Mazda MX5/Miata NC Mk3 - Maintenance Episode 15 - Front Lower Control Arm Replacement

How to change the front lower control arm. This included the use of a reciprocal saw! How fun...

[@jeremybevan5946]

Brilliant video I am finding the same problem as you and you have saved me time and money with getting the right blades etc. Thanks!

[@CompletelyDriven]

Thanks for the feedback, glad it helped.

[@iainrutherford184]

I felt your pain every step of the way... Great video and really appreciate you sharing. Hopefully it'll save someone a shed load of time 🫣

[@finn3494]

Took me like a week in total to do this, fucking brutal job. ABSOLUTELY GET THE SAW AND THE RIGHT BLADE, once I had this it was 10x easier.

[@CompletelyDriven]

I don't know if it was this video that helped, but either way great job on getting it done.

[@finn3494]

@@CompletelyDriven Your video was a godsend as you had many of the same issues I did. I mustve come back and watched it 10+ times during the project.

[@CompletelyDriven]

@@finn3494 sounds like you had as much or more fun than I did. At least you got my number of views up😆

[@davidlambert2373]

Heat is the only thing that will get these out preferably a burning torch heat the steel bush insert so it expands from the bolt and the bolt should come out. Sometimes I have even had to use the weight of the car on to the vertical bolt with the nut on the last few threads of the bolt. This pushes the bolt up and out. I think these and the rear suspension bolts are the worst on the MK3 if only they had built them up with copper slip at the factory !!

[@paulwiltshire1285]

Very useful. Picked up stuff that is handy for swapping in lowering springs.

[@andersgammelsrd1815]

Thanks for the video, can’t wait to try and do this next week.. Sounds like it’ll be rather amusing

[@CompletelyDriven]

Good luck!

[@andersgammelsrd1815]

@@CompletelyDriven Thanks, took me about 3 days

[@theezy2times517]

I’m literally doing the same job on my 07 and currently going thru this pain

[@tristan8243]

jesus fuckin christ this was the most painful job ive ever done on any car. Took me 3h just to remove both lower control arms. Car drives like new now tho, worth it.

[@TristanCooper17]

Hey mate, did you preload the suspension when tightening up the lower control arm bolts? I did this job last week but tightened up the arm bolts when the car was on the stands still. Have since got it aligned so wanted to see if you know it'd be an issue or if I can leave it as is. Cheers

[@CompletelyDriven]

No. You should always do up suspension bolts after the car is back on the ground. If you have had it aligned since, then they would hopefully have undone them in that process.

[@TristanCooper17]

@@CompletelyDriven Thanks for getting back to me! So hopefully as they loosened the bolts to align the wheels then it shouldn't be a problem anymore if my understanding is right! Hopefully not caused any damage in the driving beforehand! Thanks

[@peterludlow9847]

Do you think a angle grinder with cutting disc would of done the job better. Something i need to do soon. Cheers

[@andersgammelsrd1815]

I used a combination of angle grinder and sawzall on the rear part of the front bushing. Cut away as much of the rubber as you can first

[@peterludlow9847]

I need to get one of those saws. When you said don't tighten bolts up until car on ground. I find there's very little room to work under car when it's not jacked. Couldn't you jack up under the disc area until the weight of the car is taken and then tighten the bolts. Many thanks

[@adamscroggins8483]

Worst job I’ve ever done !

[@1061shrink1061]

these are only £164 on mx5 parts, so no idea why you were being quoted so much

[@CompletelyDriven]

Been out of stock for a while.