mshihrer

Hi all,

anyone done this yet? I have the strut assembly out, and am going to undo the cartridge bolt at the top, except the whole cartridge piston turns, and you are not supposed to use any tools to hold the piston. Is there a special tool or trick to getting this nut off? Also, I found a source for replacement balljoints, I ordered two, they were only 26 bucks a piece. I know the service manual says they can't be replaced, but, there must be a way, why else would they make replacements? Anyone tried yet?

http://www2.autopartsauthority.com/parts/a...part=Ball+Joint

I have them, and they look just like whats in there. My guess is they are just pressed in.

BTW, putting in Tokico shocks, all the way around



Mike

j9fd3s

you need air tools to pop off the top nut, and you also want spring compressors on there, cause the spring is under tension

mshihrer

[quote name='j9fd3s' date='Apr 10 2005, 03:28 PM']you need air tools to pop off the top nut, and you also want spring compressors on there, cause the spring is under tension


[/quote]

yes, I have the spring compressor, I guess I'll have to borrow a friends air wrench. No big rush now, I just dropped the control arm out, the ball joint is toast, so are the bushings, so, hopefully I can get the ball joints pressed out. If not, I'll be buying new control arms. Thanks for your reply.



Mike

oh, btw, I'm taking pics of all this, kinda for a before and after thing.

mshihrer

ok, looks like it will probably be easier to just replace the whole control arm assemblys, assuming they come with bushings and ball joints. So, looks like I blew 60 bucks on ball joints, oh well, live and learn. Also, while I was under there, I noticed my sway arm bushings were toast also, and while I was in the local Auto Zone, I noticed they had a display for Urethane sway bar bushings, only like 15 bucks for the pair, it'll take two pairs, the ones that go on the control arm, and the ones that hold the bar to the frame. I'm gonna take my old pieces down there, and if they match, cool. I'll let ya all know.

So, anyone know a good place to get the control arms without spending an arm and a leg? MazdaTrix has them, but, they are overpriced on just about everything..

mshihrer

ok, I found this searching the internet..

http://www.rx7club.com/printthread.php?t=109417

apparently, the ball joints are just pressed in, and the only worry would be fatigue due to the sheetmetal design. So. a tack weld is all it taks to hold them in place, which is no problem for me...looks like I'm back to plan A