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We have issues at the moment just trying to take out the front shocks with spring compressors, we only have jack stands so already not haveing a good chance off fitting coilovers in the car. If anyone has fitted coilovers to there NB mx5 can you please help, were not sure if we have to take the lower control arm completely off or if theres an easier way too do it.

undo the huge bolt on the upper control arm's and slide them out forward, so the whole hub assembly can droop down and you can get the shock out.

might be different on NB's but you need to undo the swaybar brackets to slide the long bolts out on NA's.

there was a thread with link like two threads below your post
http://www.miata.net/garage/miatafrontsuspension.html

As Jace said.

And on my NB8A there was no need to touch the swaybar bracket (only needed to undo the endlinks)

How did you manage too undo the end links? just force and the right tools I spose. Another member of the forum told me about a vertical bolt too take off underneath the bottom control arm that would alloy the suspension too go too full droop and allow us too take the front shock out.

inox or wd40 and a breaker bar if needed.

a mustache might help you too by the sounds of things...

I undid the end links with a normal socket.

They weren't particularly tight.


I can't remember having to undo any vertical bolt, it was just:

Long bolt for Upper Control Arm
Bolts for top of shock (obviously)
Lower shock bolt
Lower bolt on endlinks

There may have alos been a few tiny screw/nuts I can't remember.

Longbolt method works fine on both NA and NB.

A Moustache?

To stroke while contemplating your next move.

and for strength.

We need more than a moustache after today, I've got a few mates who are gonna come have a look this week but it seems that everyone has a different opinion, the long bolt method from what Ive seen doesnt have pictures of the most crucial part, will be making a stop down too see Jason at MX5 plus to see what his routine is for coilover installation.

i'm surprised you're struggling.

it's the bolt that holds the upper control arm to the car, i think it's 22mm headsize from memory? it's about a foot long and runs through both the UCA mounting points, and slides out forwards towards the front bumper.

using the long bolt method saves ruining your wheel alignment completely, so you can safely drive the car to a wheel alignment shop after installation.

you can drop the lower control arm (LCA) mount points (two probably 17mm bolts?) instead, but you'll need to guess your camber position when bolting them back up.

We never unscrewed mounts off the top or bottom a-arms or wishbones, we simply tryed to use spring compressors to shrink the strut down low enough to pull the shock outward towards us, and then pull it through the top a-arm, we need somone too show us directly too learn from it, spent 4 hours on the front left and we simply gave up, neither of us would be able too crack the bolts of the arms holding onto the main chassis of the car, we dont have any high tourque screw gunes either. We will research it more too give it ago next weekend

First up - list what area in this wide brown land you live and others who have done the job might offer to help!
There is a "location" field in the "profile" area.

There are a number of ways of removing the front shocks!
The 'long bolt method" (most popular method)
Unbolt the lower ball joint (I found this method to be the fastest and easiest however I might have been lucky)
Using spring compressors (least often used)
Splitting the lower ball joint as per the Mazda Service Manual (good luck with that)

Have a read here
http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=127247
and here
http://www.miata.net/garage/shocks.html

You will need a wheel alignment regardless of the method used

Did you actually READ any of the guides that you were referred to? Doesn't sound like it.
You don't need any pneumatic rattle guns, just normal socket sets and a decent breaker bar. Even if you don't have a big breaker bar, you can use some long piece of pipe to go over a small bar to increase length therefore leverage.

It takes 2 people, 2 hours for all 4 corners IF you prepare yourself and know what you are in for.
No spring compressors required either if you READ what others have advised you.