Mazda MX-5 NA silhouetteMX-5 NA

FRONT SUSPENSION (DOUBLE-WISHBONE) - Upper Arm Ball Joint Notes & Inspection

R-18prose procedure
Continued from R-17

Removal note

Upper arm ball joint

Upper arm ball joint - Removal note

  1. 1
    Separate the upper arm ball joint from the knuckle with the SST.
    SST 49 0118 850C (Puller, ball joint) installed to separate the upper arm ball joint from the knuckle.
    05U0RX-039

Ball joint dust boot

Ball joint dust boot - Removal note

  1. 1
    Remove the dust boot with a chisel.
    Do not damage the ball joint stud.
    Chisel being used to remove the ball joint dust boot from the upper arm ball joint.
    05U0RX-040

Installation note

Ball joint dust boot

Ball joint dust boot - Installation note

  1. 1
    Press the dust boot on with a 30mm (1 1/8 in) socket until the dust boot contacts the seat.
    Install the dust boot squarely and do not press excessively; the inner metal ring will be deformed if not done correctly.
    30mm (1 1/8 in) socket pressing dust boot onto upper arm ball joint. Shows '1mm (0.04 in)' clearance dimension between boot and seat.
    05U0RX-042
  2. 2
    Verify that the clearance between the boot and the seat is less than 1mm (0.04 in).
  3. 3
    Shake the ball joint stud several times to make sure there is no grease leakage.

Inspection

Upper arm ball joint

Ball joint rotation torque

  1. 1
    Shake the ball joint stud 5 times.
  2. 2
    Connect the SST to the ball stud, and measure the rotation torque with a pull scale.
    Upper arm with SST attachment connected to ball stud for rotation-torque measurement using a pull scale.
    05U0RX-043
Rotation4-12 cm-kg, 3.5-10.0 in-lb
0.4-1.2N·m
Pull scale reading0.4-1.2 kg, 2.9-8.8 lb
3.9-11.8N
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