[red five]

Still looking for an MX5 for a mate but instead of an NA he prefers an NBFL 1.8now.

So the questions i have are : do all NBFL 1.8's come with a diff or is it just the Sport?

I heard that the dif changed from Torsen to a Japanese brand around 2003 en that these Japanese dif's are very fragile, is that correct?

And also this, in Belgium someone advertises he has a Sportive for sale, colour is black with beige leather and Nardi wood steering/gearknob is that possible? thought the sporti(ive) only had black perforated leather interior......

 

[Wrangler]

I would love to help, but you are treading in an area that I have no experience. The only NB I have ever seen is a MazdaSpeed (turbocharged). Besides, we never got the selections of special editions seen in the rest of the world.

 

[Steveti]

Hi Patrick,

try http://www.roadster-nc.com/for some tech detail on the whole MX5 range. There are some anomalies and slight inaccuracies in some of the finer detail but in the main a look in the technical section onthis site should give you the answers you are looking for on diff types in the NB, as I understand it it was only the sport that had the limited slip differential that I assume you are looking for detail about. In essence anything that is of the torque sensing type including those manufactured under the the Tochigi Fuji name are pretty bullet proof. Some issues tend to come with the older clutch type limited slip diffs as spring tension decreases with age.

Also I have said on numerous occasions that as a reference book and a great way to get some real knowledge of the MX5 - all models- you could do worse than spending a few Euros on Keith Tanner's wonderful book http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0760337055/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=569136327&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0760316201&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=0J4ZV391Y0F2FECPE0FQthe info in this book is as accurate as you will get all based on Keith's extensive work on the MX5

 

[red five]

Thx for these quick and helpful answers.

That roadster nc link seems terrific for NC owners but i couldn't find anything concerning the Nb models , great NC site anyway and too bad it's not NA/NB related.

But calling that diff by name (Tochigi Fuji) was a great improvement for my "google-search" and i found that most coments indeed mentioned the weakness of these diffs (altough, it's not as bad as many thinks....).

The weakness of these particular diff's is not the diff itself but the "clutch plates"

As far as i (my friend's advisor....) am concerned i will advise him to stay away from 2003-on diffs on an NBFL..

As for that book, yeah i will buy it (didn't even knew about its existance....), no idea about who Keith Tanner is but if you trust that man's expierience, thats good enough for me....unfortunately i'l have to be patient as the link mentions "temporaly unavailable".

Our search is simplified/improved after this item sorted out :thumbsup:.....we focus on 2000-2003 1.8 Sportive versions (which are more easy to find in Uk than "overseas").

 

[Steveti]

Hi Patrick,

try here for How to build a high-performance Mazda Miata MX-5, Keith Tanners book. I do consider it essential reading as it lays so many myths and misunderstandings about the car to rest. It still stands as amongst the best money I've spent on my MX5s.

 

[red five]

Thx and .....off course Steveti, E-BAY........it's indeed as simple as that.

I've ordered it and hope to have it soon .

How about these two other Keith Tanner books; fix it,trickx it and performance projects? are they also worth buying?