1991 MAZDA MIATA Factory Service Manual

Fig. 2: Component Locations (2 Of 3)

1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata
ELECTRICAL COMPONENT LOCATOR 1991 MAZDA ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
Microsoft
Sunday, July 05, 2009 2:15:23 PMPage 5 © 2005 Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC.

Fig. 3: Component Locations (3 Of 3)

1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata
ELECTRICAL COMPONENT LOCATOR 1991 MAZDA ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
Microsoft
Sunday, July 05, 2009 2:15:23 PMPage 6 © 2005 Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC.

SUSPENSION - FRONT
1990-91 SUSPENSION Front
DESCRIPTION
An independent front suspension with MacPherson struts is used on all models except Miata. Miata uses a
double wishbone design with coil over shock absorbers. See Fig. 1
. Strut assemblies mount between steering
knuckle and upper fender panels. Strut assemblies consist of inner shock absorbers and coil springs surrounding
outside of strut tube housing.
The steering knuckle is connected to lower control arm and strut. Lower control arm pivots at crossmember and
is connected by ball joint to steering knuckle. All models are equipped with a stabilizer bar which attaches to
each lower control arm and frame. See Fig. 1
- Fig. 5 . Some models may also be equipped with Auto Adjust
Suspension (AAS). For more information on this system, see ELECTRONIC SUSPENSION article in the
SUSPENSION section.
ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTION
WHEEL ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS & PROCEDURES
See WHEEL ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS AND PROCEDURES article in the WHEEL ALIGNMENT
section.
WHEEL BEARING
Miata, Protege & 323
Raise and support vehicle. Remove wheel assembly. Remove and wire aside brake caliper. Remove rotor.
Install a dial indicator against wheel hub and measure axial movement. Axial movement should be .002" (.05
mm) maximum. If specification is exceeded, check and adjust lock nut torque or replace bearing on Protege and
323 or hub and bearing assembly on Miata.
MPV & 929
Raise and support vehicle. Remove wheel assembly. Remove and wire aside brake caliper. Install a dial
indicator against wheel hub and measure axial movement. Maximum axial movement should be .002" (.05
mm). If specification is exceeded, check and adjust lock nut torque or replace bearing on MPV 4WD and 929 or
hub and bearing assembly on MPV 2WD.
RX7
1. Raise and support vehicle. Remove wheel assembly. Remove and wire aside brake caliper. Install a dial
indicator against hub and measure axial movement. Axial movement should be zero. If specification is
exceeded, adjust preload or replace wheel bearing.
2. To ad
just preload, remove grease cap, cotter pin and set cover. Loosen lock nut. Tighten to 14-22 ft. lbs.

1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata
SUSPENSION - FRONT 1990-91 SUSPENSION Front

1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata
SUSPENSION - FRONT 1990-91 SUSPENSION Front
Microsoft
Sunday, July 05, 2009 2:08:53 PMPage 1 © 2005 Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC.
Microsoft
Sunday, July 05, 2009 2:09:01 PMPage 1 © 2005 Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC.

(20-29 N.m). Turn wheel hub a few times to seat bearings. Loosen lock nut slightly until it can be turned
by hand.
3. Attach spring scale to hub bolt, and measure preload. Note value. Tighten lock nut until preload is .09-2.2
lbs. (.4-1.0 kg) more than amount measured in step 2).
MX-6 & 626
Raise and support vehicle. Remove wheel assembly. Remove and wire aside brake caliper. Install a dial
indicator against wheel hub and measure axial movement. Axial movement should not exceed .008" (.2 mm). If
specification is exceeded, replace wheel bearing.
BALL JOINT CHECKING
Remove lower control arm. Rotate ball joint stud 3-4 times. Install Preload Attachment (49 0180 510B) to ball
joint stud. Measure ball joint preload using spring scale. Preload for all models except Miata, MPV 2WD and
929 is 4.4-7.7 lbs. (2.0-3.5 kg). Preload for Miata is 1.1-3.3 lbs. (.5-1.5 kg). Preload for MPV 2WD is 39.6 lbs.
(18. kg) or less. Preload for 929 is 1.1-2.6 lbs. (.5-1.2 kg).
Fig. 1: Exploded View of Front Suspension (Miata)

Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.

1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata
SUSPENSION - FRONT 1990-91 SUSPENSION Front
Microsoft
Sunday, July 05, 2009 2:08:53 PMPage 2 © 2005 Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC.

Fig. 2: Exploded View of Front Suspension (RX7)
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.

1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata
SUSPENSION - FRONT 1990-91 SUSPENSION Front
Microsoft
Sunday, July 05, 2009 2:08:54 PMPage 3 © 2005 Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC.

Fig. 3: Exploded View of Front Suspension (Protege & 323)
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.

1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata
SUSPENSION - FRONT 1990-91 SUSPENSION Front
Microsoft
Sunday, July 05, 2009 2:08:54 PMPage 4 © 2005 Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC.

Fig. 4: Exploded View of Front Suspension (MPV & 929)
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.

1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata
SUSPENSION - FRONT 1990-91 SUSPENSION Front
Microsoft
Sunday, July 05, 2009 2:08:54 PMPage 5 © 2005 Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC.

Fig. 5: Identifying Front Suspension Components (MX-6 & 626)
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
REMOVAL & INSTALLATION
WHEEL BEARING
Removal (Miata & MPV 2WD)
Raise and support vehicle. Remove wheel assembly. Remove and wire aside brake caliper. Remove grease cap
and lock nut. Remove brake rotor. Remove hub and bearing assembly.
Removal (MPV 4WD)
NOTE: Refer to Fig. 1 - Fig. 5 during removal and installation.
NOTE: On Miata & MPV 2WD, replace hub and bearing assembly as a unit.

1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata
SUSPENSION - FRONT 1990-91 SUSPENSION Front
Microsoft
Sunday, July 05, 2009 2:08:54 PMPage 6 © 2005 Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC.