I circled the bushing in red, is it the control arm bushing? Also, does the joint in the orange circle look messed up?

thanks

 

I call him Jerry.

i kid, i kid
Lower spindle bushing?

 

It's not a bushing. It's the lower front control arm ball joint.

The orange one is the front tierod end. It doesn't look messed up, possibly over-greased. Just take some solvent on a rag (protect your hands with chemical resistant gloves) and clean it up. Alternatively you could probably spray it down good with aerosol brake cleaner if you remove the wheel first. Put something under it to catch the drippings and protect your eyes with safety glasses.


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so, not Jerry?

 

That's Tom

 

You're both wrong

That's Kenichi-san ....



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do any of you know where I can buy the lower control arm ball joint?

 

local dealer or try mazdaparts or mazmart.. both vendors on this forum.

 

the ball joint is integral to the control arm, you have to replace the entire control arm

 

i just came across this thread and sorry for the thread bump but i have some info:

the 2004 lower control arm ball joint was recalled in 2005 due to a defect in the forging of the control arm. The ball joint is in fact part of the control arm and you cant just replace one or the other. Basically, take it to the dealership and you get a new one, and send mazda the bill for making a shitty lower control arm.

 

wow, you saved teh world with this thread bump, we never had a clue ...

 

Thanks to that bump. Oh... i have an 05, sorry.