- Raise and safely support the vehicle.
- On the Miata, remove the exhaust pipe and muffler assembly.
- Mark the position of the driveshaft flange on the rear axle flange for assembly
reference.
- Remove the driveshaft-to-flange bolts and nuts, and remove the driveshaft.
Slide the driveshaft yoke from the transmission, being careful not to damage
the oil seal. Install a suitable plug in the transmission to prevent fluid
leakage.
To install:
- Remove the plug from the transmission rear housing. Slide the driveshaft
yoke into the transmission, being careful not to bottom the yoke against the
oil seal.
- Install the driveshaft on the axle flange, aligning the marks that were
made during removal. Install the bolts and nuts. Tighten the nuts and bolts
to 37–43 ft. lbs. (50–58 Nm).
- On the Miata, install the exhaust pipe/muffler assembly with a new gasket.
Tighten the pipe nuts to 28–38 ft. lbs. (38–51 Nm).
- Lower the vehicle.
- Raise and safely support the vehicle.
- Remove the right and left undercovers, the center and rear tunnel reinforcements
and the catalytic converter.
- Disconnect the secondary air injection pipe and remove the catalytic converter
assembly.
- Remove the driveshaft cover.
- Matchmark the driveshaft and companion flange. Remove the mounting nuts
and bolts and remove the driveshaft. Cap the transmission to prevent leakage
of fluid. If there is excessive play in the U-joints, the driveshaft must
be replaced with a new one.
- Installation is the reverse of removal. Torque the driveshaft mounting nuts
and bolts to 37–43 ft. lbs. (50–58 Nm). Torque the tunnel reinforcement
bracket mounting bolts to 14–19 ft. lbs. (18–26 Nm). Torque the
driveshaft and undercover mounting bolts to 70–95 in. lbs. (7.9–10.7
Nm).
