how the heck did this happen and how do i fix

[BlkMica_03]

was driving around yesterday and kept hearing a noise that sounded like an exhaust hanger had fallen out of the bushing, so i keep driving thinking nothing of it and when i pull in ,my driveway the noise got worse so i got out and looked under the car and seen this... does anyone know what parts i will need to fix it

 

[03zoomzoom]

Looks like you need a new bolt. That's your trailing arm, sometimes people call it a "lateral link". Definatly need to get that fixed. Not safe to drive like that.

 

[BlkMica_03]

thank you for the quick replay is that bolt something i need to get from a dealer or can i just goto homedepot and get one

 

[03zoomzoom]

get the OEM one. it comes with a fitted washer that fits in the end so this shouldn't happen again.

 

[Delerious]

Make sure to look down the length of the threaded boss to ensure the bolt just rattled itself out, and not snapped off at half length or something. It'll become obvious when you're trying to thread the new bolt in.

 

[slavrenz]

get the OEM one. it comes with a fitted washer that fits in the end so this shouldn't happen again.

but...wasn't the OEM bolt what rattled out in the first place?

 

[BlackWagonP5]

you also should probably make sure that the threads are stripped in the hole itself because it be pretty hard for a bolt to rattle itself out of place like that unless something was stripped or the bolt snapped

 

[RABID_MP5]

the threads you can see look OK I think. I'm also wondering if there's more to the story like someone worked on it and didn't properly tighten it etc.

 

[BlackWagonP5]

i suppose tho bolt oculd have been stripped as well because obviuosly there are no pictures of it because noone saw it

 

[MazdaSpeeder]

the threads you can see look OK I think. I'm also wondering if there's more to the story like someone worked on it and didn't properly tighten it etc.

^this sounds like what happened.

 

[i12drivemyMP5]

I'm thinkin the bolt wasn't tightened up because if something happened to break that bolt then other stuff would be damaged. My question would be.......WTF is all over the spindle and why? Why is that area all nasty? First guess would be sloppy ass brake job? Did someone just do rear brakes or something? Hope your strut isn't what's jizzed all down that spindle cause that'll be different issue. But yeah, def bolt the trailing arm back on, lol. Lateral links are the 2 on each side that come out from center of the car to the spindle. Check all the bolts under there for tightness too.

 

[P-Funk!]

^x2

 

[03zoomzoom]

I'm thinkin the bolt wasn't tightened up because if something happened to break that bolt then other stuff would be damaged. My question would be.......WTF is all over the spindle and why? Why is that area all nasty? First guess would be sloppy ass brake job? Did someone just do rear brakes or something? Hope your strut isn't what's jizzed all down that spindle cause that'll be different issue. But yeah, def bolt the trailing arm back on, lol. Lateral links are the 2 on each side that come out from center of the car to the spindle. Check all the bolts under there for tightness too.

Ummm... aren't those called toe links?

 

[slavrenz]

Ummm... aren't those called toe links?

No. The repair manual calls them lateral links.

 

[03zoomzoom]

Independent Dual-Link Strut Rear Suspension
The rear suspension features a single trailing link and a MacPherson strut-type shock absorber for each rear wheel. The dual links provide precise toe-in control of the wheel for all situations of wheel movement, over any road surface, and during all phases of acceleration, braking and cornering.

 

[i12drivemyMP5]

Yes, the lateral links adjust toe-in when the eccentric bolt is turned. Toe links is good name too...

 

[slavrenz]

Yes, the lateral links adjust toe-in when the eccentric bolt is turned. Toe links is good name too...

Exactly. You can call them whatever you want - I was just saying that the FSM calls them lateral links.