IS the clarification. that is the most accurate.

 

That is pretty much what I was thinking also.

 

Questions:

1. Are VIN's specific to the intended country of sale or are they independent of the intended country of sale?

2. Does the 27,800 vehicle number equate to the number of RX-8's sold in the US in the first model year?

Thanks!