"daender" (daender)
05/11/2014 at 21:34 • Filed to: Miata
9
5|
"daender" (daender)
05/11/2014 at 21:34 • Filed to: Miata | 9
| 5 |
It's taken nearly one and half years but as of Friday night, the 2002 Miata LS 5-speed is officially mechanically 100% good to go! Mr. Polar Bear in disguise and I took apart the console to get at the shifter so we could change out the turret oil and replace the worn out plastic bushing with an aluminum piece. Oil was really dirty and black and the plastic bushing was developing lots of grooves in it from all the wear. It engages gears a lot better now, a bit less notchy but more certain I'm banging it into the right gear.
Also removed the hardtop to replace the loose forward latches with a set of rare 1990-only glossy-black latches. Why are they special? You'll notice 99% Miata have a semi-gloss/matte black latches and they tend to wear out and stop locking, causing tops to go airborne at speed. Early 1990 Miatas latches are a gloss black and rarely developed the same worn unlocking problem. I found a salt-pitted set from a wrecked coastal car, grinded off the corrosion, and painted them semi-gloss black. Now my 1000$ investment won't eject itself and become a 600$ investment.
jkm7680
> daender
05/11/2014 at 21:41 |
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Glad it's fixed!
Soloburrito
> daender
05/11/2014 at 21:51 |
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I need to do the turret oil and bushing in my '99, too. About how many hours does the job take?
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daender
> Soloburrito
05/11/2014 at 21:54 |
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I recommend buying a turkey baster or something slim that you can stick deep into the shifter area and suck up the oil will greatly reduce the amount time needed. If you know where every screw is and how to take the console apart, then I say just under half an hour. If it's your first time, then maybe just under an hour.
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Soloburrito
> daender
05/11/2014 at 22:29 |
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Just looked up the "miata king" video on the shifter overhaul. I do have a pump just need to manage to hopefully not get oil/grease everywhere. Thanks.
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daender
> Soloburrito
05/11/2014 at 22:53 |
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I snatched an empty glass vinegar bottle from my recycling can and used that to contain all the bad oil. I recommend laying down some newspaper over the console and seats to avoid staining them. I would also like to recommend replacing the bushing with a metal one if you haven't done so already.