What did you do to your BJ?

[goldstar]

Wrote it off and bought a GS300.

Sort of sad, sort of glad. Looks like I'm out of the Protege game for a while, unless I pick up another cheap one to turn into a corner carving beater.

Good luck with your new wheels. Sorry you won't be around.

Oh, and Happy Birthday.

Happy Motoring!

[firelizard]

Thanks mate!

I'll probably still be around to poke about once in a while.

[goldstar]

Good to hear.

Happy Motoring!

[meGrimlock]

dremel and 3 cutting wheels later. still cant get it off

[FE3-323]

with a dremel...... you must be a patient man...... you need to grind it damn near fully flat. just FYI

[jinx]

it seems to have sprouted another wing

[meGrimlock]

had to use a nut splitter to break that thing off. took 8 hours with the help of a kidnapped friend.
next project...left side!

[FE3-323]

buy an angle grinder sir.... harbor freight= 15 min job

[D323]

atf + acetone = no longer a problem

[meGrimlock]

yea we looked at angle grinders in home depot, they all looked too big to fit or use safely in the space available. there is barely room for the socket wrench in the lower bolt on the front end link, and same on the top bolt on the rear end link. i dont know if i can justify the one time $100+ investment as i intend these new end links to last the life of the car. i will consider a rental though when i finally get around to the left side

[D323]

or purchase, use, return as 'not working'. Its dishonest, but if it is what you have to do to get by then so be it.

[meGrimlock]

decided to see what the aussies get to play with. rear anti-sway bar bushings from SuperPro SPF2621-17K for the Astina BJ. you can find the part listed as SPF2621-_ _K sometimes, the _ _ spaces are substituted for the diameter of the anti-sway bar, available in 17mm, 20mm, 21mm. available at www.fordprobestore.co.uk/store/

i got the 17mm since that is the size of the bar stated by the ProtegeFAQ. these bushings were a perfect fit inside the bracket, but i wonder about the diameter of the bar. they were spread about 3-4mm wide at the cut, hopefully they are good after being installed. compared to the end links i've been having problems with these were a 30 minute job with a couple box wrenches.

[FE3-323]

how do those bushings feel?

[meGrimlock]

how do those bushings feel?

honestly, can't tell a difference. about a month or so before these went in, new rear anti-swaybar end links went on the car. those made a noticable difference as the wheels would squeel in a parking lot. i thought it was the tires, but after the end links went on the wheel squeel went away. these polyurethane bushings don't feel any different as far as ride quality or cornering feel.

i can say that with the old rubber bushings you can move the bar with your hand and see the amount of play. these bushings eliminate any play if you tried to move the bar it stayed firmly in place.

[meGrimlock]

woohoo over 120,000 miles. about 2 years and 30,000 miles ago had my timing belt replaced at the dealer. today decided to follow the scheduled maintenance flush. got some 50/50 advance auto parts coolant (relabeled prestone). i know i'm stupid cuz i'm paying for water, but i'm a slave to convenience. the stuff mazda put in was really REALLY dark green. i thought it was straight up undiluted coolant. flushed it a couple more times and it was still coming out pretty green. the fluid looked clean and clear enough but it had some sediment and visible little flakes in it. i might have been able to get away with topping it off for a few more years. i rinsed out the coolant tank too, that had a ton of sediment. how does it get in??? going to put in new spark plugs now.