1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1997-2001 DRIVE AXLES Axle Shafts - MX-5 Miata
1997-2001 DRIVE AXLES
Axle Shafts - MX-5 Miata
TROUBLE SHOOTING
NOTE: See DRIVE AXLE NOISE DIAGNOSIS article in GENERAL INFORMATION.
Inspect CV joint boot on axle shaft for cracks, damage, leaking, grease, and looseness in boot band. Inspect axle
shaft for bending, cracks, and wear of joint splines. Repair or replace as necessary.
REMOVAL & INSTALLATION
CAUTION: If vehicle is equipped with ABS, before performing following procedure,
remove ABS wheel speed sensor (axle side) and fix it to an appropriate
place where sensor will not be pulled by mistake while servicing vehicle.
AXLE SHAFTS
NOTE: If axle shaft will not come out of rear hub support easily, install a discarded nut
onto axle shaft so that nut is flush with end of axle shaft. Tap nut with a copper
hammer to loosen axle shaft from wheel hub.
Removal
1. Raise vehicle and support with safety stands. Remove wheel and tire assembly. Remove axle shaft lock
nut. See Fig. 1 .
2. Remove brake caliper assembly. Remove lower control arm bolt at knuckle, and pull knuckle/hub
assembly outward. Using pry bar between differential housing and inner CV joint, remove inner CV joint
from differential. See Fig. 2 . Remove axle shaft from knuckle/hub assembly.
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1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1997-2001 DRIVE AXLES Axle Shafts - MX-5 Miata
Fig. 1: Removing Axle Shaft
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
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1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1997-2001 DRIVE AXLES Axle Shafts - MX-5 Miata
Fig. 2: Prying Out Axle Shaft
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
Installation
CAUTION: Sharp edges of axle shaft snap ring can slice or puncture oil seal. Be
careful when installing axle shaft to differential.
To install, reverse removal procedure. Install NEW clip. Measure outer diameter of clip after installing. See Fig.
3 . Replace clip if it exceeds specification. With the ends of clip facing upward, push axle shaft into deferential.
After installation, pull outward on double offset joint outer ring and verify that axle shaft is securely held by
clip. Install NEW locknut and stake it as shown. See Fig. 4 . Tighten all bolts and nuts to specification. See
TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS .
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1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1997-2001 DRIVE AXLES Axle Shafts - MX-5 Miata
NOTE: For rear axle shaft length, see REAR AXLE SHAFT LENGTH table.
Fig. 3: Measuring Clip Outer Diameter
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
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1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1997-2001 DRIVE AXLES Axle Shafts - MX-5 Miata
Fig. 4: Installing Axle Shaft Locknut
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
OVERHAUL
AXLE SHAFTS
Disassembly
1. Place axle shaft assembly in soft-jawed vise. Keep axle shaft assembly clean during disassembly and
reassembly. To remove boot bands, pry up locking clip by using a screwdriver, then raise end of band.
See Fig. 5 .
2. Mark axle shaft and outer ring with paint as shown. See Fig. 6 . Remove clip. Remove outer ring. Mark
axle shaft end and inner ring with paint as show. See Fig. 7 . Remove snap ring by using snap ring pliers.
3. Insert a screwdriver between inner ring and cage to remove balls. See Fig. 8 . Mark inner ring and cage
with paint. Turn cage approximately 30 degrees and pull it away from inner ring. See Fig. 9 . Wrap shaft
splines with tape and remove boot. See Fig. 10 .
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1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1997-2001 DRIVE AXLES Axle Shafts - MX-5 Miata
Fig. 5: Removing Boot Band
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
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1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1997-2001 DRIVE AXLES Axle Shafts - MX-5 Miata
Fig. 6: Marking Axle Shaft & Outer Ring
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
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1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1997-2001 DRIVE AXLES Axle Shafts - MX-5 Miata
Fig. 7: Removing Snap Ring
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
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1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1997-2001 DRIVE AXLES Axle Shafts - MX-5 Miata
Fig. 8: Removing Balls From Inner Ring
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
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1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1997-2001 DRIVE AXLES Axle Shafts - MX-5 Miata
Fig. 9: Separating Inner Ring From Cage
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
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1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1997-2001 DRIVE AXLES Axle Shafts - MX-5 Miata
Fig. 10: Removing CV Joint Boot
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
Fig. 11: Exploded View Of Axle Shaft Assembly
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1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1997-2001 DRIVE AXLES Axle Shafts - MX-5 Miata
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
Reassembly
NOTE: Inner and outer CV joint boots differ in design and/or diameter. CV joint boots
are stamped DOJ (wheel side) and BJ (differential side). Ensure correct boot is
installed at proper end when reassembling axle shaft. See REAR AXLE SHAFT
BOOT IDENTIFICATION table. See Fig. 13 .
1. To reassemble, reverse disassembly procedure. Wrap tape around drive axle shaft ends before sliding CV
joint boots onto drive axle shaft. See Fig. 12 .
2. Align marks on cage and inner ring. Install balls to inner ring. Install cage, inner ring and ball assembly to
axle shaft in direction shown. See Fig. 14 . Larger diameter of cage should be facing snap ring groove.
3. Install a NEW snap ring in axle shaft snap ring groove. Apply specified amount of grease to joints and
boots. See LUBRICATION SPECIFICATION table. Align marks and install NEW clip.
4. Ensure that boots are not dented or twisted. Set axle shaft to standard length. See AXLE SHAFT
LENGTH table. Release any trapped air from boots by carefully lifting up small end of each boot with a
cloth-wrapped screwdriver. Ensure that axle shaft length is within standard. If drive shaft length is not
within standard, repeat this step.
5. Fold NEW band back by pulling on end with pliers. See Fig. 15 . Band should be folded in direction
opposite forward revolving direction of axle shaft. Lock end of band by bending locking clips.
Fig. 12: Installing CV Joint Boot
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
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1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1997-2001 DRIVE AXLES Axle Shafts - MX-5 Miata
Fig. 13: Measuring Axle Shaft & Identifying Boots
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
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1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1997-2001 DRIVE AXLES Axle Shafts - MX-5 Miata
Fig. 14: Installing Balls In To Inner Ring
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
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1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1997-2001 DRIVE AXLES Axle Shafts - MX-5 Miata
Fig. 15: Installing Boot Band
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
AXLE SHAFT BOOT IDENTIFICATION
Differential Side Diameter - In.
Application Wheel Side Diameter - In. (mm) (mm)
Miata 3.58 (90.8) 3.44 (87.4)
LUBRICATION SPECIFICATION
Application Quantify
Differential Side CV Joint Boot 3-3.71 oz. (85-105 g)
Wheel Side CV Joint Boot 1.94-2.65 oz. (55-75 g)
AXLE SHAFT LENGTH
Application In. (mm)
1997 30.21-30.60 (767.3-777.3)
1999-2001 30.42-30.81 (772.6-782.6)
TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
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1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1997-2001 DRIVE AXLES Axle Shafts - MX-5 Miata
TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
Application Ft. Lbs. (N.m)
Axle Shaft Lock Nut
1997 160-216 (216-294)
1999-2001 174-235 (236-318)
Brake Caliper Mounting Bolt 37-50 (50-68)
Lower Control Arm Bolt/Nut 47-54 (64-73)
Wheel Lug Nuts 66-86 (89-117)
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