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GTX rear lateral link fix

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    GTX rear lateral link fix

    So about a month ago , I came home from work with my 88 GTX and started to back into my driveway .All of sudden the car felt as if the brakes were on , it took more power to get the car to move , and it dog tracked in reverse down the driveway . Upon inspection I found the rear lateral link had busted in two , the rear wheel was now wandering right into the inner wheel well. This is what I found ...
    Attached Files

    #2
    OK crap , another repair needed but should be pretty straightforward (I think). Next day come up with the OE part number , go see my local Mazda Parts guy (knows me well thanks to my fleet of Mazdas). No part available in North America but can order one from Japan. I order one , figure its going to be a while so better put insurance on my WRX. About 4 weeks later I am told no stock in Japan either , part is NLA. Hmm , now what.....Car is insured , runs and drives great (until this) and I put feelers out for a replacement. Helpful CP members gave me links to modifying something to work , but I decided to go another way. I sourced some Aurora heim joints ,grade 8 readi-rod and lock nuts and built a replacement. Not only should it be tougher than the original but it only cost me about $50 in materials. (Mazda wanted about $150 for the OE piece ).

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      #3
      The big pain in the *** was trying to get the through bolt out that connects both lateral links to the wheel hub assembly. The inner one by the diff was free and loose , but the one at the wheel end was completely seized in the hub. I had some advice from fellow CP member that went through this too ; I was hoping I was not going to have to remove the whole wheel end .
      Wishful thinking didn't help me .... so here we go !
      Attached Files
      Last edited by 323gtxawd; 01-11-2015, 12:11 AM. Reason: Photo

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        #4
        A lot of WD40 , heat , cutting wheels , swearing , hammering later , I got the remnants of the rusted through bolt out. I decided to got to two separate bolts rather than the one through bolt to make this simpler for the install. I used a grade 8 5/8 NF for the rear / heim joint end and used a metric suspension bolt that fit nice (from an RX-7)for the forward replacement. Checked everything else out and begin re-assembly with new part. This is how it turned out....
        Attached Files
        Last edited by 323gtxawd; 01-11-2015, 05:11 PM. Reason: Photo

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          #5
          And from another angle .....Looking forward to driving it again tomorrow.
          Attached Files

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            #6
            This is what the GTX currently looks like with the new BFG tires....
            Attached Files

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              #7
              job well done! your missing one of the attachments in post 4. could you fix that. id like to see whats missing
              ---Has ClubProtege helped you in someway? show your support by Contributing--- Click Here---

              1992- project FE3..... 313 WHP @ 9.3psi




              I pet my dash when I get into the car..."good car"
              he actually has a mazda tree, parts grow on it

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                #8
                Deleted the attachment , it was just the same pic as in the post. Drove the car today , yeah , drives great ! Fix seems to have worked... no problems with binding or noise etc. so I'm happy

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                  #9
                  What size tires and which model, they look good. How is the body rust wise. it looks nice but that rear subframe is rough. Keep up the good work.
                  Ian Boyd- Bellingham, WA (click vehicle to view)

                  1988 BF GTX

                  1990 x2 BG AWD Protege

                  1991 Escort GT- SOLD

                  1975 911 S Widebody 3.6 conversion

                  2005 Corolla

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                    #10
                    The tires are BFG G-Force all seasons 195/60-14's. I am quite impressed with the grip considering , and of course really good in the rain (the Wet Coast). Car is fairly good for rust as good as GTX's go in the Pacific Northwest I guess. Has usual rust in rear 1/4's but the rest of the car is good. It just turned over 200,00 km (about 125,000 miles).

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                      #11
                      @323gtxawd you are my hero! I have seized up rear lateral links that bend whenever I try to adjust the alignment. So I thought I could buy replacements but ain't so easy. This seems to be a good alternative but not sure how good it will hold up long-term. Would you happen to have a materials list handy from where you sourced them?

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                        #12
                        Nice little fix bud... where abouts on the west coast are you from?
                        Did you look into BG lateral links? I run BG trailing arms on my gtx

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                          #13
                          Aren't those parts thesame as from an Mx3 ?

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                            #14
                            Parts for link

                            Originally posted by estebond008 View Post
                            @323gtxawd you are my hero! I have seized up rear lateral links that bend whenever I try to adjust the alignment. So I thought I could buy replacements but ain't so easy. This seems to be a good alternative but not sure how good it will hold up long-term. Would you happen to have a materials list handy from where you sourced them?
                            Not too sure if I still have the receipts (I sold the car), but I used two of the same Aurora 3/4" spherical rod ends (heim joints) , a standard 36" X 3/4"length of grade 8 NF redi-rod and four grade 8 NF nuts. I measured up the old OEM link and determined a suitable length and cut the redi-rod accordingly. The two nuts in the middle work as jam nuts for adjustments , any exposed thread of the rod I covered with a heavy spiral loom that is not split .This just protects the metal from wet , salty road spray and mud. Simple and effective and probably stronger than the stock piece.

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                              #15
                              Originally posted by crazycanadian View Post
                              Nice little fix bud... where abouts on the west coast are you from?
                              Did you look into BG lateral links? I run BG trailing arms on my gtx
                              I am on Vancouver Island , I sold the car recently to a fellow from Mission I think . I had a lot of interest but he was the first to take the ferry to come and get it. I miss it , it was a great car !

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