Rear ride height

[Rocket]

My 2006 sits higher on the right rear than the left, about 3/4". I can't see any obvious reason why. Any thoughts? Is there an adjustment?

Thanks!

 

[eyeballs]

rear left spring is sagging would be my guess, try replacing it.

 

[Secondtyme]

I would jack it up and make sure that the rubber isolators are still there and in the same shape first. Are you the original owner? If not, where did you get the car? Is there any possibilty that the car was involved in an accident in the past? Any noises that seem to originate on that side only?

 

[Rocket]

I'm the original owner, 160,000+ accident free miles. I jacked it up today and didn't see any obvious reason. I'm gonna put a tape measure to it tomorrow and report back.

 

[Secondtyme]

I would lay money on the rubber isolators at the top of the spring have gotten askew. Either one of them has gone missing or started to disentegrate. Have you replaced your rear shocks?

 

[thaxman]

I had a similar thing going on for awhile. It appears that the ride height is currently the same on both sides. I have no better answer than that.

 

[Rocket]

Yes, shocks were replaced recently, and many times before. I quick crawl under the car and it appears that both rubber pieces are in place. Are the springs the only way to adjust the ride height? Is there no other adjustment?

 

[Rocket]

How does one replace the rear springs/isolators? Are they held in by that one bolt on the top of the spring? Jack it up, remove the bolt, pull the spring out, installation is the reverse of the removal?

 

[DougNuts]

I haven't done springs yet, but that sounds like the correct method. If you can get the spring out, the isolator should be an obvious swap.

I just bought some 2012 rear springs and am trying to decide if I want to replace the isolators or not (55k miles).

 

[Davicho]

I haven't done springs yet, but that sounds like the correct method. If you can get the spring out, the isolator should be an obvious swap.

I just bought some 2012 rear springs and am trying to decide if I want to replace the isolators or not (55k miles).

The top rubber isolators will come out along with the spring leaving a bare metal top perch empty. Once the spring is out the isolator is simply pried away from the spring. The installation is just as easy by simply pressing and snapping the rubber isolator to the spring in its proper position. If you want a more substatial top rubber isolator please use the 2012+ model one.

 

[Secondtyme]

The man speaks from experience^^ I didn't know the rubbers were more substantial on the newer cars. I will have to upgrade mine when I tackle the rear end clunka clunka later this summer....

 

[Rocket]

As I look at the parts drawing, I'm not so sure that bolt needs to come out. It looks like it holds the suspension assembly to the floor pan, not the spring in place. Can someone verify? Is a spring compressor required instead?

Thanks!

 

[Secondtyme]

If you can jack the rear of the car up far enough to get the rear suspension in full droop you will not need a spring compressor. Take the lower bolt out that retains the shock absorber and the rear supension will drop far enough that the spring should literally FALL out.

 

[Davicho]

If you can jack the rear of the car up far enough to get the rear suspension in full droop you will not need a spring compressor. Take the lower bolt out that retains the shock absorber and the rear supension will drop far enough that the spring should literally FALL out.

Don't pull out the bottom shock bolt. It's unnecessary to do this. First off you'll need to remove the nuts holding the sway bar links to the lower control arm and swing the rear sway bar inward towards the front of the car and out of the way. Then remove the lower bolt holding the lower control arm to the knuckle (spindle) push lower control arm down and pull out spring. Super simple and no need for any special tools.

 

[phunky.buddha]

As I look at the parts drawing, I'm not so sure that bolt needs to come out. It looks like it holds the suspension assembly to the floor pan, not the spring in place. Can someone verify? Is a spring compressor required instead?

Thanks!

Look through my thread here: http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/show...overs-Mazda-5-(Review-and-Install)&highlight=

Lots of photos- should be able to figure out your spring disassembly from that.