Sway Bar Links, Bushings, any ideas?

[m5pa]

Given the common problem with Mazda 5 and it's suspension, is any product different than the other? What I mean is, I have the dreaded clunk coming from the rear end and I'm suspecting the sway bar links and bushings. Now, my links, which were replaced once under warranty, say FoMoCo on them, I don't know who really makes them for Ford. RockAuto lists Moog, Raybestos, etc. as options, with Raybestos Pro Grade being the most expensive.

Anyone bought anything other than OEM and had different luck? Looking at the second set in under 25k total miles, first under warranty at about 10k, now the clunk is back.

Also, been looking at an aftermarket rear sway bar and a front strut tower brace. I had a Focus with a strut brace and felt a noticeable change in the steering. Anyone with the mods notice a change in their 5 or a decrease (increase?) in its appetite for suspension bits. I live in Western PA, where the roads are salted and general beat the crap out of the suspension.

 

[Davicho]

I just replaced my rear sway bar bushings and links. I decided to try out a set of eBay sway bar links and a set of 19mm Prothane polyurethane bushings. The links actually shipped from Taiwan but got here in 1 week. I figured they couldn't be worse then my OEM ones. To my surprise they actually look very beefy and very good quality. If you plan on upgrading to the Prothane bushings you'll need to also buy the bushing u-clamps from a 2012 Mazda5 as they are much bigger and beefier too. I already had them because I had also previously upgraded to the 2012 OEM bushings. Anyway the clunck you hear is probably neither of these components but rather the weld bead rubbing against your spring. There is a TSB for that.

 

[m5pa]

Appreciate the reply, have to check that TSB out. I guess it's only a matter of time before I need to replace them though

 

[was98strat]

Odds are it is the sway bar bushings and links. I just had mine replaced recently and before I replaced them, the back end of the car sounded like an old truck! clunking over every bump and dip in the road!