I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: Offside and Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm
Hi everyone,
My MX-5 has just gone through it’s MOT and came back with the following advisories:
Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))
Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))
I’ve just rang Mazda to get a quote on the parts/fitting and was told that by that description they couldn’t not identify what the part was. I was told to go back to the garage where MOT was done for them to check and letting me know, but unfortuntaly I will have very little availability to do this over the next week or so. I was then hoping that someone had has same advisory in the past and knows what part it is. The person I spoke on the phone sent me a photo to help identify the part number, which I’ve attached to this post.
The arm might corrode or bend but wouldn’t ‘appear worn’ so I would guess that they mean the bushes could do with replacing at some point in the near future.
Yes, I’ve been looking at replacing the rear hubs bushes as a preventative repair so that will be done eventually, however just not sure if the bush that they’ve deemed as worn on the MOT would be the one on the hub or the one on the suspension arm. Hope this makes sense.
Interesting read I do have a clunking sound though, however it happens very sporadically, and when Mazda serviced it a few months ago couldn’t replicate it (as expected!) and couldn’t see anything wrong. So there’s definitely something to worry about unfortunately! Had ordered drop links just before MOT because local garage suggested “just start with the cheap stuff”, but following MOT results it seems it might something a little more complex.
I don’t think you’re in the realms of ‘preventative repair’ any longer, given your MoT report. So I’d look to order the kit Dean points to above.
It’s not 100% guaranteed that it’s Part Z above, as the upper arm has a bushing at each end, but it’s highly likely. That’s the part that wears more, as it takes more load from wheel movement and has more articulation.
You can check them by following the approach here:
Physical check with a pry bar:
Jack rear safely
Then use a pry bar at each end:
Knuckle joint (Part Z)
Test for movement at the subframe joint end as well
You’re loooking for cracked rubber and/or excess movement relative to metal sleeve.
It is nearly certain that you need the ‘performance bushes’. Go back to the MOT station and ask them to point at the ‘joint’ that they are talking about and take it from there. This is a known issue and well documented on here.
These bushes are relatively cheap and simple to fit. Go to the website and watch the video so you know which joints you are looking at before you go back to the MOT station.
Thanks for your reply. I intend to do so, it’s just going to be difficult over the next few days so just trying to buy some time on here and check if people had similar diagnosis and what part it related to. Thanks again!
THe wording of that MOT advisory has been seen on many an ND, when they required the infamous spherical bushes mentioned by almost every poster.
If you could do with a laugh, ask a Mazda dealership how much they charge for both sides, all in, inc labour. If you’ve got 1/2 an hour for a bit of fun, give it a go.
Have you had any symptoms, as I don’t think you mentioned any in your opening post? Or did it (the advisories) all come out of the blue, when the car seemed to be just fine?
I’m well aware of how much Mazda charge for both sides! The performance bushes have been on my browser’s favourites basically since I purchased the car as I knew they would have to be done eventually.
Yes, maybe I should have opened with that. As I mentioned on another reply, I do have a clunking sound from the rear, even though sporadic and hard to replicate. When Mazda serviced it a few months ago they told me they couldn’t hear it and visual inspection didn’t raise any concerns.
I’ve not long replaced the 4 spherical bushings on my ND1 after 26k miles, it is 10 years old though. Using a pry bar I couldn’t get any clunking or noticed any extreme movement in any of the bushes. On the road the clunking/thudding noise only occurred on uneven surfaces not as you would think on deeper holes, uneven manholes etc in the road. I took the plunge and ordered and fitted the Performance Bush kit with the tool. Can say it’s now like driving a different car, so smooth no more clunks/thuds, money well spent at under £300 delivered. Once you’ve removed one bush and fitted new the rest are a breeze to do, I’m 72 years old this year with dodgy knees and everything else.
Thanks for your reply. I’m definitely sold on the idea of replacing the spherical bushings. Will order them this weekend. Chances are they they are the bushes identified on the MOT advisory, but even if they aren’t I think I can only expect good things from doing it.
I’ve got my MOT coming up this month, I changed the bushes in March knowing they may find something at MOT time with them. Yours being an ND1 15 plate would more or less point to these spherical bushes. Going on what I’ve read, if you achieved 40k miles or more on an ND1 with the original bushing you’ve done well, mine just 26k
I do have a clunking sound though, however it happens very sporadically, and when Mazda serviced it a few months ago couldn’t replicate it (as expected!) and couldn’t see anything wrong. So there’s definitely something to worry about unfortunately! Had ordered drop links just before MOT because local garage suggested “just start with the cheap stuff”, but following MOT results it seems it might something a little more complex.
