1997 MAZDA MX-5 boot

1997-2001 DRIVE AXLES
Axle Shafts - MX-5 Miata
TROUBLE SHOOTING
Inspect CV joint boot on axle shaft for cracks, damage, leaking, grease, and looseness in boot band. Inspect axle
shaft for bending, cracks, and wear of joint splines. Repair or replace as necessary.
REMOVAL & INSTALLATION
AXLE SHAFTS
Removal
1. Raise vehicle and support with safety stands. Remove wheel and tire assembly. Remove axle shaft lock
nut. See Fig. 1
.
2. Remove brake caliper assembly. Remove lower control arm bolt at knuckle, and pull knuckle/hub
assembly outward. Using pry bar between differential housing and inner CV joint, remove inner CV joint
from differential. See Fig. 2
. Remove axle shaft from knuckle/hub assembly. NOTE: See DRIVE AXLE NOISE DIAGNOSIS article in GENERAL INFORMATION.
CAUTION: If vehicle is equipped with ABS, before performing following procedure,
remove ABS wheel speed sensor (axle side) and fix it to an appropriate
place where sensor will not be pulled by mistake while servicing vehicle.
NOTE: If axle shaft will not come out of rear hub support easily, install a discarded nut
onto axle shaft so that nut is flush with end of axle shaft. Tap nut with a copper
hammer to loosen axle shaft from wheel hub.

1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1997-2001 DRIVE AXLES Axle Shafts - MX-5 Miata

1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1997-2001 DRIVE AXLES Axle Shafts - MX-5 Miata
Microsoft
Sunday, July 05, 2009 1:51:37 PMPage 1 © 2005 Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC.
Microsoft
Sunday, July 05, 2009 1:51:53 PMPage 1 © 2005 Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC.

Fig. 4: Installing Axle Shaft Locknut
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
OVERHAUL
AXLE SHAFTS
Disassembly
1. Place axle shaft assembly in soft-jawed vise. Keep axle shaft assembly clean during disassembly and
reassembly. To remove boot bands, pry up locking clip by using a screwdriver, then raise end of band.
See Fig. 5
.
2. Mark axle shaft and outer ring with paint as shown. See Fig. 6
. Remove clip. Remove outer ring. Mark
axle shaft end and inner ring with paint as show. See Fig. 7
. Remove snap ring by using snap ring pliers.
3. Insert a screwdriver between inner ring and cage to remove balls. See Fig. 8
. Mark inner ring and cage
with paint. Turn cage approximately 30 degrees and pull it away from inner ring. See Fig. 9
. Wrap shaft
splines with tape and remove boot. See Fig. 10
.

1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1997-2001 DRIVE AXLES Axle Shafts - MX-5 Miata
Microsoft
Sunday, July 05, 2009 1:51:37 PMPage 5 © 2005 Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC.

Fig. 5: Removing Boot Band
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.

1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1997-2001 DRIVE AXLES Axle Shafts - MX-5 Miata
Microsoft
Sunday, July 05, 2009 1:51:37 PMPage 6 © 2005 Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC.

Fig. 10: Removing CV Joint Boot
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
Fig. 11: Exploded View Of Axle Shaft Assembly

1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1997-2001 DRIVE AXLES Axle Shafts - MX-5 Miata
Microsoft
Sunday, July 05, 2009 1:51:37 PMPage 11 © 2005 Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC.

Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
Reassembly
1. To reassemble, reverse disassembly procedure. Wrap tape around drive axle shaft ends before sliding CV
joint boots onto drive axle shaft. See Fig. 12
.
2. Align marks on cage and inner ring. Install balls to inner ring. Install cage, inner ring and ball assembly to
axle shaft in direction shown. See Fig. 14
. Larger diameter of cage should be facing snap ring groove.
3. Install a NEW snap ring in axle shaft snap ring groove. Apply specified amount of grease to joints and
boots. See LUBRICATION SPECIFICATION
table. Align marks and install NEW clip.
4. Ensure that boots are not dented or twisted. Set axle shaft to standard length. See AXLE SHAFT
LENGTH table. Release any trapped air from boots by carefully lifting up small end of each boot with a
cloth-wrapped screwdriver. Ensure that axle shaft length is within standard. If drive shaft length is not
within standard, repeat this step.
5. Fold NEW band back by pulling on end with pliers. See Fig. 15
. Band should be folded in direction
opposite forward revolving direction of axle shaft. Lock end of band by bending locking clips.
Fig. 12: Installing CV Joint Boot

Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP. NOTE: Inner and outer CV joint boots differ in design and/or diameter. CV joint boots
are stamped DOJ (wheel side) and BJ (differential side). Ensure correct boot is
installed at proper end when reassembling axle shaft. See REAR AXLE SHAFT
BOOT IDENTIFICATION table. See Fig. 13 .

1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1997-2001 DRIVE AXLES Axle Shafts - MX-5 Miata
Microsoft
Sunday, July 05, 2009 1:51:37 PMPage 12 © 2005 Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC.

Fig. 13: Measuring Axle Shaft & Identifying Boots
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.

1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1997-2001 DRIVE AXLES Axle Shafts - MX-5 Miata
Microsoft
Sunday, July 05, 2009 1:51:37 PMPage 13 © 2005 Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC.

Fig. 15: Installing Boot Band
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
AXLE SHAFT BOOT IDENTIFICATION
LUBRICATION SPECIFICATION
AXLE SHAFT LENGTH
TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
ApplicationWheel Side Diameter - In. (mm)
Differential Side Diameter - In.
(mm)
Miata3.58 (90.8)3.44 (87.4)
ApplicationQuantify
Differential Side CV Joint Boot3-3.71 oz. (85-105 g)
Wheel Side CV Joint Boot1.94-2.65 oz. (55-75 g)
ApplicationIn. (mm)
199730.21-30.60 (767.3-777.3)
1999-200130.42-30.81 (772.6-782.6)

1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1997-2001 DRIVE AXLES Axle Shafts - MX-5 Miata
Microsoft
Sunday, July 05, 2009 1:51:38 PMPage 15 © 2005 Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC.

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
Microsoft
Sunday, July 05, 2009 1:38:08 PMPage 3 © 2005 Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC.