Replacing Rear Camber Arms

[2.0_Mazda]

Hi,

So I'm a soon-to-be proud owner of a 2008 Mazda 3 GT; I'm picking it up this Friday. It drove amazing, much more stable than my Protege and much less rust. I did go get it inspected as both the original owner and I noticed a spot on his driveway, but we the inspection revealed nothing. One issue that was noted was how I would have to replace the rear camber arms as they were worn out and slowly eating away at the rear tires.

Canadian Tire quoted me almost 800$ for the job, which sounds ridiculous to me. I'm here to ask how do-able it is. I can do small easy jobs, I change my own oil/spark plugs and have changed rear brakes and engine mounts before, but I'm really no mechanic. I've already found adjustable ones on corksport for 200$ and they come with instructions!

I'm pretty sure I'll need an alignment after the installation, but if I can install them myself, I can save a good 400$ or so.

So have any of you installed these before and how easy are they to change?

Thanks

The part:
http://www.corksport.com/corksport-rear-adjustable-camber-arms.html

The car:

 

[njaremka]

check this thread:
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/show...overs-Mazda-5-(Review-and-Install)&highlight=

its an installation of mazda5 coilovers and camber arms, but the process would be the same for the mazda3. its not difficult, but it is somewhat involved. set aside a full saturday, and you shouldn't have any problems completing it.

 

[magicka]

Corksport has very detailed instructions on their product page. If you can manage brakes and motor mounts, you'll be fine. It's only two bolts per arm, but you'll want to make sure you've got plenty of PB Blaster and a breaker bar for those 6-years-of-Canadian-winter bolts.

 

[2.0_Mazda]

Thanks a lot for the info njaremka. I also found another thread on a different forum with a detailed install, seems not too bad.

For anybody else in the same situation as me:
http://www.mnmazda.com/forum/showthread.php?6558-How-To-Camber-Arm-install-on-Mazdaspeed-3

__

Corksport has very detailed instructions on their product page. If you can manage brakes and motor mounts, you'll be fine. It's only two bolts per arm, but you'll want to make sure you've got plenty of PB Blaster and a breaker bar for those 6-years-of-Canadian-winter bolts.

Thanks, that's good to know. Yeah I had bought a similar product for working on my 01 Protege. The 08 MZ3 is in incredible condition, though I'm sure the bolts will still be a PITA to take off.

__

I was also wondering how slightly uneven tires would affect the alignment over time. The summer tires on the car are only 1 season old but the inside of the rear tires are more worn out due to the old rear camber arms. (sorry no tire pic, I'll post one when I get the car) I'll be replacing the rear camber arms + alignment as soon as I get it, but I'm wondering if the uneven tires will have affect on the durability of other rear suspension components.

Thanks

 

[biking4jesus]

i replaced my stock camber arms on my 05 hatch w/ spc adjustable ones. its not too difficult, but will take almost a full day. the biggest PITA is the drivers side on the hatch has a solenoid or some part on a metal tab that blocks access to the top bolt of the camber arm. you gotta kinda bend it out of the way.

 

[2.0_Mazda]

Update: So I finally found some time to install them this long weekend. As mentioned by others, one side was an absolute PITA though it was my passenger side (not driver as mentioned above). It took 2 hours to finish one side and the rest of the day + 2 hours of the next day for the PITA side.

I got one side to adjust at the (what I feel is) exact angle. As for the other, I need to go readjust it. I'm also hearing a very fine knocking noise coming from the rear passenger side, which I'll also have to investigate.


For anyone in a similar situation:
- Shipping was quick
- Parts fell good quality though the OEM ones look as if they can take more of a beating before bending
- Adjusting them to the right length wasn't as easy as I would have hoped
- Very do-able for a non-mechanic though plan for a full day (1/6 for driver side, 5/6 for passenger)
- If your car goes through some pretty harsh winters (like mine) you need a: hammer, liquid wrench penetrating oil, and a few pry bars.

Thanks everyone for the advice.