Suspension, Brakes, Drivetrain discuss the wondrous effects of boost and your miata...
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Rear subframe removal

Old 05-07-2014, 12:23 AM
  #1  
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (6)
 
kenzo42's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: CA
Posts: 2,016
Total Cats: 13
Default Rear subframe removal

1) When removing the rear subframe (with everything connected as one unit), should I unbolt the PPF from the tranny or from the diff? Which one will make life easier?

2) If I remove PPF from diff, won't it be like a cantilever and jack up my tranny?

3) Is there any way to avoid draining the brake fluid when disconnecting from the brake block? I hate bleeding brakes.
kenzo42 is offline  
Old 05-07-2014, 08:50 AM
  #2  
Cpt. Slow
iTrader: (25)
 
curly's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Oregon City, OR
Posts: 14,175
Total Cats: 1,129
Default

1. I'm guessing the transmission would be easier, as you wouldn't have to deal with the diff's PPF spacers. However depending on what you need to do with it off the car, it would probably be easier to do it on the car. Thread the unshouldered long bolt into each hole a few threads and hit it with a hammer to remove the top splined nuts, and then remove the spacer thats at the top. It'll make your life very easy.

2. The transmission will actually fall down, pivoting on the motor mounts.

3. No.
curly is offline  
Old 05-07-2014, 09:23 AM
  #3  
mkturbo.com
iTrader: (24)
 
shuiend's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Charleston SC
Posts: 15,176
Total Cats: 1,680
Default

Remove the PPF from the transmission and then pull the rear subframe and diff. Removing the PPF from the diff under the car is a royal pain in the ***, hell I hate having to do it when it is off the car on the ground and you have full access.
shuiend is offline  
Old 05-07-2014, 01:18 PM
  #4  
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (6)
 
kenzo42's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: CA
Posts: 2,016
Total Cats: 13
Default

I need to swap out rear subframe bc some old hag hit my wheel and bent subframe.
kenzo42 is offline  
Old 05-07-2014, 01:23 PM
  #5  
Boost Czar
iTrader: (62)
 
Braineack's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Chantilly, VA
Posts: 79,490
Total Cats: 4,079
Default

It's an incredibly easy job, you just need a 19mm deep socket for (2) of the subframe bolts.
Braineack is offline  
Old 05-07-2014, 03:57 PM
  #6  
Elite Member
iTrader: (5)
 
m2cupcar's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 7,482
Total Cats: 372
Default

+1 on disconnecting ppf from trans. I used one of those caps that comes on new brake parts (came on a new master) to plug/cover the line at the junction block. Worked perfect.
m2cupcar is offline  
Old 05-08-2014, 12:29 AM
  #7  
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (6)
 
kenzo42's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: CA
Posts: 2,016
Total Cats: 13
Default

Thanks for all tips. PPF unbolted from tranny it is!
kenzo42 is offline  
Old 05-08-2014, 12:55 PM
  #8  
Senior Member
iTrader: (9)
 
Rallas's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Lexington SC
Posts: 1,176
Total Cats: 35
Default

I did this on a old 90 that I had to swap the gastank on.

Remove PPf entirely, it is just so much easier to get it out of the way. Open the shifter and support the back of the tranny with a strap trouh the shifter hole. If you support the tranny like this you can keep the PPF attached to the tranny, but it will still get in the way of the diff and other parts.

Here is a good trick for the brake fluid. Stick a jack handle or something in between the seat and brake pedal. Make sure it remains depressed when the brake line is cracked. This moves the master piston to a position where it is not takeing fluid from the reservoir and keeps you from gravity draining from the reservoir. You will still have to bleed it since you cracked a line, but you won't be dry all the way from the reservoir to the caliper. I had a master mechanic show me that trick when I did the subrame removal on the 90, he was also nice enough to let me use on of the lift bays at his work.
Rallas is offline  
Old 05-08-2014, 01:36 PM
  #9  
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (6)
 
kenzo42's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: CA
Posts: 2,016
Total Cats: 13
Default

Originally Posted by relte
I did this on a old 90 that I had to swap the gastank on.

Remove PPf entirely, it is just so much easier to get it out of the way. Open the shifter and support the back of the tranny with a strap trouh the shifter hole. If you support the tranny like this you can keep the PPF attached to the tranny, but it will still get in the way of the diff and other parts.

Here is a good trick for the brake fluid. Stick a jack handle or something in between the seat and brake pedal. Make sure it remains depressed when the brake line is cracked. This moves the master piston to a position where it is not takeing fluid from the reservoir and keeps you from gravity draining from the reservoir. You will still have to bleed it since you cracked a line, but you won't be dry all the way from the reservoir to the caliper. I had a master mechanic show me that trick when I did the subrame removal on the 90, he was also nice enough to let me use on of the lift bays at his work.
Great tip. Can you leave the brake depressed (with jack handle)for hours/days?
kenzo42 is offline  
Old 05-11-2014, 06:57 PM
  #10  
Senior Member
iTrader: (9)
 
Rallas's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Lexington SC
Posts: 1,176
Total Cats: 35
Default

We had it in all day when swapping the tank. I believe I had it in there for months when I swapped my 1.8 with a whole front subframe swap. Just make sure your battery is disconnected or you will kill it with the brake lights.
Rallas is offline  
Old 05-12-2014, 02:00 PM
  #11  
Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
 
TheScaryOne's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Tucson, Az
Posts: 592
Total Cats: 47
Default

I literally just did all of this on Saturday. Remove the whole PPF. You've got a '91, so it's EASY to get it off of the diff, as the collar in yours is threaded. You need a big *** M14 bolt. It will run you a few dollars at the hardware store. Get it pretty long.

After you take out the front bolt on the diff, you will need to pry out the spacer. It shouldn't be hard, it's not splined. Then thread the M14 bolt into the collar in the nose of the diff, and use it to pull the collar down out of the PPF. The PPF should come off of the nose of the diff easy after that. It's a little difficult to get back on, but not bad.

Make sure you get all of the clips holding the battery cable! There's one high up on the subframe itself that I missed.
TheScaryOne is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
bigmackloud
Miata parts for sale/trade
19
01-08-2021 11:24 AM
StratoBlue1109
Miata parts for sale/trade
21
09-30-2018 01:09 PM
stoves
Suspension, Brakes, Drivetrain
5
04-21-2016 03:00 PM


Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Quick Reply: Rear subframe removal



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:05 PM.