MX-3.com

Hi, new to the forums and also a recent MX-3 owner of the 1993 base model, purchased recently with a salvaged title...ya. But so far the car has run very well even after figuring out one of the plastic side tanks on the radiator was cracked. Got it replaced and now something else has come up.

http://www.keepandshare.com/userpics/a/ ... 1302627846
http://www.keepandshare.com/userpics/a/ ... 1302628191


This unidentifiable part, i know it has to do with the suspension just cant pin a name on it. I was told a control arm adjustment bar? Not too sure but an intensive google search for that turned up no matching images to confirm this. Can anyone help me? Much appreciated.

Technically its a lower rear control arm/trailing arm. Let me know if you cant find one I might be able to get you one off my parts car but it wont be quick.

Thank you for the quick response. So would i have to replace both sides in which that broken bolt connects the two sides together? Or does it come as one part? And do you think it would be an easy find at a pick apart or salvage company?

Its called a lateral link. TTL (twin trapezoidal link) suspension.

Should be an easy snag at any J/Y, if you can get the bolts out. worse case the whole subframe is just 4 bolts, plus the two for the trailing arms.

OK, thanks, now when i go to the junkyard or pick-a-part, what exactly would i ask for? Its a mazda mx3 lateral link? or lower control arm, because the pics of lower controls arms i been seeing on google havent looked like that part of the car thats broken. I cant just replace that broken bolt in between with a high grade bolt or case hardened bolt?

Thats not just a regular bolt.. you'd have to get it from Mazda, and now its cheaper to get the J/Y part.

Wow! I have never seen that part break before.

I know right!? that also just doesnt look like a reliable place to put a bolt, should be one piece metal all the way through, but hey, what do i know about designing cars?

It broke while i was on the freeway going 65 MPH, while switching lanes. The rear wheel started to wobble and i thought i had a flat, but when i pulled over, the tire was fine, and i noticed the wheel was crooked. I looked under and saw that small bolt had broke. But given the car is 18 years old i guess something like that is bound to happen. And i dont know if i am looking for a replacement part that looks exactly like that or the same part just designed differently.

I cannot find that part in any picture on google, thats why i want to double check the name of that part to make sure i am looking for the right part to replace.

Is this it? http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=674872

I don't think so. Although im not entirely sure. Haven't taken the bolt out yet

Dan, that looks like a camber bolt.. which goes in place of the strut bolts to correct camber.

just hit up a JY that has stands/will put it on a stand for you.

Aggrenoxx wrote:I know right!? that also just doesnt look like a reliable place to put a bolt, should be one piece metal all the way through, but hey, what do i know about designing cars?

It broke while i was on the freeway going 65 MPH, while switching lanes. The rear wheel started to wobble and i thought i had a flat, but when i pulled over, the tire was fine, and i noticed the wheel was crooked. I looked under and saw that small bolt had broke. But given the car is 18 years old i guess something like that is bound to happen. And i dont know if i am looking for a replacement part that looks exactly like that or the same part just designed differently.

I cannot find that part in any picture on google, thats why i want to double check the name of that part to make sure i am looking for the right part to replace.

Well the thing is, that bolt is for the rear toe-in adjustment and is not designed to withstand vertical loads. Almost makes it seam like that arm siezed up and would not pivot along the bushing where the large bolt is. In that situation the force would be distributed along the arm and of course the weakest link in that case would be that bolt... And I don't think that's a part you can find easily although I did notice in IMACHU2's worklog that he was able to get it brand new but it's not cheap. I'd say the most practical thing would be to pull a subframe from a junkyard MX-3.

Ya? That sounds very plausible, I think something is up with my suspension on that side anyways because when I got up to atleast 70-80 MPH on the freeway there would be some unstable wobbling. Are there any other mazda models that might have that part or similar replacement?

Nope, that system is fairly unique, and our track width is unique.

Progress so far and since I haven't found any spare parts at any j/y i've been informed the next best way to go is to weld the bolt back and have it reinforced with a metal sleeve. So far we're a bit stuck getting both sides off by hand tools so we'll be using an impact wrench to get the bolts loosened.

Any other thoughts?

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