My model of MX-5 is: Mk3.5 2.0i Roadster Coupe Powershift
I’m based near: Wigan
I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: suspension faults
One rear shock was diagnosed faulty so I went to my local garage, not dealer, to have both rear ones replaced and thought “Hey why not get the front ones done too”
All done but oh no! depending on how long it has been standing I get a very loud clunking noise from offside front and occasionally nearside when going over the speed bumps, at 20mph or less, out of my estate. Sometimes also from back - nowhere near as bad or as often. It isn’t a metal on metal noise so something else entirely. I returned it to the garage and demonstrated on a road near them and they agreed it was faulty. Left the car with them for a week while they prodded and poked and found nothing untoward.
I took it home and didn’t seem as bad but yesterday, sitting in the supermarket car park I suddenly realised the front of the car was unusually high, much higher than I remembered.
The car looks quite unbalanced - the tyre to wheel arch gap at the front is a good 4cm larger than back.
Attached are photos of my car and behind it my daughter’s - same model.
I’m worried that they have simply raised the body to try and avoid something fouling something else or alternatively they have reassembled the suspension the wrong way after dismantling it enough to change the shock absorbers.
Any ideas or suggestions are welcome - if the worst come to the worst I’ll have to go to a main dealer
What shocks were used? It’s possible that the incorrect shocks were fitted as I believe 3.5 and 3.75 were quite significantly lower than an earlier mk3, whether this was done with springs, shocks or a combination of both I couldn’t say.
In any case there’s no reason your car should be riding that high unless something is wrong with either the parts or installation.
One possible thing is that all the suspension component bolts were loosened during the install and then tightened back up with the suspension at full droop on a 2 post, this will make the car very resistant to settling properly on its suspension, mess with the damping and ruin the ride (and bushings in time). I’m not saying this is what has happened, but it’s a quite possible scenario…
Clunking could be poorly seated spring, missing isolators or bump stops, topmounts failing or not torqued including piston rod, something loose or fouling something else, bushings, swaybar links and so on. All items fiddled with on a shock and spring replacement.
Yes there is, when I did mine (albeit with adjustable coilovers) I jacked up and removed the wheels, supported the car, loosened relevant bolts on arms and bottom of shock until they are free. You can then either carefully jack the lower arm under the hub to the desired or specified height hub centre to fender and then torque all bolts or carefully lower the car evenly on to wooden blocks under the front lower arms until they are supporting the weight of the car, then torque up. You could in theory put the wheels back on and lower the car back down on to blocks under the tyres to raise the car up but access to tighten everything would be difficult.
Clocking or relaxing bushes to neutral is something many people fail to do but I think it’s very important.
It’s a shame you aren’t near me as I’d be happy to help if you were local.
I am not doing the suspension refresh on my NBFL, but it is something ticking in the back of my mind to make sure the ride height looks correct before taking it for a test drive when the work is done. I have every confidence in my garage but I have a little information in my head, which can be a dangerous thing
I had a similar issue with my NA a couple of years ago except the off side of the car was raised much higher than the near side. The rear shocks were fitted to the off side and front shocks were fitted to the near side. Shocking! Driving it was quite a strange experience I can tell you.
The garage fitting them admitted to the mistake and switched them round and thankfully no harm done.
I definitely would not keep them like that for much longer though (I know that’s why you’re here and looking for a solution, of course!) as having the front of the car raised like that is going to cause several issues with braking, steering and stability at speeds over 40mph not to mention the handling.
If you have the time, I would take it to an MX5 specialist and I think you’re not too far from CBS Autos near Burnley. At least give them a call and get their opinion on the phone before making the trip. Just drive very carefully if you do!
J
Thanks - I visited CBS autos earlier this year and he has cut back operations - just himself and not inclined to do suspension work. Prefers working on engines for Mk1 and Mk2
