- Check the dust boot for wear or cracks, and replace if necessary.
- Raise the vehicle until the wheel is off the ground. Grab the tire at top
and bottom, then alternately pull it toward you and push it away to check
for ball joint end-play. Wear limit is 0.04 in. (1mm). If necessary, replace
ball joint and control arm assembly. See control arm removal and installation
procedure above. When installing ball joint nut, torque to 43–51 ft.
lbs. (58–69 Nm) on the GLC and 46–69 ft. lbs. (62–93 Nm)
on the 626.
- Raise the vehicle and support it securely. Remove the front wheel.
- Unbolt the ball joint where it connects to the lower arm. Put the hook of
a spring scale in the outer bolt hole. Turn the ball joint back and forth
several times and then measure the rotating torque on the spring scale. Turn
the joint slowly and make sure the scale stays at 90 degrees to the joint
lever. Rotating torque should be 6.3–10.9 lbs. Otherwise, replace the
ball joint.
NOTE: This procedure is usually done with a preload attachment
tool, such as Mazda No. 49–0180–510B or equivalent . Do not attempt
to make this test without the proper tool.
- Raise and support the vehicle safely. Remove the wheel.
- Remove the cotter pin and nut (which secure the tie-rod end) from the knuckle
arm, then use a puller to separate the tie-rod from the knuckle.
- Unbolt the lower end of the shock absorber.
- Remove the nut, then withdraw the rubber bushing and washer which secure
the stabilizer bar to the control arm.
- Unfasten the nut and bolt which secure the control arm to the frame member.
- Check the ball joint dust boot for cracks and tears. Replace as necessary.
- Shake the ball joint stud a couple of times before measuring the preload.
Check the amount of pressure required to turn the ball stud, by hooking a
pull scale into the tie rod hole in the knuckle arm. Pull the spring scale
until the arm just begins to turn, this should require 4.4–7.7 lbs.
on the 626, MX6 and 1986–89 RX-7, 1–2.2 lbs. on the 1986–87
323, 4.0–6.8 lbs. on 1988–89 323 and 1.1–2.6 lbs. on the
929. If the reading is lower than 1.2 lbs. on the 1979–85 RX7, replace
the ball joint and the suspension arm as a unit.
