Suspension
10 guides in this section.
Shock absorber inspection
NB shock inspection with concrete leak/wear checkpoints, bounce-control tests, and replacement decision rules before handling degrades.
- Difficulty:
- Intermediate
- Time:
- 30-75 min
Ball joint inspection
NB front ball-joint inspection with clear wheel-play tests, pry-bar confirmation, and practical replace-vs-monitor criteria.
- Difficulty:
- Intermediate
- Time:
- 45-90 min
Sway bar link inspection
Inspect Mazda MX-5 NB sway bar end links for play, noise, bushing wear, and incorrect preload/installation before deciding on replacement.
- Difficulty:
- Intermediate
- Time:
- 30-60 min
Suspension bushing inspection
NB suspension-bushing inspection with exact crack/separation checks, pry-bar movement criteria, and selective-vs-full refresh decision guidance.
- Difficulty:
- Intermediate
- Time:
- 45-90 min
Shock absorber replacement
NB shock absorber replacement planning and procedure with spring-compression safety, side-to-side replacement rules, and post-install alignment checks.
- Difficulty:
- Advanced
- Time:
- 3-6 hours
Coil spring inspection & replacement
NB coil spring inspection and replacement workflow with strict spring-compressor safety, pair replacement guidance, and post-install ride-height/alignment checks.
- Difficulty:
- Expert
- Time:
- 3-7 hours
Strut top mount/bearing inspection & replacement
NB strut top mount/bearing inspection and replacement with spring-compressor safety, clunk diagnosis logic, and post-install alignment checks.
- Difficulty:
- Expert
- Time:
- 3-6 hours
Wheel bearing inspection & replacement (front/rear)
NB wheel-bearing inspection and replacement planning with strict noise-diagnosis checks, play verification, and year/VIN FSM-gated replacement procedures.
- Difficulty:
- Expert
- Time:
- 2-8 hours
Control arm replacement (upper/lower)
NB control arm replacement workflow with ball-joint/bushing decision points, safe disassembly order, and mandatory post-repair alignment checks.
- Difficulty:
- Expert
- Time:
- 3-8 hours
Sway bar bushing replacement
NB sway bar bushing replacement workflow with bar-diameter verification, bracket condition checks, and post-service noise/handling validation.
- Difficulty:
- Intermediate
- Time:
- 1-3 hours