1997 MAZDA MX-5 Factory Repair Manual

INSPECTION
BALL JOINT CHECKING
Lower Ball Joint
Remove lower control arm. See LOWER CONTROL ARM & BALL JOINT under REMOVAL &
INSTALLATION. Rotate ball joint stud 4-5 times. Install Preload Attachment (49-0180-510B) to ball joint
stud. Measure ball joint preload using spring scale. See LOWER BALL JOINT PRELOAD
SPECIFICATIONS table. If preload is not as specified, replace lower ball joint.
LOWER BALL JOINT PRELOAD SPECIFICATIONS
Upper Ball Joint
Remove upper control arm. See UPPER CONTROL ARM & BALL JOINT under REMOVAL &
INSTALLATION. Rotate ball joint stud 4-5 times. Install Preload Attachment (49-0180-510B) to ball joint
stud. Measure ball joint preload using spring scale. See UPPER BALL JOINT PRELOAD
SPECIFICATIONS table. If preload is not as specified, replace upper control arm.
UPPER BALL JOINT PRELOAD SPECIFICATIONS
REMOVAL & INSTALLATION
WHEEL BEARING
Removal
Raise and support vehicle. Remove wheel assembly. Remove brake caliper and ABS wheel speed sensor, and
wire aside. Remove grease cap and axle lock nut. Remove brake rotor. Remove hub and bearing assembly.
Remove wheel speed sensor rotor from hub.
Inspection
ApplicationLbs. (kg)
19971.1-3.3 (0.5-1.5)
1999 & 20000.78-4.29 (0.35-1.95)
ApplicationLbs. (kg)
19970.9-3.9 (0.4-1.8)
1999 & 20000.7-5.0 (0.3-2.3)
NOTE: Refer to illustration during removal and installation. See Fig. 1
.
NOTE: Wheel bearing is not serviceable. If bearing is defective, replace hub and
bearing assembly as a unit.

1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1997-2000 SUSPENSION Front - Miata
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Check for damage, excessive wear and signs of bearing seizure. Inspect steering knuckle and hub for cracks,
scoring and rust. Check for damaged dust cover and poor fit with steering knuckle. Replace components as
necessary.
Installation
To install, reverse removal procedure. Adjust wheel bearing preload. See WHEEL BEARING
ADJUSTMENT under ADJUSTMENTS. Stake axle nut.
LOWER CONTROL ARM & BALL JOINT
Removal
1. Raise and support vehicle. Remove wheel assembly. Remove engine splash shield (if equipped). Separate
tie rod end from steering knuckle (as necessary). Remove stabilizer bar from lower control arm.
2. Remove shock lower mounting bolt and separate lower shock from lower control arm. Remove lower
control arm ball joint cotter pin and nut. Separate lower control arm ball joint stud from knuckle using
Puller (49 T028 3A0). Remove lower control arm pivot bolts and remove lower control arm.
Inspection
Check lower control arm for damage or cracks. Check bushings for deterioration and excessive wear. Check
ball joint for excessive wear. Examine dust boot for damage. Replace components as necessary.
Bushing Replacement
Cut or press old bushing from control arm. Coat NEW bushing with paraffin-based oil. Press new bushing into
control arm.
Installation (All Models)
To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten lower control arm-to-frame bolts to specification with vehicle
resting on ground and suspension unloaded. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
.
UPPER CONTROL ARM & BALL JOINT
Removal
Raise and support vehicle. Remove wheel assembly. Remove engine splash shield. Remove wheel speed sensor
harness band. Remove shock lower mounting bolt, and separate lower shock from lower control arm. Remove
upper control arm ball joint cotter pin and nut. Separate upper control arm ball joint stud from knuckle using
Puller (49-0118-850C). Remove upper control arm pivot bolts and remove upper control arm.
Inspection
Check upper control arm for damage or cracks. Check bushings for deterioration and excessive wear. Check
ball joint for excessive wear. Examine dust boot for damage. Replace components as necessary.

1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1997-2000 SUSPENSION Front - Miata
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Bushing Replacement
Cut or press old bushing from control arm. Coat new bushing with paraffin-based oil. Press new bushing into
control arm.
Installation (All Models)
To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten upper control arm pivot bolts to specification with vehicle
resting on ground and suspension unloaded. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
.
SHOCK ASSEMBLY
Removal (1997)
Raise and support vehicle. Remove wheel assembly. Remove engine splash shield. Remove wheel speed sensor
harness band. Remove stabilizer link bolt. Remove upper control arm ball joint cotter pin and nut. Separate
upper control arm ball joint stud from knuckle using Puller (49-0118-850C). Loosen lower control arm pivot
bolts. Remove shock upper mount nuts and lower bolt. Move lower control arm just enough to remove shock
assembly. DO NOT damage brake line.
Removal (1999 & 2000)
Raise and support vehicle. Remove wheel assembly. Remove engine splash shield. Remove wheel speed sensor.
Remove stabilizer link bolt. Separate lower control arm ball joint stud from knuckle using Puller (49-T028-
3A0). Loosen lower control arm pivot bolts. Inside engine compartment, on 1999 models, remove strut bar. See
FRONT STRUT BAR (1999)
. On 2000 models, remove shock upper mount nuts. On all models, under car,
remove lower bolt. Move lower control arm just enough to remove shock assembly. DO NOT damage brake
line.
Disassembly
Clamp upper shock mount in vise. Loosen piston lock nut 2 turns only. Compress coil spring using coil spring
compressor. Remove piston lock nut. Slowly release compressor tension. Remove components. Remove coil
spring. Remove shock from vise.
Inspection
Check shock tube for damage, oil leakage and abnormal noise. Check rubber components for deterioration or
damage. Inspect coil spring for signs of fatigue or damage. Replace components as necessary.
Reassembly (1997)
Clamp shock in vise. Install coil spring and components in reverse order of disassembly. Ensure coil spring is
well seated in upper and lower spring seats. See Fig. 2
. Tighten piston rod nut. See TORQUE
SPECIFICATIONS .

1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1997-2000 SUSPENSION Front - Miata
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Fig. 2: Cross-Sectional View Of Upper Coil Over Shock Assembly (1997)
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
Reassembly (1999 & 2000)
Clamp shock in vise. Install spring and upper spring retainer in original orientation to shock. Tighten lower
piston rod nut so that exposed thread of piston rod is 0.62-0.69" (15.7-17.7mm). See Fig. 3 . Tighten upper nut
to 12-17 ft. lbs. (16-23 N.m).
CAUTION: Using air tool will damage piston rod thread. DO NOT use air tool.

1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1997-2000 SUSPENSION Front - Miata
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Fig. 3: Cross-Sectional View Of Upper Coil Over Shock Assembly (1999-2000)
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.

1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1997-2000 SUSPENSION Front - Miata
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Installation
To install, reverse removal procedure. Fully tighten all bolts with vehicle resting on ground and suspension
unloaded. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
. Check front wheel alignment. See SPECIFICATIONS &
PROCEDURES article in WHEEL ALIGNMENT.
STABILIZER BAR
Removal & Installation
Raise and support vehicle. Remove engine splash shield. Remove frame brackets and bushings. Remove
stabilizer control links. Align bushing with installation mark on stabilizer. Reverse removable procedure for
installation. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
.
FRONT STRUT BAR (1999)
Removal & Installation
1. To remove strut bar located in engine compartment mounted on top of shock towers, loosen lock nuts on
joint bolt and loosen joint bolt. Remove nut, washer and bolt retaining strut bar to strut plate. Remove
strut bar from vehicle.
2. To install, reverse removal procedure. Rotate joint bolt counterclockwise to 3.5-5.2 INCH lbs. (.4-.6 N.m)
to set tension. Tighten lock nuts to 87-121 INCH lbs. (10-14 N.m). Tighten strut bar-to-strut plate nut.
See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
.
TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
ApplicationFt. Lbs. (N.m)
Axle Lock Nut123-159 (167-215)
Brake Caliper Bracket Bolts37-50 (50-68)
Lower Ball Joint-To-Knuckle Nut42-57 (57-77)
Lower Ball Joint-To-Lower Control
199754-69 (73-94)
1999 & 2000
Bolt & Nut69-86 (94-117)
Bolt54-69 (73-94)
Lower Control Arm-To-Frame
1997
Front Adjusting Bolt Lock Nut69-83 (94-112)
Rear Adjusting Bolt Lock Nut62-75 (84-102)
1999 & 200069-83 (94-112)
Shock Assembly-To-Lower Control Arm Bolt/Nut
199754-68 (73-93)

1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1997-2000 SUSPENSION Front - Miata
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1999 & 200069-86 (94-117)
Shock Piston Rod Nut
199724-33 (32-46)
Shock Upper Mount Nuts22-26 (30-36)
Stabilizer Bar Bracket-To-Frame Bolts14-19 (19-26)
Stabilizer Link Bolts
199727-39 (37-53)
1999 & 200032-44 (43-60)
Tie Rod-To-Knuckle Nut
199722-32 (30-43)
1999 & 200032-41 (43-56)
Upper Ball Joint-To-Knuckle Nut31-44 (42-60)
Upper Control Arm Pivot Bolt/Nut87-101 (118-137)
Wheel Lug Nuts66-86 (89-117)
Wheel Speed Sensor Bolt
199712-16 (16-22)
1999 & 200014-18 (19-25)

1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1997-2000 SUSPENSION Front - Miata
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1997 ELECTRICAL
Fuses & Circuit Breakers - MX-5 Miata
IDENTIFICATION
MAIN FUSE BLOCK
Main fuse block is located on passenger's side of engine compartment. See Fig. 1
.
Fig. 1: Locating Main Fuse Block
CAUTION: When battery is disconnected, vehicle computer and memory systems
may lose memory data. Driveability problems may exist until computer
systems have completed a relearn cycle. See COMPUTER RELEARN
PROCEDURES article in GENERAL INFORMATION before disconnecting
battery.

1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1997 ELECTRICAL Fuses & Circuit Breakers - MX-5 Miata

1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1997 ELECTRICAL Fuses & Circuit Breakers - MX-5 Miata
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