So, the sleeve welded itself to the bolt. I manage to get it apart using a vise and a huge cheater pipe, but not before destroying the bushing trying to torque it free.

I am in a bit of a financial crisis myself, so I can't afford new shocks right now. Has anyone tried to make a new bushing for the lower shock? I was thinking of cleaning up the sleeve on both lower front shock, making a jig of some sort to center the sleeve within the eyelet and go crazy with 3M window weld urathane.

I know a lot of folks window weld their diff mounts (myself included) with good results, but havn't heard anything about a whole new bushing.

Or any other cheap alternatives?

 

PM sent.

 

Can honestly say that I have never had that problem... Just always have a Hell-of-a time getting the damn strut/spring assembly out after removing all of the bolts. Sorry to hear man...

 

Rancho makes replacement shock bushings, I don't know if shock bushings are standard size or not. If they are I bet advanced or similar parts store can hook you up. This is a common failure so there is surely some available solution for it.

If not a replacement shock from a junkyard would be a good option for less than $30.

 

I offically quit. Looking for a set of Illumina if anyone wants to sell theirs. Motivated Buyer here, will post in wanted section too.

 

A friend of mine has (or rather, might have if they haven't gone to the dump yet) a set of stock front shock assemblies off an NB. (Yes, you can swap the whole assembly as a unit from NB-NA).

I've messaged him to see if they're still around.

Failing this, there's got to be a junkyard in your area with a Miata in it. Any year will work, so long as you grab both left and right as complete units with the springs and tophats still attached.


edit: http://www.miata.net/cgi-bin/isc/cla...revaction=show $100 for the set, says local only, but maybe you can persuade him to ship just one.

 

The NB shocks are gone.