- :
- Canada
Well, after a few years on CorkSport lowering springs, one of the OEM struts finally gave up and started leaking. To be fair, it only started after hitting a pothole. I can hear the front passenger side strut "knocking" every once in a while. The ride itself hasn't changed, but it's only a matter of time now.
Also, despite my best efforts to dodge potholes, this is the time of year when they are sometimes unavoidable, or too hard to see in the dark. As a result, the LCA bushings on the front passenger side have also failed. The symptoms were a very slight pull to the left during moderate acceleration, and a kind of muted knocking sound that could be heard and felt from inside the cabin (hard to hear from the outside).
Mazda wants $450+ for the LCA, so I'll probably opt for an aftermarket Beck/Arnley from RockAuto for $134 + shipping. As far as the leaking strut, an aftermarket replacement is only $70, but this does have me considering an upgrade to coilovers. I think I'll be keeping the car for at least another couple of years, so I just need to decide for myself if it'll be worth it.
Also, despite my best efforts to dodge potholes, this is the time of year when they are sometimes unavoidable, or too hard to see in the dark. As a result, the LCA bushings on the front passenger side have also failed. The symptoms were a very slight pull to the left during moderate acceleration, and a kind of muted knocking sound that could be heard and felt from inside the cabin (hard to hear from the outside).
Mazda wants $450+ for the LCA, so I'll probably opt for an aftermarket Beck/Arnley from RockAuto for $134 + shipping. As far as the leaking strut, an aftermarket replacement is only $70, but this does have me considering an upgrade to coilovers. I think I'll be keeping the car for at least another couple of years, so I just need to decide for myself if it'll be worth it.
