On Sat, 22 Sep 2007 03:38:56 -0400, Ph@Boy wrote:
> Hachiroku ハチ*ク wrote:
>> Changed the oil on my '89 626 and took it for a ride, went down a dirt
>> road. After the road turned back to pavement, there was a snapping noise
>> followed by a jangling, I figured it was stones. A little bit later
>> there was a loud jangling. I turned around and picked up a brass colored
>> bolt 4" long snapped at the end.
>>
>> I thought it was the new sway bar link; I had one of those break
>> already, but that wasn't it.
>>
>> A quick check of the front suspension (in the dark) revealed nothing.
>> Everything looks OK.
>>
>> I have no idea where this bolt came from. Any suggestions?
>>
>>
> Check the exhaust hangar bolts Hachi. A four inch bolt is pretty big for
> exhaust but it could have been in a bushing or holding something that is
> now hitting the exhaust that broke on the dirt road. You will have to look
> underneath in the daylight, and or, with a light. Look especially around
> and pull / wiggle on the exhaust system parts when its cold. The jangling
> sound reminds me of pipe noise ( probably the longest pipe because it's
> length will create the jangling tone )interfering with something else, but
> noises, of course are a hard diagnosis on the NG.
The jangling noise was only as the part fell off the car. It is quiet now.
After checking a Mazda OEM parts site, it looks like it might be an
alignment adjustment part. The thing is, I assume that would be on the
lower control arm, but from what I saw the bolts are there. I couldn't get
too good a look at the passenger's side.
Unfortunately, my 'paper route' is tearing the hell out of this car! I
have a Suby I want to put on-line, but can't get the ball joint out! Once
I get that going (or buy another one...one of my customers has a '97 for
$200; 300,000 miles!!! but I think the engine and I know the trans have
been replaced...this will be #6!!) I want to 'retire' the Mazda to use for
my job as a Dell Factory rep for the winter where it will see 99% paved
roads. I'm using the Scion for that now, as well as the Supra when the
weather is like it has been this week!