Showing specs for all NA & NB Miatas

Control arms & bushings

Front and rear arm mounting, ball joint and alignment fasteners.

Use this checklist to track fasteners you handle. It is not a complete repair procedure or a verified disassembly order. Follow your factory manual for access, support, tightening sequences and inspections. Select your car and check each variant before using a value.

Checklist: https://miatatorque.com/jobs/control-arms/
All NA & NB variants; select your car to narrow the list.

You’ll replace

From the recorded replacement instructions; this is not a complete parts list. Also check the notes below.

Fluids & settings

Fluid types, capacities and settings have not been catalogued for this job. Check your factory manual before filling or adjusting.

1. Front arms and ball joints

Front upper ball joint nut (to knuckle)
NA 1990–1997; NB 1999–2000
Factory manual30–45 ft·lb41–61 N·m41–61 N·m30–45 ft·lb
Replace
Cotter pin
  • 1990 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual — Page R–12Printed: “41—61 (4.2—6.2, 30—45)”
  • 1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual — Page R–17Printed: “42–60 {4.2–6.2, 31–44}”
  • 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual — Page 03–11–2Printed: “42—60 {4.2—6.2, 31—44}”
  • 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual — Page 02–13–7Printed: “42—60 {4.2—6.2, 31—44}”
Front lower arm alignment cam bolt nuts
NA 1990–1993
Factory manual54–70 ft·lb73–95 N·m73–95 N·m54–70 ft·lb
Notes
Tighten after caster/camber adjustment.
  • 1990 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual — Page R–8Printed: “73—95 N·m (7.4—9.7 m-kg, 54—70 ft-lb)”
Front lower arm alignment cam bolt nuts (1994 on)
NA 1994–1997; NB 1999–2000
Factory manual69–83 ft·lb94–112 N·m94–112 N·m69–83 ft·lb
Notes
On 1994–97 cars this is the front cam bolt. The 1994 lower arm figure (R–15) prints 84–102 N·m for the rear one, though the alignment procedure (R–8) gives 94–112 N·m for both. The 1999 manual gives 94–112 N·m for both.
  • 1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual — Page R–8Printed: “94–112 N·m (9.5–11.5 kgf·m, 69–83 ft·lbf)”
  • 1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual — Page R–15Printed: “94–112 N·m (9.5–11.5 kgf·m, 69–83 ft·lbf)”
  • 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual — Page 02–11–3Printed: “94—112 N·m {9.5—11.5 kgf·m, 69—83 ft·lbf}”
  • 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual — Page 02–13–5Printed: “94—112 {9.5—11.5, 69—83}”
Front lower ball joint nut
NA 1994–1997; NB 1999–2000; NA 1990–1993 (B6)
Factory manual42–57 ft·lb57–77 N·m57–77 N·m42–57 ft·lb
  • 1990 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual — Page R–15Printed: “58–77 N·m (5.8–7.9 m-kg, 43–57 ft-lb)”
  • 1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual — Page R–15Printed: “57–77 {5.8–7.9, 42–57}”
  • 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual — Page 02–13–5Printed: “55—77 {5.8—7.9, 42—57}”
  • 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual — Page 03–11–2Printed: “57—77 {5.8—7.9, 42—57}”
Front lower arm rear cam bolt nut (1994–97)
NA 1994–1997
Factory manual62–75 ft·lb84–102 N·m84–102 N·m62–75 ft·lb
Notes
The 1994 lower arm figure (R–15) prints 84–102 N·m at the rear cam bolt and 94–112 N·m at the front. The 1994 alignment procedure (R–8) prints 94–112 N·m for both cam nuts.
  • 1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual — Page R–15Printed: “84–102 N·m (8.5–10.5 kgf·m, 62–75 ft·lbf)”
Front upper arm pivot bolt nut
NA 1994–1997; NB 1999–2000
Factory manual87–101 ft·lb118–137 N·m118–137 N·m87–101 ft·lb
  • 1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual — Page R–17Printed: “118–137 N·m (12.0–14.0 kgf·m, 86.8–101.2 ft·lbf)”
  • 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual — Page 02–13–7Printed: “118—137 {12.0—14.0, 87—101}”
Front lower ball joint to lower arm bolts and nuts
NA 1994–1997; NB 1999–2000
Factory manual54–68 ft·lb73–93 N·m73–93 N·m54–68 ft·lb
Notes
On the NB, the 1999 manual (02–13–5) prints 73–93 N·m for the vertical bolt under the shock. The ball joint nut at the bottom of the arm is 94–116 N·m, the same as the shock lower bolt.
  • 1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual — Page R–15Printed: “73–93 {7.4–9.5, 54–68}”
  • 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual — Page 02–13–5Printed: “73—93 {7.4—9.5, 54—68}”
Front lower arm alignment cam nuts (NB2)
NB 2001–2005 (BP-Z3); NB 2004–2005 (BP-Z3-TURBO)
Factory manual69–83 ft·lb94–112 N·m94–112 N·m69–83 ft·lb
Notes
Alignment procedure value; compare the more precise diagram callouts on PDF p. 1091. Diagram value; the alignment procedure on p. 1062 rounds this to 94–112 N·m.
  • 2005 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual (electronic manual capture) — Page PDF p. 1062Printed: “94—112 N·m {9.5—11.5 kgf·m, 69—83 ft·lbf}”
  • 2005 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual (electronic manual capture) — Page PDF p. 1091Printed: “93.1—112.7 {9.50—11.49, 68.67—83.12} N·m {kgf·m, ft·lbf}”
Front upper arm pivot nut (NB2)
NB 2001–2005 (BP-Z3); NB 2004–2005 (BP-Z3-TURBO)
Factory manual87–101 ft·lb117.6–137.2 N·m117.6–137.2 N·m87–101 ft·lb
  • 2005 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual (electronic manual capture) — Page PDF p. 1087Printed: “117.6—137.2 {12.00—13.99, 86.8—101.1} N·m {kgf·m, ft·lbf}”
Front upper ball joint nut (NB2)
NB 2001–2005 (BP-Z3); NB 2004–2005 (BP-Z3-TURBO)
Factory manual40–52 ft·lb53–71 N·m53–71 N·m40–52 ft·lb
  • 2005 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual (electronic manual capture) — Page PDF p. 1087Printed: “53—71 {5.5—7.2, 40—52} N·m {kgf·m, ft·lbf}”
Front lower ball joint to arm vertical bolt (NB2)
NB 2001–2005 (BP-Z3); NB 2004–2005 (BP-Z3-TURBO)
Factory manual69–83 ft·lb93.1–112.7 N·m93.1–112.7 N·m69–83 ft·lb
  • 2005 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual (electronic manual capture) — Page PDF p. 1091Printed: “93.1—112.7 {9.50—11.49, 68.67—83.12} N·m {kgf·m, ft·lbf}”
Front lower ball joint to arm nut (NB2)
NB 2001–2005 (BP-Z3); NB 2004–2005 (BP-Z3-TURBO)
Factory manual69–83 ft·lb93.1–112.7 N·m93.1–112.7 N·m69–83 ft·lb
  • 2005 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual (electronic manual capture) — Page PDF p. 1091Printed: “93.1—112.7 {9.50—11.49, 68.67—83.12} N·m {kgf·m, ft·lbf}”
Front lower ball joint to knuckle nut (NB2)
NB 2001–2005 (BP-Z3); NB 2004–2005 (BP-Z3-TURBO)
Factory manual31–42 ft·lb42.2–56.9 N·m42.2–56.9 N·m31–42 ft·lb
Notes
Replace cotter pin.
  • 2005 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual (electronic manual capture) — Page PDF p. 1136Printed: “42.2—56.9 {4.31—5.80, 31.2—41.9} N·m {kgf·m, ft·lbf}”

2. Rear arms

Rear lower arm alignment cam bolt nuts
NA 1990–1997; NB 1999–2000
Factory manual54–70 ft·lb73–95 N·m73–95 N·m54–70 ft·lb
Notes
Tighten after toe/camber adjustment.
  • 1990 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual — Page R–10Printed: “73—95 N·m (7.4—9.7 m-kg, 54—70 ft-lb)”
  • 1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual — Page R–10Printed: “73–95 N·m (7.4–9.7 kgf·m, 54–70 ft·lbf)”
  • 1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual — Page R–26Printed: “73–95 {7.4–9.7, 54–70}”
  • 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual — Page 02–11–4Printed: “73—95 N·m {7.4—9.7 kgf·m, 54—70 ft·lbf}”
  • 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual — Page 02–14–3Printed: “73—95 {7.4—9.7, 54—70}”
Rear upper arm bolts and nuts (1994–97)
NA 1994–1997
Factory manual34–49 ft·lb47–66 N·m47–66 N·m34–49 ft·lb
  • 1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual — Page R–24Printed: “47–66 N·m (4.7–6.8 kgf·m, 34–49 ft·lbf)”
  • 1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual — Page R–26Printed: “47–66 N·m (4.7–6.8 kgf·m, 34–49 ft·lbf)”
  • 1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual — Page M–11Printed: “46–67 N·m (4.7–6.8 kgf·m, 34–49 ft·lbf)”The rear axle figure prints 46–67 N·m for the upper arm to knuckle bolt; the rear suspension pages print 47–66.
Rear upper arm bolts and nuts (NB)
NB 1999–2000
Factory manual40–56 ft·lb54–76 N·m54–76 N·m40–56 ft·lb
  • 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual — Page 02–14–5Printed: “54—76 {5.5—7.8, 40—56}”
Rear lower arm to knuckle nut
NA 1994–1997; NB 1999–2000
Factory manual47–54 ft·lb63–74 N·m63–74 N·m47–54 ft·lb
  • 1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual — Page R–23Printed: “63–74 {6.4–7.6, 47–54}”
  • 1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual — Page M–11Printed: “63–75 N·m (6.4–7.6 kgf·m, 46–55 ft·lbf)”
  • 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual — Page 03–12–2Printed: “63—74 {6.4—7.6, 47—54}”
  • 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual — Page 03–13–2Printed: “63—74 {6.4—7.6, 47—54}”
  • 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual — Page 03–14–3Printed: “63—74 {6.4—7.6, 47—54}”
Rear lower arm alignment cam nuts (NB2)
NB 2001–2005 (BP-Z3); NB 2004–2005 (BP-Z3-TURBO)
Factory manual54–70 ft·lb73–95 N·m73–95 N·m54–70 ft·lb
  • 2005 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual (electronic manual capture) — Page PDF p. 1067Printed: “73—95 N·m {7.4—9.7 kgf·m, 54—70 ft·lbf}”
  • 2005 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual (electronic manual capture) — Page PDF p. 1113Printed: “72.5—95.1 {7.40—9.69, 53.5—70.1} N·m {kgf·m, ft·lbf}”
Rear upper arm inner pivot fasteners (NB2)
NB 2001–2005 (BP-Z3); NB 2004–2005 (BP-Z3-TURBO)
Factory manual40–56 ft·lb53.9–76.4 N·m53.9–76.4 N·m40–56 ft·lb
  • 2005 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual (electronic manual capture) — Page PDF p. 1111Printed: “53.9—76.4 {5.50—7.79, 39.8—56.3} N·m {kgf·m, ft·lbf}”
Rear upper arm to knuckle fastener (NB2)
NB 2001–2005 (BP-Z3); NB 2004–2005 (BP-Z3-TURBO)
Factory manual40–56 ft·lb53.9–76.4 N·m53.9–76.4 N·m40–56 ft·lb
  • 2005 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual (electronic manual capture) — Page PDF p. 1111Printed: “53.9—76.4 {5.50—7.79, 39.8—56.3} N·m {kgf·m, ft·lbf}”
Rear lower arm to knuckle bolt and nut (NB2)
NB 2001–2005 (BP-Z3); NB 2004–2005 (BP-Z3-TURBO)
Factory manual≈46–55 ft·lb62.7–74.5 N·m62.7–74.5 N·m≈46–55 ft·lb
Notes
Use the lower-arm procedure value, 62.7–74.5 N·m (2005 PDF p. 1113), corroborated by 63–74 N·m in the 1999–2000 manual (03–12–2) and 1994 manual (R–23). The owner authorized this earlier-year comparison for the same parts. The 2005 oil-seal procedure (p. 1174) prints 54–76 N·m and rear-hub diagram (p. 1142) prints 86.2–100.9 N·m; those conflicting claims are retained, not combined into a permissible tightening range. The p. 1142 imperial tuple is inconsistent and is omitted from structured units. Use printed N·m; inconsistent secondary units do not change the factory N·m value.
  • 2005 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual (electronic manual capture) — Page PDF p. 1174Printed: “54—76 N·m {5.5—7.8 kgf·m, 40—56 ft·lbf}”Printed N·m is authoritative per owner instruction. Secondary-unit misprints are preserved in as_printed but omitted from structured torque.
  • 2005 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual (electronic manual capture) — Page PDF p. 1113Printed: “62.7—74.5 {6.40—7.59, 46.3—54.9} N·m {kgf·m, ft·lbf}”Printed N·m is authoritative per owner instruction. Secondary-unit misprints are preserved in as_printed but omitted from structured torque.
  • 2005 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual (electronic manual capture) — Page PDF p. 1142Printed: “86.2—100.9 {8.79—10.28, 7.63—8.93} N·m {kgf·m, ft·lbf}”Printed N·m is authoritative per owner instruction. Secondary-unit misprints are preserved in as_printed but omitted from structured torque.
  • 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual — Page 03–12–2Printed: “63—74 {6.4—7.6, 47—54}”1999–2000 same-fastener corroboration, visually checked against PDF p. 347. It supports the 2005 lower-arm diagram, not the wider conflicting 2005 procedure ranges. Printed N·m is authoritative per owner instruction. Secondary-unit misprints are preserved in as_printed but omitted from structured torque.
  • 1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual — Page R–23Printed: “63–74 {6.4–7.6, 47–54}”Earlier NA8 corroboration from the existing checked record. Printed N·m is authoritative per owner instruction. Secondary-unit misprints are preserved in as_printed but omitted from structured torque.

Related jobs

Shocks / coiloversTie rods / alignment prepFront & rear subframes