Power plant frame - cracked diff spacer

[kenson]

Hi everyone,

My first technical post and also the first problem I've found on my mx5

For the last few weeks I have noticed a rattling noise that occurs when I accelerate after releasing the clutch. After some snooping around I found that the power plant frame was missing a bolt at the diff and the other one was pretty loose. I also found that the differential spacer was cracked!

I've circled the bolt I'm missing and the differential spacer in the diagram attached.



The next step is to source the differential spacer and missing bolt. Reading the service manual it states that if the spacers are removed, the whole frame should be replaced...

Anyone experienced this problem or have any ideas? Taking it to Mazda will be costly and I'm willing to fix it myself if I can source the parts. I'm guessing that will also be lots of fun

[JBT]

Try MX-5 Plus in Brissy. If Richard doesn't have it, you can't get it.

[StanTheMan]

Its not that difficuilt.

it schoulnt be that expensive. I usually remove that spacer to get the diff back into the PPF. So since your diff is in place anyway you should be able to just slide it into place. However I'd also loosen all the bolts around first. Remove the locators at the top of the diff & PPf so the diff is moveable. You should be able to just place it in its spot.

what exactly do they mean with \"the whole frame should be replaced\" ?

[kenson]

Thanks for the replies

what exactly do they mean with \"the whole frame should be replaced\" ?

In the service manual it says: \"Removing the PPF (power plant frame) spacers will reduce the performance of the PPF. If the spacers are removed, replace the PPF as an assembly\"

Tightening the PPF has stopped the rattle issue so that's one win.

I guess when I bought the car it was already loose. Over time one of the bolts vibrated off and one was left holding the PPF to the diff loosely.

[manga_blue]

I read that in the service manual too. It makes no sense at all. The spacers are not locked in place, you can just pull them out and put them back when the PPF is out and I can see no reason to replace the whole PPF.

[Garry]

When my cracked PPF was replaced the original spacers were reused. No problems so far after around 15k km

[kenson]

Thanks for all the replies - makes me feel a lot better

Just went down to my local Mazda dealer and got all the parts for $122 - pretty reasonable

Only problem is that these parts are coming from Japan so I'll have to wait for about a month (at least)