Teach Me Ball Joints/Tie Rod Ends: Grassroots Motorsports forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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July 11, 2009 4:11 p.m. Salanis UltraDork

So, I'm doing my research to get all ready for a bunch of suspension changes on my Miata. Planning on new bushings, shocks, and springs so I can have a solid suspension for the track.

So what about the other items in the suspension: ball joints and tie rod ends? I presume these wear out eventually too, or at least need to be serviced. They're a lot more expensive than bushings though. What can/should be done about them? How do you know when it needs to be done?

I'm pretty sure most of the boots are torn. Can I just test them, repack them with grease, and put a new boot on? Any special places to buy boots, or will the local AutoZone have them?

Also, 949racing has tie-rod ends that are supposed to correct bump steer on a lowered Miata.

Thanks.
July 11, 2009 5:20 p.m. zoomx2 Reader

Did the same to my 91 about 6 months ago, I changed everything. I used ebay replacements for ball joints and tie rod ends. On Miata.net there was a recommendation of a paticular seller who had better quality stuff than most. going the ebay route you have to be wary of the quality of some of the crap. I paid $88 for inner and outer tie rods and ball joint, they seem to be holding up well. I also replaced all bushings with ES poly bushings from 949, another $90 for the kit. I got ES swaybar busings from Autozone for $25. The upper ball joints are not servicable and will require complete control are replacement if bad. The boots can be changed though and are available from Mazda for about $6 ea. Other than that check the hubs also for wear.
July 11, 2009 6:16 p.m. thatsnowinnebago HalfDork

The tie rod ends you want are from the 93 LE and are probably the ones 949 racing sells. You could pick up a set of 6ULs while you're there too...
July 11, 2009 6:59 p.m. Salanis UltraDork

zoomx2 wrote:

I used ebay replacements for ball joints and tie rod ends. On Miata.net there was a recommendation of a paticular seller who had better quality stuff than most. going the ebay route you have to be wary of the quality of some of the crap.

A quick search is not revealing where that info on better balljoint vendors is. Can you point me in the right direction, or at least tell me what section it was in? Was it in the message boards?

What all parts did you end up Ebay-ing? Just the ball joints?

I just really don't like the idea of dishing out $400 for upper ball joints.

Also, did you end up changing the upper arms? Or did you just re-pack and replace the boot on the joint?
July 11, 2009 7:14 p.m. aussiesmg Dork

Do not ignore the idler or pitman arm bushings, these make a huge improvement on a 1st gen RX7, I used delrin from Mazda. Of course the RX7 is a steering box set up
July 11, 2009 7:26 p.m. Appleseed HalfDork

But doesn't the steering rack have bushings,too?

I know it made a vast difference in feel on one of SCC's STi project cars. (Different kind of car, I know, but food for thought.)
July 11, 2009 7:40 p.m. Jensenman MegaDork

I have never had to buy Miata upper ball joints, but on all the control arms and stuff I have around here they are press ins.

Energy Suspension makes urethane universal boots that work pretty well. If the rubber boots on your stuff are bad but there's no slop, you might consider those boots. Don't mess with the HELP! cheapies, they don't last.
July 11, 2009 7:41 p.m. RexSeven HalfDork

If you are a part of Mazdaspeed Motorsports Development, you can get big discounts on OEM parts. I just ordered some lower ball joints for my RX-7 from them that cost only a little more than the el cheapo brands from the major parts stores.

Also try rockauto.com for good parts for cheap. They carry Moog brand parts, which I've heard are pretty high-quality.

Energy Suspension makes polyurethane boots for tie-rod ends and ball joints if you're only looking to replace those. I got a set from Summit Racing a little while ago, but haven't installed them yet. At about $4/set, they're pretty cheap. They should also come in the all-in-one bushing kits they sell (at least they do for the FC3S all-in-one set).
July 11, 2009 8:07 p.m. Salanis UltraDork

It's sounding like I can get away with just inspecting the balljoints, and then deciding whether or not to buy them. And if they're fine, just replace the boots.

I am part of Mazdaspeed Motorsports Development, so that is a good source of parts for me.

There aren't any boots as part of the ES master bushing kits. I suppose I could just buy them cheap. I presume installation is fairly straitforward.

My dad just had all the bushings, balljoints, hubs and whatnot changed on his car. I am not taking my car to that shop. He spent as much money as it cost to buy the car.
July 11, 2009 9:08 p.m. zoomx2 Reader

In reply to Salanis: Much better not posting from a Blackberry now....

This is the same exact kit thought I bought: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/4-Tie-Rod-End-2-Lower-Ball-Mazda-MIATA-MX5-90-03-W-... I have put over 5000 miles on it and as mentioned seems to be holding up well. But if you only need the boots Rosenthal Mazda is a good source for those, Tom in the parts department is another Miata guru similar to Keith, he'll set you up. I would only replace the ball joints though if there is any play. If the upper ball joints are bad then I recommend calling Tommy at Parts Group in AL for a used replacement control arm. New ones are outrageous in price. And yes boot installation is fairly easy if that's all that is needed. I did change both of my arms but not because the joint was bad. On one arm the castle nut rusted it self to the spindle and I had to cut it off, and on the other arm rust had attacked bushing sleeve and I had doubts about its integrity.
July 11, 2009 10:00 p.m. Salanis UltraDork

zoomx2,

Thanks! I don't think I'll have the rust problem. I've not had any rust issues with this car here in sunny Cali.

I understand that checking ball joints is just sticking something through the holes for the castle nut, and seeing if there's any play by trying to twist them.

Did you do the same thing with the tie-rod ends? Or did you just go ahead and replace those? I'm not sure how I'd go about checking the inner rod ends.

Any suggestions on where to get ball joint boots? Energy Suspension does not have them listed for the Miata. Do they have a size that fits, or is there a better source for them?
July 11, 2009 11:44 p.m. thatsnowinnebago HalfDork

Appleseed wrote:

But doesn't the steering rack have bushings,too?

I know it made a vast difference in feel on one of SCC's STi project cars. (Different kind of car, I know, but food for thought.)

Something like this perhaps?
July 11, 2009 11:55 p.m. Salanis UltraDork

thatsnowinnebago wrote:

Something like this perhaps?

Good idea. Thanks for the heads up. I bet steering rack bushings will tighten things up.