[MSCW list] Miata suspension/"long bolt" method

[Fadi Tarapolsi]

Ok, after upgrading several Miatas with just hand tools on floorjacks, I
have to admit that I snickered when I read a few months ago about some
difficulty when installing the front shocks on a Miata. It's a pretty
straight forward job, how hard could someone really have it?.. So this past
weekend, I was replacing the shocks/springs on my latest Miata -Koni shocks
with Tein Springs :) . Cotter pin broke in the upper ball joint, and with
no drift small enough to push it out I tried to drill it out.

Of course the drill bit broke. $4!7...

Then I remembered someone mentioning removing the upper control arm bolt
here so I tried it. with no room for a socket, I had to 'double wrench' the
nut-21mm to get the upper control arm bolt off. But once I did, it was
actually pretty easy to do. While it's still easier overall to disconnect
the upper ball joint, this method saved me and if it wasn't for this list,
this Miata guy would have been stuck. I probably would have eventually
figured out 'plan b', but it's always better to learn from other people's
problems :)

Somewhat on topic, I have a set of Raceland coilovers for sale, for 90-97
Miata. $200 for MSCW members.

-Fadi