- My model of MX-5 is: __Mk3.5 PRHT
- I’m based near: __Lichfield
- I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: __
I love the MX-5 driving experience but there’s one thing that continues to be a source of irritation - the doors.
Understandably, a 16 y/o car isn’t going to be super tight but the doors are rattly and the windows vibrate. Worse with the roof down, of course. There’s no sense of solidity when closing the doors.
So. Is there a typical approach to overhauling the mechanisms involved? New seals, guides, rollers…? I’m not up to undertaking physical work on the car these days so is this a garage, bodyshop or specialist task?
Any guidance appreciated and any workshop recommendations in the West Midlands?
Give the cups a squeeze
A lot of people replace the door bushing with Delrin ones (2 screws); they are basically identical on every MX5 ever made, on the basis the old rubber ones aren’t upto it. On the other hand the cups into which they fit might be deformed.
https://forum.mx5oc.co.uk/uploads/default/original/2X/9/916d70bf3511e896f0c7cf1f8a1c6d549a4439a0.jpeg
Try a set of poly bush door fittings to begin with.
You’ll be surprised how much these ‘tighten’ up the door giving it a more solid feel.
Pay as much as you want I suppose, these below around £18 online and upto £40 ISH for more branded names.
Delrin bushes made a noticeable difference for me
Thanks all. I’ve just ordered some poly bushes to start. Is there a straightforward solution to the unstable glass/actuator? Maybe a kit of the bits required? Weather seals probably a good idea too.
If it’s anything at all to do with the door ‘bushes’ then just tightening the cups a bit should have an effect. I can’t say what I think of the plastic blocks.
The much maligned Mazda items are not just “rubber”. They have a very solid steel armature and a squashy bump in the rubber to cushion the contact. Seems sensible to me. It’s quite possible they have lost some of their virtue after 16 years.
Mazda IIRC call the cup the “dovetail latch” and the other bit the “dovetail latch wedge”.
One issue that I discovered is that the rubber on the windows seal strips at the bottom of the windows tends to compress or compact over time. The windows on my MX5 PRHT were a bit “rattly”, so I replaced the window weather seal strip on both sides of the car. It made a big difference.
Here’s a link to a post where I show the new one, and the one that I removed:
Nick
Great. Mine look a bit ragged so I’ll replace them. Did you use the Mazda OEM part or did you find an aftermarket option? Cheers.
Have a read of this thread : NC Drivers window rattle
I did the curtain rail mod and it reduced rattling from the door areas and tightened the seals against the windows. Replacing the seals is really the proper way to reduce windows rattle though.
I’m surprised you find the doors rattle. One of the odd things I find about the NC is the solidity when you close the doors. It’s lightly built ( the Sun visors are awful) intentionally so you expect compromise.
The silicone items need to be a snug fit in the clamp they sit in. Do a search on YouTube and you will find stuff that suggests you gently tighten the metal clamp they fit in to get a snug fit.
Just proceed slowly. They are there for a reason and I have never seen them before on all the cars I have owned so first place to go?
Window rattle? It’s unsurprising as it’s unsupported. Mine rattles occasionally.
I used OEM parts (window weather strip, and an end cap … one for each side). I ordered them from MX5parts.
Hope that helps,
Nick