samsono
04-11-2016, 01:23 AM
https://www.google.ca/search?q=mazda+3+shock+mount&espv=2&biw=1366&bih=681&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjZ457Y6IXMAhWHVh4KHQu0DEQQ_AUIBigB
To make a long story short, why is such an essential suspension component so cheap?
Roughly two years ago, I had the same issue with my rear shocks on my 2005 Mazda 3 GT. The bolts for the upper shock mount had actually bent, and eventually the "wings" that the bolts feed through sheared off, leaving my drivers side rear shock dangling loosely in the wheel well. I thought nothing of it at the time, as I assumed they were the original shocks (180,000km), and it happened while driving up north on very bumpy cottage roads, so combined with the corrosion I figured it was just regular wear and tear. I ended up completely replacing the bent bolts, the shock and mount on both sides.
NOW, less than two years later and not even 50,000km, the same thing has happened. I haven't inspected it closely enough to tell if the bolts have been bent, but once again the mount "wings" have sheared/corroded off the drivers side. I'm pretty disappointed that a suspension component is made out of cheap aluminum, and has such poor durability. The shocks themselves are fine (push down on the rear, it springs back up and settles immediately with no prolonged bounce), how on earth do the mounts fail before the actual shocks?
To make a long story short, why is such an essential suspension component so cheap?
Roughly two years ago, I had the same issue with my rear shocks on my 2005 Mazda 3 GT. The bolts for the upper shock mount had actually bent, and eventually the "wings" that the bolts feed through sheared off, leaving my drivers side rear shock dangling loosely in the wheel well. I thought nothing of it at the time, as I assumed they were the original shocks (180,000km), and it happened while driving up north on very bumpy cottage roads, so combined with the corrosion I figured it was just regular wear and tear. I ended up completely replacing the bent bolts, the shock and mount on both sides.
NOW, less than two years later and not even 50,000km, the same thing has happened. I haven't inspected it closely enough to tell if the bolts have been bent, but once again the mount "wings" have sheared/corroded off the drivers side. I'm pretty disappointed that a suspension component is made out of cheap aluminum, and has such poor durability. The shocks themselves are fine (push down on the rear, it springs back up and settles immediately with no prolonged bounce), how on earth do the mounts fail before the actual shocks?