14.3.1. Removal
The wishbone can be easily removed as there is no need to remove the shock absorber strut from the vehicle. Figure 190 shows the suspension arm and anti-roll bar components and work should be carried out using this figure.
Figure 190. Details of removal and installation of the lower control arm: 1. Wheel nut, 90-120 Nm; 2. Front wheel; 3. Bolt/nut, 44-56 Nm; 4. Nuts, 16-23 Nm; 5. Connecting bolt, stabilizer; 6. Washer and bushing; 7. Washers, bushings, sleeves; 8. Nut, 95-130 Nm; 9. Suspension control arm bolt; 10. Nut, 95-130 Nm; 11. Suspension control arm bolt; 12. Suspension wishbone; 13. Front bearing shell; 14. Rear bearing shell
- Loosen the wheel mounting nut.
- Raise the front of the car and lift the wheels.
- On the underside of the steering knuckle, loosen the bolts and nuts of the ball-head mounts and knock out the bolts (figure 191, top).
Figure 191. Removing the suspension ball joint from the steering knuckle (top) and releasing the suspension wishbone (visu).
- Remove both nuts from the top of the anti-roll bar connecting arms and remove the washers and rubber bushings. Pull the long bolts down and remove the remaining parts.
- Press the suspension wishbone down and separate it from the steering knuckle.
- Using the drawing 190, loosen the bolts and nuts (9) and (11) of the transverse suspension arm on the body. They are located in the location shown in the picture 191 (bottom). Pay attention to the direction the bolt head points.
- Remove the wishbone.
14.3.2. Repair of the transverse suspension arm
- The wishbone ball joint cannot be replaced.
- If it becomes loose, the entire wishbone needs to be replaced. The ball joint can only be checked for wear using a special clamping device and a spring dynamometer, but a loose ball joint can be recognized by excessive play when it is pushed in or pulled out.
- The ball joint dust cap can be replaced. The old cap can be knocked off with a chisel, and the new one is driven in using a piece of pipe of a suitable diameter. The bushings at both ends of the wishbone are replaceable.
- To do this, you need to clamp the wishbone in a vice and carefully cut the outer side of the bushing with a saw. The bushings are then pressed out. To press it out, place a piece of pipe of the same outside diameter on the bushing between the jaws of the vice, and a piece of pipe of a larger size against the wishbone on the other side. When the vice is clamped, the bushings are pressed out and fall inside the larger piece of pipe. Lubricate the new bushings with soap and press them between the jaws of a vice until the flange is positioned against the wishbone. Both bushings are replaced in a similar manner.
- Check the suspension arm for visible defects. If in doubt (for example, after an accident), the suspension arm needs to be checked at a Mazda workshop.
14.3.3. Installation
Using the drawing 190:
- Install the wishbone onto the chassis. When doing this, make sure that the bolts are inserted from the correct side. At first, tighten the suspension arm mounting bolts and nuts only by hand.
- After the ball head mount has been inserted into the wishbone, drive in the bolts from the side shown in the illustrations and tighten the nuts to 44-85 Nm.
- Support parts of the anti-roll bar connecting bolts (rubber bushings, washers) put on as shown in the figure, screw on the nuts and tighten as described in the next chapter.
- Lower the car onto its wheels and shake it several times.
- Suspension control arm mount (on the suspension crossmember) can be fixed. Tighten the bolts and nuts to 95-30 Nm.
- Finally, measure the geometry of the front wheels and install them. as described in chapter 14.5.