I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: __Rear Diff upper mounting bushes servicing/ replacement
New to this forum so apologies if doing this incorrectly. I have had some noise from the rear of my MX5 MK4 , 2019 model with 50000 miles on the clock. This only occurs at low speeds in potholes/ bends . First garage couldn’t diagnose problem. Second one suggested rear bushes needs replacing but does not have adequate tools to do this. MX5 parts website have suggested changing part SI8785 based on above diagnostic after I spoke to them. Could anyone advise who can help with this. I don’t think I have the expertise to do it myself. Based in South Glasgow. Thanks
In all honesty, if you are keeping the car, fit all 4. If you are getting it through an MOT and you need only 2, then that’s an option. You’ll then have to buy the tool separately. If you then keep the car, at some point the two you didn’t change will fail. Overall if a garage is doing it for you, so it’s costing £££ rather than time if you were doing yourself, whilst you’ve gone through the process of arranging it, taking it to the garage, them getting it up on a lift or axle stands, gathering tools etc, taking wheels off (that’s the only item and the bush connections to the link arms that need removing) the extra to do all 4 now will be cheaper than doing 2 now and 2 later. Hope that makes sense.
Cheers
Brian
Mazda have improved the bearings, everything else is the same. From a material waste and sustainability perspective better to replace the bearings if the replacements are up to spec.
When chasing a squeak from the nearside of my car and suspecting one of the bushes, which in the end it wasnt. I found that the rubber boots on all 4 bushes are not tight to the spindles of the bush and that is potentially why the water and grime is getting in and destroying the bushings internally. Brians bushings do show a metal spring around the ends of the rubber seal to now stop this from happening. If I was to change the bushings, which no doubt as I use the car , will start to get a wobble and rattle, then doing 4 is a no brainer. Then walk away and enjoy the car . I did note the condition of the lower ones, which do seem to be the more probable failure bushings, due to less road grime protection from other components , to be ‘more slack’ when I unbolted the wishbone and injected water proof grease in, to help deflect water and longer life the bushings for now.
I suspect the mod by Mazda is a slightly smaller diameter hole for the spindle to boot connection as the change and nothing more.
How much are the new complete Mazda hubs? I’m guessing £500 each, and probably the same again or more for fitting, so could be at least £1500 and probably more. The early days of this problem Mazda were quoting silly money to replace like for like, anything from £1800 to £2500.
This solution is £260, plus p&p, plus labour of around £150-160, so perhaps a total of £450 all in.
Alignment is then optional, but a must if replacing the full hubs I would suggest.
Just my thoughts.
Hope it’s ok to post this info Ian.
