Parts ordered....

[thaxman]

2006, 58,000 mi. KYB struts/shocks done last year.

The bushing knock is insane- been that way for a good 2 years now. Brake judder is even worse, so here's my parts list:

From Rock Auto:

Posi-quiet ceramic fronts and rears 105.10440 & 105.10950
Reusing my discs.
Mevotech End links MS76804 (5 year warranty)
Raybestos bushings 5501709 (probably not my best decision...we shall see.

Looking for someone to roll the rear fenders.

Still looking for heavier springs. I've researched the 2012+ Mz5 rear springs, but nowhere is the spring rate published...just that its improved and reduces the freneticness of the 06-10.

I plan to contact KYB for a warranty claim on the shocks though, and I have some very odd news:

In my 4 years as a tire buster, I've seen alcohol-induced curb checks resulting in bent wheels. It turns out that the reason why one of my tires is always flat is that there is a crack on the inside edge parallel to the bead. So now I'm also wheel shopping. Yippie.

 

[the_saint]

I have seen people renting fender rolling tools on ebay like this one.

 

[thaxman]

FWIW, if anyone is looking to purchase the Raybestos front sway bushings, they are $5 at Rock Auto - for a PAIR. There is no mention of quantity so I wanted to be sure so I ordered qty 2, only to get 4 bushings. If they are anything like OE, I'll be needing the 2nd pair soon enuf anyways.

 

[Robotazky]

FWIW, if anyone is looking to purchase the Raybestos front sway bushings, they are $5 at Rock Auto - for a PAIR. There is no mention of quantity so I wanted to be sure so I ordered qty 2, only to get 4 bushings. If they are anything like OE, I'll be needing the 2nd pair soon enuf anyways.

I'm curious as to whether or not the bushings have the raised cross hatch design like the redesigned OEM.

 

[thaxman]

I'm curious as to whether or not the bushings have the raised cross hatch design like the redesigned OEM.

Nope, but what do you expect from $5/pr?

Wife takes the V70 out of town Wed-Sat. I'll take the truck to work and block up the Mz5 and see what a novice can do in 3 evenings and most of a Saturday...

 

[thaxman]

Pt 1 done:

Lifted the front, pulled the pads & put the new ceramic Posi-Quiets on. Big PITA dealing with the inside pad (my 1st brake job ever, so I didn't know what to expect. The 2 writeups on changing front brake pads in the How-To section of the forum didn't really detail depressing the piston, but a large C-clamp vise-grip my good neigbor had did the trick.
Being an AZ car meant that the disks weren't packed in, so they came out easily and I used 150 grit sandpaper and a vibration sander to buff all the OE pad residue off the disks. I had about 2mm on the FoMoCo pads before the centerline ridge disappeared, which is where they will probably begin squealing. The pads are garbage - one can see the curved stridations all over the pads where they left parts of themselves on the disks.
I also replaced the endlinks - another easy step without corrosion due to salt-free year round driving. Bushings come off tonight and hopefully I can locate the rent-a-tool needed to turn the rear pistons clockwise as they compress.

Driving impressions: I let this go far too long...like 2 years too long. The ceramics are QUIET and drama free. $35 or so plus shipping for the pair. Worth it IMHO.

 

[thaxman]

Hmmm.....
By yesterday, I was getting a slight shimmy in the front again when braking. So last night I did the front bushings. I did not drop the front member and my forearms are pretty angry with me now. The bolts are not on very tight, so the hardest part is maneuvering not applying torque. Lessons: Use a deep socket 14mm without an extension, apply a pry bar under the swaybar to get the old bushing out and the new one in place, and put the FRONT bolt in first (although you may need to put the back bolt in to align the bushing bracket then remove it to put the front bolt in).
I decided to give in on the shudder and took the rotors down to Brake Masters for turning at $10/rotor. If it comes back, I think I'll sell the car, as I am sick of solving the problem for only 1-2 days.

Pulled the back wheels off, removed one caliper and noticed that the replacement pads have springs in the wrong place. Also noticed that the rear pads are between 3/4 and 2/3 worn. So I put it back together. Hopefully Rock Auto won't give me any kind of hassle about the pads.

 

[kw_da]

Just an observation - are your tires balanced? This can also create shimmy in front end when braking. Turning the rotors took care of my front end shimmy on 2006 Mazda - haven't changed the pads, or done anything to the bushings - I'm at almost 70,000 miles now.

good luck