Mazda-Menders

Took the car out today and apart from the misfire I'm looking at the suspension.

The car is a late 92 from the vin number.

It has long nose crank so an engine change at some time.

It has the S Special yellow front strut tower brace and the Yellow Bilstiens as factory fitted I assume.

The ride is firm without being uncomfortable but the front end crashes over every road joint etc.

The back end does not crash but the nearside damper is noisey over a big bump.

I have had the car on the ramp and can see no broken springs nor are they noticeably shorter.

Is the crashing over bumps typical of the Bilstiens? I assume not. I assume just too many miles.

The ride height is a touch low, the distances from the hub centre to the bottom of the wheel arch is front

R 330mm L 335mm, Mazda mimimium in the workshop manual is 328mm to 337mm.

On the rear

R 335mm L 350mm, Mazda mimimium in the workshop manual is 346 mm to 355 mm.

The clock is saying 250,000 KM and I assume the dampers have probaly had their day.

Would you guy's replace with secondhand bilstiens from Andrew or just put on a new set of reasonable dampers.

Were the Bilstiens that much better.

eddie

Mine used to do exactly the same. I used to hate when the front end used to crunch. I got some good second hand ones off Autolink as you've said. I'm totally happy with what they sent me & no more crunching. Thats my experience anyhow. Good luck with what you decide

Flea is that seconhand Bilstiens or just secondhand normal schocks.

eddie

Check the shocks bottom bushes, they could be at fault? bushes are easy and cheap to replace , there is a how to on here on changing them ,which was done with MK 1 billies.
M-m

No they were billies. But Wayne is right check the bushes first they would cause the same sort of sound & easy fix

My tyre inflator guage is not working and I could not find a stand alone tyre pressure guage.

Just found a tyre pressure guage and the tyre pressures were all 38 psi, it is now down at 26 and the crashing from the front end has gone.

Nice that it turned out to be an easy fix in the end, but while you are under there i would check those damper bushes as they squashes out over time out of the body of the damper because of the angle they sit at.
M-m

Yes a pig to see the front lower ones, one is a bit shot, the other looks OK but will tell the lady and put them on the list for when we do the brake fluid and redo the underseal in the next month or two.

You mention "It has long nose crank so an engine change at some time."
correct me if I am wrong but I thought is was the short nose crank that could have a problem with key breaking and the long nose didn't so much. Mazda switched to long nose mid 1990. I just made it with mine, it came of the line in September 1990 and has more holes in the pulley.

My memory was late 93 but that as you say is not correct.

It is known that some cars sold up to Spring 1991 had SN cranks. Miata.net says spring 91 and does the owners club FAQ.

I only got the MX5 sickness in 2009 so it happened a long time before that.

eddie

The crank problem can affect all of the SNC and LNC from 1989 >2005 it just depends what n*b as been let loose with the spanners that thinks they know it all and done it wrong, the SNC is a great engine and if done correct there should be no issues with it, so the scare stories about it only a trait of the MK 1 SNC is total rubbish, it is down to the person that as worked on it after they have left the factory whether they have know what they are doing 100%.
M-m

Japan/mazda stopped selling the 1.6 over there in 1993 which then just became the 1.8 for sale, only Europe had a detuned 1.6 still for sale,
M-m

That sorts it Wayne.

Around early 91 1.6 snc to lnc.
Then in 93 Miata and Eunos go over 100% to 1.8 and Europe get low power 1.6 and the then new 1.8 option.

Then 98
Mk2 gets higher power 1.6 again and 1.8.

Thanks for the information. I hope mine has been done properly in the past.
BTW, I found this useful as well
http://www.miata.net/garage/crankshaft.html