NC MX5 to RX8 Rear Hub Upgrade with rear bearing replacement.

This video outlines the upgrade on your NC MX5 to the larger rear RX8 hubs and uprights. Rear wheel bearing replacement as well has axle disassembly are covered. For track use, the rear hub of the MX5 has been known to fail without notice. Upgrading to the larger RX8 parts is the solution.
Tie rod boot part numbers.
F15128503 (4) $ 6.44 Lateral Arm Cap (Front, Rear, Upper)
F151284A3 (2) $ 6.24 Steering Tie Rod End Boot (Front, Lower)
F151284B3 (2) $ 6.44 Suspension Ball Joint Boot (Front, Rear, Upper, Lower)
Oetiker CV boot clamp part numbers. This is not a Mazda part number. Available from Belmetric.com.
MX5 inner boot
Large band CV83BAND9
Small band CHPE34.6
RX8 outer boot
Large band CV84BAND9 or CV83BAND9
Small band CV31.6BAND9
This video is for entertainment purposes only. Certain steps may have been omitted either by accident or on purpose. Following these directions will most likely result in death or worse. Use at your own risk. I'm just some guy that likes to play with cars.

[@Wolfman140]

I'm totally going to order all parts (salvage axles, knuckles, new boots/clamps, tools) over the winter here in NY and do this install during March or April when it starts to warm up in the garage and I'm feeling the itch! I want to run a stickier tire on a second set of wheels next year but this talk of hub detonation scares me (especially when I already put RX-8 hubs in the front). Thanks a ton for this! I'm a visual learner vs. reading so this was perfect for me.

[@nastasiaj]

This guy is an amazing speaker....he didn't stumble once I don't think. And he is a master on this subject. Crazy good.

[@TurboHappyCar]

Thanks a ton for making this video and supporting the NC! 👍

[@supermoop]

Thank you for this video. I've been looking for a reference video to replace the rear hub bearing on an RX-8. 😅

[@Zadnak1]

Thank you sooooo much for making this. I've been trying to figure out how to support the knuckle for a while now, to the point where I decided to just buy another set of knuckles with original bearings and hubs and swap them on. This will change things.

[@Handgun777]

That's exactly what I ended up doing. It was either paying a shop with a press or buying one myself. I figured buying the whole assembly from a junker would make the job easier and cheaper.

[@samiauch8791]

Sam from Brevard nc. Please no your extra work in making this video is appreciated.

[@driver46]

You video is the best help I could get for this conversion. Thank you for making it , I just finished both sides and it would take much longer vidout this video. 👍

[@BrooksWildlife]

Thank you for this. Im just doing a wheel bearing replacement, and am headed to harbor frieght now for the press. =)

[@ianfairbanks1318]

keep these coming man! also, i have that exact giant flat blade screwdriver!

[@larrymclaren1537]

I have and NC that I'm turning into a track car (HPDE) and planning the 2.5 swap as well. That was very detailed and outlined the job is a lot more complex that I would have thought. Thank you for pointing that out! Off to the pros to do the job. I'm also planning the StopTech BBK upgrade as well because of your video on them. Great videos. Incidentally, I am in FL, looks like you are too. Sebring is my home track, hopefully I'll see you there soon.

[@ProfessorApex]

I'm at Sebring almost every month.

[@hartmutflemming2045]

Look NC doing....thank,s watching 6/2023 germany ......

[@driver46]

I just finished 2.5 swap and did first track test . I love your video instructions , I will need to do this soon . Thank you .

[@larrymclaren1537]

How do you like your 2.5 swap in your NC? Did you do anything to the motor at install or is it pretty much stock?

[@driver46]

@@larrymclaren1537 Only thing different than stock is intake camshaft from 2.0 was swapped in 2.5 . It has little bit rev happier lobes but it should only give 2-3 whp more and little bit less torque in low rpms. It is really much more enjoyable to drive 2.5 engine it has full torque available from 2500rpm to 5500rpm .

[@driver46]

Your video is the best 👌

[@catenaincorporated7052]

Great video , thank you

[@jraiello]

I have a 2009 NC Miata competition yellow and the exact piece of crap 12ton press from HF...funny...good video, I already made the conversion on my heavily modified NC...

[@michaelw6277]

Man, it’s a shame that the pivot style ball joint separator doesn’t work. It’s one of the tools I have that I really enjoy using.

[@zfreak2808]

Wow. I'll have to consider this for mine. I wonder what the v8 guys do.

[@wg5768]

I believe with a v8 swap,you need to replace the whole rear drive train.

[@RGSneaker]

If I pull the axle from the diff without draining it, will it not leak all the diff oil?

[@aaronviray6255]

How do you replace the tie rod dust boots? Having a hard time removing them.

[@iliveinthewoods]

👍🏻 got it!

[@synmoo]

At what level should I be concerned and plan to do this? I'm probably doing 3 or 4 HPDE's per year, mostly stock power, 200TW tires at most. Great video, thank you!

[@ProfessorApex]

If I were me in your situation, I would replace the rear wheel bearings and use a new, OEM, stock MX5 hub. The hub is what fails. Primarily from using sticking tires and pounding the curbs.

[@leisurehound]

Great video, thanks for going through all the details. Are the stub axles with outer CVs removed from the RX8 axles and installed onto MX-5 axles handed? I know the hub flanges are not handed, but curious on the parts transferred from the RX8 are similarly not handed. Is the only difference of the axles between sides the lengths?

[@ProfessorApex]

As far as I know the outer stub axles are the same side to side. The middle axles are different lengths.

[@michaelbrown4882]

What size socket for the castle nut?

[@tiezep]

do you have a good reference for how to remove/replace the rubber boots on the rear suspension links?

[@ItsMuffinMan]

Is there a place to purchase the "tulip joint" I think is what you called it? The end piece with the 3 bearings on it? My axle pulled apart on the track and I lost one of the bearings and can NOT for the life of me find a way to replace just that part. I would rather not have to purchase a whole new axle just for one bearing.

[@mgamma5001]

How did you get the axle out of the hub?

[@tonyr.5956]

Question: I know you have to use the axles from a 2004, 2005...possibly 2006 RX8 that are from an automatic. Does it matter if I get two axles from the same side (two lefts) of two donor vehicles since I'm only using the outside axle joint w/splines? Are the outside joints different lengths for each side? Thanks much and great video.

[@whopwhop7585]

Doesnt matter if its same side. I did the hybrid axle few days ago and did not bothrr checking which side goes on left or right

[@robertkorn]

Normally you don't need a special tool to separate the ball joints. Leave the nut on a few threads to keep the arm from popping up violently like what happened to you, and just a single smack the knuckle with a hammer at a the ball joint. It should pop free easily. Otherwise, great video

[@robertkorn]

Also, I didn't see you mention it but don't forget to put the snap ring back in after installing the new bearing.

[@whopwhop7585]

rx8 auto shaft is very difficult to find in europe, any idea to source it? RX8 Manual shaft wont fit? thanks so much for the video :)

[@ProfessorApex]

Manual will not work. The axles splines are too big.

[@whopwhop7585]

Rx8 abs sensor can be used on the rear? On my nc the sensor was seized and I damaged it during removal. Thanks

[@ProfessorApex]

As far as I know the RX8 wheel speed sensor will not work without changing a bunch of other stuff.

[@grant2410]

Do you know what would be required to use the rx8 diff in the mx5/miata? Rx8 hub, rx8 end axle, mx5 axle shaft, rx8 end axle, rx8 diff?

[@ProfessorApex]

I'm sorry I do not know. I'm pretty sure it isn't a direct bolt in swap though.

[@NVIDIAguy343]

I've done this. Let me know if you still have questions regarding the swap.

[@richardstok2711]

Look here. I am just in process of doing this. Spacer plus redrill pdf frame diff mounting holes. miaterati.tumblr.com/post/116920440576/i-decided-to-change-the-differential-before

[@NVIDIAguy343]

@@richardstok2711 I used your site as references for what I did! Thanks so much for sharing the information. Good luck with your build.

[@scottsettegast582]

Can you share a part number for the ARP studs? I just want to make sure I’m going to buy the correct ones since they don’t make ones directly for the RX-8 hubs.

[@ProfessorApex]

ARP 1007719

[@scottsettegast582]

Thank you very much. This is a very educational video by the way. Keep up the great work.

[@mousakuraishi8039]

Will a 2005 auto rx-8 work?

[@ProfessorApex]

It should work. I just picked one up from an 05 auto 2 days ago and it was the correct one. Best practice is to verify it's the right axle prior to purchase though.

[@taylormasieroracing1582]

Do you have a min to discuss? Just found a 2006 rx-8 donor automatic but I’m not sure the axles are the right ones

[@ProfessorApex]

Send me a pic of the axles. [e-mail].

[@Handgun777]

Hello, was just wondering what tool you used to remove the tie rods on those axles? What is it called?

[@ProfessorApex]

@@Handgun777 www.amazon.com/Pro-Grade-18206-Pitman-16-Inch-Opening/dp/B002O16UF2/ref=sr_1_8?dchild=1&keywords=pitman+arm+puller&qid=1616604271&sr=8-8

[@SpeedTheoryMe]

So for you the ABS sensors just bolted right in with no modification / sleeving?

[@ProfessorApex]

That is correct. Drill the bolt hole out to fit the RX8 bolt. No sleeving needed.

[@SpeedTheoryMe]

@@ProfessorApex Drill the bolt hole out of the MX5 ABS sensor or where it mounts on the RX8 upright? I'm mostly asking because I'm going to eventually convert to RX8 ABS (and that requires the use of RX8 sensors to go back in), and seeing if that ends with me buying more RX8 uprights / bearings as well. Thanks!

[@ProfessorApex]

Drill the sensor. No modifications are needed to the RX8 hub. You’ll have no problem swapping to RC8 sensors later.

[@bobbiweiss4176]

Except.........You forgot to re-install the backing plate!!!

[@whopwhop7585]

Managed to get smooth axle from an auto rx8, but now I realise I will need rear knuckle from an auto rx8... Am I wrong? -_-

[@whopwhop7585]

Upright from manual rx8 with rx8 auto axle is fine, I just tried!

[@ProfessorApex]

The part that's hard to find is the outside axle joint that will accept the MX5 axle. I think all of the uprights, hubs and bearings are the same but I cannot confirm. My parts all came from the same donor. You could do a check on part numbers for the hub on the manual and auto and see if the part number is different.

[@whopwhop7585]

I can confirm upright is the same on auto and manual!

[@bluspectre2042]

Unfortunately, an NC MX-5 guide is as close as I can get to a guide for my RX-8... At least our rear suspension is nearly identical.