XXitanium Posted December 1, 2023 Share Posted December 1, 2023 (edited) I took the kids car down to the shop. They had made an appointment with him to replace the front sway bar. 1993 Mazda Protege, 1.8L DOHC FI automatic. One of the end loops were broken. BTW, junior is a welder... They couldn't source a replacement. They cut off the arm at BOTH ends to keep them from hitting the CV axles. Junior is quite pissed. He could have fixed it. Now its completely FUBAR. https://welderseries.company.site/Sway-Bar-Kit-Trim-to-Fit-3-4-Bar-p49762034?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiApaarBhB7EiwAYiMwqsNnyiUBImRc5iPx3cz7zA1sl_vpVOGHd-3_ZcT5jatLRnVZSAADSRoCJ50QAvD_BwE A little econobeated like that, i may have just driven it without the sway bar. Edited December 10, 2023 by XXitanium Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XXitanium Posted December 1, 2023 Author Share Posted December 1, 2023 The new winter beater with a heater. 38 mpg? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furbird Posted December 1, 2023 Share Posted December 1, 2023 https://www.hollanderparts.com/used-auto-parts/1993/mazda/protege/suspension-steering/524-stabilizer-bar https://www.car-part.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furbird Posted December 1, 2023 Share Posted December 1, 2023 The problem is if it has "firm" suspension or "normal" suspension. If it's firm, good luck. There's like one in the US. Almost all of them have normal. Guess the only way to know is the dealer, which means unless it's some super rare package it's going to have normal. Something that old it's going to be no longer available from the dealer, most likely nobody aftermarket is going to have it, and most shops aren't going to chase one down from a junk yard or it's not going to be cost effective. It's also not cost effective to fix this, because for $40 you might as well just go buy a used one. That place in New Mexico (Hollander parts link) will sell you one for 45 and ship it for 40 and even that isn't worth fixing the broken one nor driving any significant distance chasing one down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XXitanium Posted December 1, 2023 Author Share Posted December 1, 2023 Agreed. ...but my kid is a welder and we have a nice TIG setup. A separate problem is finding a shop that will install parts you bring in off the street. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XXitanium Posted December 1, 2023 Author Share Posted December 1, 2023 He ranted for a couple hours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furbird Posted December 2, 2023 Share Posted December 2, 2023 I looked at the link and saw that image. But all that money for something you can replace for half the price and it just bolts in for a (industry term) "shitbox" just seems like a lot of work for no gain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XXitanium Posted December 2, 2023 Author Share Posted December 2, 2023 2 hours ago, Furbird said: https://www.car-part.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi I could not get that second link to work well. I'm trying to verify the first one. It does sound like a great fit. These little cars don't sway that much. I drove it down a local slalom course tonight and it cornered great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackhawkxx Posted December 2, 2023 Share Posted December 2, 2023 12 hours ago, XXitanium said: I took the kids car down to the shop. They had made an appointment with him to replace the front sway bar. This is why I try to work on everything myself, well this and money. Yeah, I wouldn't worry about it, drive it. After a few weeks it will be forgotten about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superhawk996 Posted December 2, 2023 Share Posted December 2, 2023 If they cut it without permission I'd demand that they replace it on their dime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furbird Posted December 2, 2023 Share Posted December 2, 2023 https://www.car-part.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XXitanium Posted December 3, 2023 Author Share Posted December 3, 2023 https://car-part.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi Escort... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XXitanium Posted December 3, 2023 Author Share Posted December 3, 2023 Pages and pages of link kits on geEdbay, changed the filter to 'used". ...1 result, Lithuania .. i have found 5 potential sources including Furbird's two. ...wait for Monday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XXitanium Posted December 3, 2023 Author Share Posted December 3, 2023 https://www.thedrive.com/guides-and-gear/what-are-torsion-bars ....for anyone else up way oo early and bored. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XXitanium Posted December 3, 2023 Author Share Posted December 3, 2023 https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/131-0901-off-road-truck-torsion-bar-basics/#:~:text=So what are torsion bars,than compressing as coils do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XXitanium Posted December 5, 2023 Author Share Posted December 5, 2023 I had four places that looked like decent leads. ...no replies today yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XXitanium Posted December 5, 2023 Author Share Posted December 5, 2023 Heck with waiting. The place through Hollander Parts has my money. Hopefully they stick it in one go-round. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XXitanium Posted December 10, 2023 Author Share Posted December 10, 2023 On 12/1/2023 at 5:25 PM, Furbird said: https://www.hollanderparts.com/used-auto-parts/1993/mazda/protege/suspension-steering/524-stabilizer-bar That one was a winner. Apparently it's some kind of consortium. Their communication was stunted. But, After I figured out what was going on and found the phone number for the local salvage that sold me my order, i got a guesstimated delivery for tomorrow. THANK YOU Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XXitanium Posted December 10, 2023 Author Share Posted December 10, 2023 $45 for the part $84 total with shipping to the house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furbird Posted December 10, 2023 Share Posted December 10, 2023 That's why they pay me the little bucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.