Revive Your Ride! Miata Suspension Restoration

Fantastic suspension is what makes a Miata. It's what these cars are known for. But after 30+ years on the road, very commonly these critical components can use a little love. We do a lot of suspension restorations here at the shop, so let's talk through the process.

The first step is simple: strip everything off the car! Remove the knuckles, control arms, sway bars, shocks, and brakes.

Once everything is disassembled, it's time to press out the old bushings. We do this with a hydraulic press. After 30+ years, some of the bushings can be very stuck! Making or buying the correct sized die and press tools is critical. With the correct sized tools, pressing out even the most stubborn bushing is a breeze.

Next, it's time to strip and clean the parts. We submerge the parts in a cleaning agent that removes the paint—but paint thinner and elbow grease works just as well. Sandblasting or bead blasting also works to remove the old paint, grime, and any surface rust.

We typically elect to powder coat the parts, but there are several brush and spray-on paints that will also do the job. You want a coating that's going to hold up to rock chips, gravel, and other road debris.

Now it's time for reassembly. In addition to new bushings, it's a good time to replace wheel bearings, studs, ball joints, tie rod ends, and end links.

In this example, we used polyurethane bushings, ARP wheel studs, extended ball joints, and tie rod ends. We also cleaned and painted the knuckles and dust shields.

Regardless of whether you're building a track car or a weekend cruiser, refurbishing your suspension will put the spark and joy back in it!

Unsure of what parts you need? Just give us a call! We are always excited to talk with you about your project.

Looking for some upgrades in performance? Check out all of our suspension upgrades!