1997 MAZDA MX-5 wheel torque

frame mounting bolts. Remove steering gear and linkage from vehicle. On MPV, remove steering gear
bracket-to-frame mounting bolts. Remove steering gear and linkage with steering bracket from vehicle.
Remove 4 steering gear-to-bracket bolts and separate gear from bracket.
4. On all models, to install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten bolts to specification. See TORQUE
SPECIFICATIONS table. On MPV, tighten steering gear-to-bracket bolts in sequence: left front, right
front, left rear, right rear. On all models, fill and bleed power steering system. Check and adjust front
wheel alignment. See SPECIFICATIONS & PROCEDURES article in WHEEL ALIGNMENT.
Removal & Installation (Millenia)
1. Disconnect negative battery cable. Support engine using Engine Support (49-G017-5A0 ). Raise and
support front of vehicle. Remove front wheel assemblies. Remove cotter pins and castle nuts from tie rod
ends.
2. Using Puller Set (49-T028-3A0 ), separate tie rod ends from steering knuckles. Remove transverse
member bolts and remove transverse member. See Fig. 6
Disconnect pressure and return line connections
from steering gear. Remove intermediate shaft pinch bolt.
3. Reference mark lower steering column-to-intermediate shaft. Remove engine mount member. Remove
No. 1 engine mount bolts. Remove upper lateral link bolt and separate upper lateral link from
crossmember. Remove lower control arm-to-crossmember mounting bolt and gusset. Separate lower
control arm from crossmember.
4. Remove stabilizer link-to-lower control arm nut. Separate stabilizer link from lower control arm. Using a
jack, support front suspension crossmember. Remove crossmember retaining nuts. Carefully lower
crossmember. Disconnect stabilizer link from stabilizer bar. Remove stabilizer bar brackets, bushings and
stabilizer bar. Remove steering gear mounting nuts. Remove steering gear assembly.
5. To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten bolts to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
table. Tighten steering gear mounting nuts in sequence: right front, left rear, right rear, left front. Fill and
bleed power steering system. Check and adjust front wheel alignment. See SPECIFICATIONS &
PROCEDURES article in WHEEL ALIGNMENT.

1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
STEERING SYSTEM - POWER RACK & PINION 1997 STEERING Mazda Power Rack & Pinion
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vehicle through passenger side wheelwell.
5. To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten bolts and nuts to specification. See TORQUE
SPECIFICATIONS table. Tighten steering gear mounting nuts in sequence: left rear, right rear, left
front, right front. Fill and bleed power steering system. Check and adjust front wheel alignment. See
SPECIFICATIONS & PROCEDURES article in WHEEL ALIGNMENT.
Removal & Installation (MX-6 & 626)
1. Disconnect negative battery cable. Raise and support front of vehicle. Remove front wheel assemblies.
Remove cotter pins and castle nuts from tie rod ends.
2. Using Puller Set (49-T028-3A0 ), separate tie rod ends from steering knuckles. On 2.5L engines, remove
transverse member bolts and remove transverse crossmember. Remove front exhaust pipe and catalytic
converter assembly nuts and remove assembly.
3. On all models, support engine using Engine Support (49-G017-5A0 ), and remove engine mount. Mark
steering column intermediate shaft-to-steering column gear pinion for installation reference. Remove
steering column intermediate shaft-to-steering gear pinion shaft bolt.
4. Disconnect pressure and return line connections from steering gear. Remove steering gear mounting nuts.
Remove steering gear and linkage from vehicle through passenger's side wheelwell.
5. To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten bolts to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
table. Tighten steering gear mounting nuts in sequence: left front, right front, right rear, left rear. Fill and
bleed power steering system. Check and adjust front wheel alignment. See SPECIFICATIONS &
PROCEDURES article in WHEEL ALIGNMENT.
Removal & Installation (RX7)
1. Disconnect negative battery cable. Raise and support front of vehicle. Remove front wheel assemblies.
Remove engine undercover. Remove cotter pins and castle nuts from tie rod ends. Using Puller Set (49-
T028-3A0 ), separate tie rod ends from steering knuckles.
2. Remove stabilizer bar-to-frame bolts and brackets. Disconnect pressure and return line connections from
steering gear. Mark steering column intermediate shaft-to-steering column gear pinion for installation
reference.
3. Remove steering column intermediate shaft-to-steering gear pinion shaft bolt. Remove steering gear
mounting bolts. Support crossmember with jack and remove crossmember nuts and bolts. Slowly lower
jack and remove steering gear and linkage from vehicle.
4. To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten bolts and nuts to specification. See TORQUE
SPECIFICATIONS table. Tighten steering gear mounting bolts in sequence: left rear, right rear, left
front, right front. Fill and bleed power steering system. Check and adjust front wheel alignment. See
SPECIFICATIONS & PROCEDURES article in WHEEL ALIGNMENT.
Removal & Installation (929)
1. Disconnect negative battery cable. Raise and support front of vehicle. Remove front wheel assemblies.
Remove engine undercover. Remove cotter pins and castle nuts from tie rod ends. Using Puller Set (49-
T028-3A0 ), separate tie rod ends from steering knuckles.
2. Disconnect pressure and return line connections from steerin
g gear. Mark steering column intermediate

1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
STEERING SYSTEM - POWER RACK & PINION 1997 STEERING Mazda Power Rack & Pinion
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shaft-to-steering column gear pinion for installation reference. Remove steering column intermediate
shaft-to-steering gear pinion shaft bolt. Remove steering gear mounting nuts. Remove steering gear and
linkage from vehicle.
3. To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten bolts and nuts to specification. See TORQUE
SPECIFICATIONS table. Tighten steering gear mounting nuts in sequence: left rear, left front, right
front, right rear. Fill and bleed power steering system. Check and adjust front wheel alignment. See
SPECIFICATIONS & PROCEDURES article in WHEEL ALIGNMENT.
POWER STEERING PUMP
Removal & Installation
1. Remove drive belt. On Millenia, MPV, MX-6, RX7, 626 and 929, remove pulley lock nut and remove
pulley from pump. On all models, disconnect power steering pressure switch electrical connector (if
equipped).
2. Place reference marks on steering pump and pressure line fitting for reassembly. Disconnect pressure and
return line connections from steering pump. Remove pump-to-
bracket bolts and nuts. Remove pump from
vehicle.
3. To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten bolts and nuts to specification. See TORQUE
SPECIFICATIONS table. Adjust belt tension. See POWER STEERING PUMP BELT under
ADJUSTMENTS. Bleed air from system. Inspect system for leaks.
OVERHAUL
STEERING GEAR
Disassembly & Reassembly
1. Remove steering gear assembly. See STEERING GEARunder REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. As an
aid to disassembly and reassembly, use illustrations. See Fig. 7
-16 . For reassembly reference, keep
components in order of disassembly. Replace worn or damaged components as necessary.
2. On 1996-97 Miata, after installing valve housing, check clearance between gear housing and valve
housing. See PINION SHAFT & VALVE HOUSING ASSEMBLY
under ADJUSTMENT. Adjust
clearance as necessary. On all models, after steering rack reassembly, but before installing tie rods, check
pinion preload. See PINION PRELOAD
under ADJUSTMENTS. NOTE: Use a suitable container or rags to collect fluid when disconnecting pressure
and return lines.

1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
STEERING SYSTEM - POWER RACK & PINION 1997 STEERING Mazda Power Rack & Pinion
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1997, 1999-2000 SUSPENSION
Rear - Miata
DESCRIPTION
Rear suspension consists of spring over shock, crossmember, upper and lower arms, and stabilizer bar with
control link. Upper and lower arms attach to crossmember and knuckle. A stabilizer bar with control link is
mounted to lower arm and crossmember. Rear wheel alignment is adjusted by turning adjusting cams on lower
arm. Upper coil over shock mount plate has been redesigned for 1999-2000. New design incorporates a
urethane bumper and improves ride and cornering.
ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTION
WHEEL ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS & PROCEDURES
WHEEL BEARING ADJUSTMENT
Raise and support vehicle. Remove rear wheel assembly. Remove caliper assembly and ABS wheel speed
sensor. Remove brake rotor. Attach dial indicator to axle hub and measure bearing play. Check bearing axial
play by rocking hub assembly by hand. Maximum bearing play is .002" (.05 mm). If play exceeds specification,
check drive axle lock nut torque or replace wheel bearing. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
.
REMOVAL & INSTALLATION
WHEEL BEARING
Removal
1. Raise and support vehicle. Remove rear wheel assembly. Remove drive axle lock nut. Remove brake
caliper assembly and ABS wheel speed sensor, and wire aside. Remove screws and rotor. Remove ABS
speed sensor bracket. Remove knuckle assembly from upper and lower arms.
2. Using Handle (49-G030-102), Installer (49-G030-727) and Puller (49-F026-103), remove hub from
knuckle. Remove snap ring from knuckle. Using handle, installer and Puller (49-0636-145), remove
wheel bearing inner race from hub. Remove wheel bearing outer race from knuckle using Handle (49-
G030-797), Puller (49-F026-103) and Adapter (49-F027-005).
Inspection
Check wheel hub and knuckle for cracks and damage. Check dust cover for deformation. Check bearing for
excessive wear or seizure. Replace components as necessary.
Installation
NOTE: See SPECIFICATIONS & PROCEDURES article in WHEEL ALIGNMENT.

1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1997, 1999-2000 SUSPENSION Rear - Miata

1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1997, 1999-2000 SUSPENSION Rear - Miata
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Press new wheel bearing into knuckle using Handle (49-G030-797), Installer (49-F027-007) and Adapter (49-
F027-009). Press hub into knuckle using adapter. To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten drive axle lock
nut to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
. Stake drive axle lock nut. Check axial play. See
WHEEL BEARING ADJUSTMENT
.
SHOCK ASSEMBLY
Removal & Disassembly
1. Raise vehicle and remove fuel tank filler pipe protector (1997). Remove rear wheel assembly. Remove
stabilizer bar nut and bolt from lower control arm. Remove 2 upper shock mount-to-body nuts. Remove
lower shock bolt. Lower arms, and remove shock assembly.
2. Clamp shock securely in soft-jaw vise. Compress coil spring. Remove lock nut and washer. Remove
remaining components and note order for reassembly.
Inspection
Check shock for leaks or abnormal noise. Inspect components for wear or damage. Check for loose installation
of bolts and nuts. Replace components as necessary.
Reassembly (1997)
To reassemble, reverse disassembly procedure. To install, reverse removal procedure. Ensure coil spring is
seated in upper and lower seats. See Fig. 1
. Tighten piston rod nut. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS. CAUTION: DO NOT lower arms excessively. This may damage brake hose.

1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1997, 1999-2000 SUSPENSION Rear - Miata
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Installation
Reinstall shock in reverse order. Tighten nuts and bolts to specification with vehicle resting on ground and
suspension unloaded. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
. Check rear wheel alignment. See
SPECIFICATIONS & PROCEDURES article in WHEEL ALIGNMENT.
LOWER ARM
Removal
Raise and support vehicle. Remove rear wheel assembly. Remove stabilizer bar control link nut and bolt. See
Fig. 3
. Remove lower shock bolt. Remove lower arm-to-crossmember bolts. Remove lower arm-to-knuckle
bolts. Remove lower arm. Inspect arm for damage, cracks and deformation. Check for damaged or worn
bushings.
Installation
To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten all nuts/bolts to specification with vehicle resting on ground and
suspension unloaded. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
. Adjust rear wheel alignment. See
SPECIFICATIONS & PROCEDURES article in WHEEL ALIGNMENT.

1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1997, 1999-2000 SUSPENSION Rear - Miata
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Fig. 3: Exploded View Of Rear Lower Arm Assembly
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
UPPER ARM
Removal
Raise and support vehicle. Remove rear wheel assembly. Remove upper arm-to-crossmember bolts. Remove
upper arm-to-knuckle bolts. Remove upper arm. Inspect arm for damage, cracks and deformation. Check for
damaged or worn bushings.
Installation
To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten all nuts/bolts to specification with vehicle resting on ground and
suspension unloaded. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
. Adjust rear wheel alignment. See
SPECIFICATIONS & PROCEDURES article in WHEEL ALIGNMENT.

1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1997, 1999-2000 SUSPENSION Rear - Miata
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STABILIZER BAR
Removal
Raise and support vehicle. Remove rear wheel assembly. Remove stabilizer bar-to-crossmember bolts, brackets
and bushings. See Fig. 4
. Remove stabilizer bar control link-to-lower arm nut and bolt. Remove stabilizer bar
and control link from vehicle. Separate stabilizer bar from control link. Inspect stabilizer bar and components
for damage, cracks and deterioration.
Installation
To install, reverse removal procedure. Ensure bushing is aligned with White line on stabilizer. Tighten nuts and
bolts to specification with vehicle resting on ground and suspension unloaded. See TORQUE
SPECIFICATIONS .
Fig. 4: Exploded View Of Rear Stabilizer Bar & Control Link

1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1997, 1999-2000 SUSPENSION Rear - Miata
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