Two simple questions
 

Does it matter which side the rear upper control arms go on? They have different part numbers on the bottom.

And which side does the sway bar end links go on? This way or on the other side... I forgot.

Sorry for shitty picture.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1360134278

The endlink looks correct to me

Won't a simple google search tell you which control arm goes on which side? If they were identical I don't think they would have different part numbers.

My sway links are one the same side, but might be also wrong and not know it.

The rear upper arms are identical and interchangeable. Same goes for the front uppers in the non-ABS cars.

The lowers have a discrete left and right for both front and rear.

You have it correct. The link goes on the "outside" of the sway bar, with the bolt entering from the outside. You technically have the bolt backwards on the lower, thought I doubt it matters.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...1&d=1360214069

Thank you Joe, I guess it's very possible that one of the rear upper control arms have been changed resulting in the mismatched part numbers. Or maybe they are different from the factory, I don't know.

They did change the part number of the upper-rear arm when the NB came out. The old number is NA01-28-2A0B, and the new number is NC10-28-C10. However, the new part supersedes the old one, and is listed as the specified replacement in the newer editions of the NA collision guide.

This sort of thing happens pretty frequently, where some trivial change is made to a part which remains compatible and interchangeable with the old version. The newer editions of the parts catalog are revised to show the new number, even for applications which originally listed the old one.

It remains the case for all years '90-'05 that left and right are interchangeable, and all years are also interchangeable.

^^ Word. Recently I went in search of an axle seal, for the Ford differential transplanted into my Miata, to replace the seal that was leaking. Ford had changed the part number 8 TIMES between the original seal I had removed from the diff, and the seal that was in inventory at the Ford dealership (only ones who had it). This was over no more than a 10 year period since this iRS differential is from a 2002+ Explorer. The ghanges were needed to apparently improve the design of the seal. The new one was completely different from the old one except for fit and function of course.

I was laughing with the parts guy at the counter about the whole deal. He showed me the revision history on his parts screen.

are these bushings really worth it?

Yes, very much so.

OP; I'm not sure how low you will be sitting but with the stock sway bar link there's a really good chance that your control arm will touch the sway bar. Not so much sitting still but diggin into corners...

I like them. As far as NVH goes things are more of a whack than a thud. Car feels much newer than on rubber, well since '97 rubber. The '97 is running poly everything suspension, sways, etc, diff mounts, and comp motor mounts. NVH is fine for me and the wife never complains. It will vibrate at idle a bit. Noticeable, but not loosing fillings bad. As she puts it the car feels tight. Keep in mind though she dailies a lifted Jeep, so she might be a bit. I like the wife test for comfort. As a dude I tend to look to much into how it makes it better than how I'm going to tolerate the annoyance. Age is turning that around.