Mazda Rotary Club

General => General Technical => Wheels & Tyres, Suspension & Brakes => Topic started by: Don Pamponi on March 21, 2004, 05:12:26 PM

Title: Disturbing supension noises
Post by: Don Pamponi on March 21, 2004, 05:12:26 PM
My 1st gen is making a weird banging noise (near side front shock/spring area) every time i go over a bump.  Thought it was id left the bonnet open or something at first.

Anyone know what this might be?  Has anyone else experienced similar noises?
Title: Disturbing supension noises
Post by: Gman on March 21, 2004, 05:19:26 PM
It was like it when i had it.  I thought it was a knackered suspension arm.
Title: Disturbing supension noises
Post by: MikeLMR on March 21, 2004, 05:21:40 PM
check the idler arm bushes for the steering.  Its on the opposite side to the steering box and basically a mirror image of it without the steering gear... could be why your steering is bad too.

Mike
Title: Disturbing supension noises
Post by: Don Pamponi on March 21, 2004, 05:32:22 PM
Ive really got to get hold of a manual, do haynes do one?
Title: Disturbing supension noises
Post by: Gman on March 21, 2004, 05:34:42 PM
Yes its the light blue coloured rx7 one (like u need to know what colour it is!) just had a look for my old one but i think it was thrown away.
Title: Disturbing supension noises
Post by: MikeLMR on March 21, 2004, 05:37:03 PM
yes Haynes do one ... they are for the US version but its still pretty good (been using mine today, although I do tend to stray from the book as they tend to tell you how to do somthing the hard way !)

Theres usually a few on Ebay, I have two ... a mucky one for using while working on the car and a clean one for reference (got a free one with a parts car)

Mike
Title: Disturbing supension noises
Post by: MikeLMR on March 21, 2004, 05:39:27 PM
also have you seen this site ? //www.iluvmyrx7.com

its has some manuals ( I think they are Mitchels ones) for the 1st gen online !
Title: Disturbing supension noises
Post by: Don Pamponi on March 21, 2004, 05:45:50 PM
Cheers Ill check it out.

These idler arm bushes - what do they do?  Are they easy to change, or is it a trip to the mechanic?

(I dont have a garage or a pit)
Title: Disturbing supension noises
Post by: MikeLMR on March 21, 2004, 05:56:32 PM
the idler arm is part of the steering and is supporting the bar that goes underneath your engine from the steering box to the passenger side of the car. The idler arm is on the passenger side and the bushes are the part that act like a bearing allowing it to move.

They are only made of plastic and so they wear out which cause the passenger side wheel to move and make a knocking noise when going over bumps. (it also makes the steering more vauge)

If you turn the steering wheel to full right lock and have a look at the rear of the passenger wheel (will need to lie on the floor) follow the steering arm back towards the car and the idler arm is attached to it (just behind a plastic flap on the chassis rail)

Mike
Title: Disturbing supension noises
Post by: Don Pamponi on March 22, 2004, 06:14:08 PM
Right, I know what you\'re talking about now. Found diagrams from the manual on the ilovemyrx7 site.  (ooo, just got a sub7 virus alert message- something nasty stalking this round site)

After reading the fault finding bit it seems likely that i need new bushes all round and a steering overhall.

Oh well at least it starts & goes well since the new starter + battery. (£160 and a morning swearing in the rain)

Thanks for the advice Mike.

Oh, do you think Superflex bushes are any good?  They do all the RX& ones.  Bit pricey tho.
Title: Disturbing supension noises
Post by: MikeLMR on March 22, 2004, 06:18:45 PM
superflex is VERY expensive ... I got a set of front end bushes from PST in the states ... not fitted them all yet as the bushes are OK on mine at the moment, but they are well rated in the US and are a LOT cheaper than superflex ones (+ they are polygraphite ones which aren\'t meant to squeak)

Mike
Title: sqeaky rubber
Post by: Don Pamponi on March 24, 2004, 09:09:55 PM
Aha, so where can one aquire these magic beans, I mean bushes my good man?
Title: Disturbing supension noises
Post by: Don Pamponi on March 24, 2004, 09:12:25 PM
By the way, are you running on Minilites?  They look good.  Easy to clean - mine are a bugger.
Title: Disturbing supension noises
Post by: MikeLMR on March 24, 2004, 10:39:13 PM
from PST in the USA http://www.p-s-t.com/

no I\'m not running minilites ... they are compomotive ML\'s ... I\'ve never got the mucky enough to have to clean them yet :)
Title: Disturbing supension noises
Post by: Don Pamponi on March 25, 2004, 10:03:21 PM
Cheers Mike, im contacting them tonight.

Their front end kit sound groovey.
Title: Disturbing supension noises
Post by: Don Pamponi on March 26, 2004, 06:39:34 PM
Compomotive ML.  Whats the ML stand for i wonder?
Title: Disturbing supension noises
Post by: MikeLMR on March 26, 2004, 07:20:44 PM
no idea LOL ... I bet compomotive won\'t tell you either :D
Title: Disturbing supension noises
Post by: james01uk on March 30, 2004, 10:18:47 PM
How much was delivery from PST

Did you order the front end kit?

also do you know how londg delivery takes?

thanks
Title: dunno and lots
Post by: Don Pamponi on March 30, 2004, 11:13:24 PM
Didnt order a kit in the end, turns out i only need antirollbar bushes, the rest were ok.

I did email howerver before i found this out.

the kit was $159 and shipping would be $150

Dunno if its any cheaper than buying superlex and you will wait longer.

MikeLMR ordered stuff from them, perhaps he can tell you more.
Title: Disturbing supension noises
Post by: MikeLMR on March 31, 2004, 12:16:43 PM
at the current exchange rates thats a good deal as I think the supeflex ones were more than that.


that kit comes out at around £200 with tax and stuff ... although I don\'t think I paid that much in the end ... it didn\'t take ages to arrive either ... a couple of weeks if I recall correctly.