I have a mk1 and the upper balljoint rubber is torn and leaking.anyone know how to remove the old one and refit
Cheers
You might find this quite difficult…
Make sure you get the whole this off AND watch out there is a metal ring that might be left behind when you remove the rubber.
Fit the new one by hand - and you’ll probably mess one or two up before you get it right… 
Thanks for replying although I need to know how to remove the old piece.
^ second that… 
I usually use a chisel and knock them off from the base. The new one can be pressed on using a 30mm socket and big G clamp. To split the joint, remove the split pin, remove the 17mm slotted nut then sharply strike the cast iron knuckle where the ball joint passes through with a hammer (or use a ball joint separator if you have one), take care not to hit and damage the threads of the ball joint.
edit… I take it you are just replacing the dust boot?
Indeed, the balljoint is fine,
But…
Can the upper front wishbones be powder coated?
I’ve fitted a set for an Eastern Region member (Jonnie Boy) that he had powder coated.
Please forgive my comment Robbie, but I did wince slightly at your advice. I know exactly what you mean, the old manuals used to say ‘strike smartly’ with a four pound hammer in support on the other side of the joint. I am just a little worried that some members would lack the necessary experience of how hard to hit and exactly where to hit. Sometimes these joints can ‘hang on for dear life’ and even the cracker has to be struck with a hammer before the taper releases. I have seen this task, not on an MX5 but the senario is the same on many cars, undertaken with more enthusiasm than expertise with resultant distortion to the suspension arm and mountings. I have also seen the eye of the joint knocked into an oval. A ball joint cracker is not that expensive these days and a lot cheaper than a new suspension arm and bushes. Just my humble opinion you understand.
Regards Geoff Peace.
The method I described is shown in photos here which I think makes it clearer (unfortunatly it’s in the Club members only area though). I totally understand what you are saying Geoff, my post was made (rightly or wrongly) assuming some degree of mechanical competence and experience of the original poster. I personally would always try the hammer method first over a ball joint breaker as with my experience I feel there is less danger of damage to the top of the ball joint (the breaker mushrooming the top of the threads) and the ball joint dust boot (the breaker splitting the rubber). I also think it’s quicker. I find that 99.9% of the time, the joint does split using the hammer method. Thanks for your input, I’m certain the OP will appreciate the different opinions on the way to go.
I used scissors ball joint splitter and they work fine, no damage to he boot ot joint. I used a cutting wheel on a dremel to cut the metal ring and the boot deoped out on its own
