This is my blog about my little MX-5 called Bob.
Bob is an NBFL or Mk2.5 miata in Chilli Orange Mica. Bob is an icon model. Chilli Orange is also known as Lava Orange in the states.
Icons are nothing too special, they are the last run Mazda did of this model and include a leather interior with orange stitching, heated seats, and fog lights.
Anything else is additional extra. Mine came with a strut brace, butterfly bracing, and factory sports brakes.
The previous owner swapped out the open differential for a Torsen Type 2 LSD (Limited Slip Differential).
I purchased Bob in October 2025. Since then I set about fixing all the squeaks and noises the car was making at 20 years old. This meant taking a hard look at some of the existing mods on the car as well as the old rubber.
It was clear the fitment on the wheels looked great, but the 25mm wheel spacers added significant unsprung weight alongside the stock wheels. This combined with lowering springs was putting a lot of extra stress on the suspension components. The shocks were tired. The rubber torn.
That was the decision made. The car needed to be brought back to life and properly. No more squeaks or nasty noises and time for some OEM+ upgrades.
We had goals of taking the care out for occasional track use with a key mantra at play at every decision making point.
DON’T RUIN IT.
Ask yourself will this part/change make the experience of owning the car worse or more difficult. If the answer is yes, you need another solution. Our car must remain a comfortable, fun street car, that is capable on the track.
The Gripes:
- Spongy unconfident brakes
- Barely functional handbrake
- Squeaks and clunks over speed bumps
- Old Tyres – expired rubber
- Unpredictable handling
- Sloppy input feel everywhere
The Shopping List:
- Wilwood Front Big Brake Kit
- IL Motorsport 40% stiffer Rubber bushings
- IL Motorsport 40% stiffer Engine mounts
- IL Motorsport 40% stiffer Diff bushings
- Uprated Eccentric bolts and nuts from SuperMiata
- New ARB endlings from SuperMiata
- Refreshed the Whiteline Anti Roll Bar and regreased the existing poly bushings.
- MeisterR ZetaSport Coilovers
- New Enkei RPF1RS 15×8 4×100 Wheels, New Hardware, Ceramic coated
- Toyo Proxes TR1 215/45/15 85V – semi budget but new and wider to fit. I wouldn’t recommend these.
- Shifter Rebuild Kit, Jass OEM+ Rubber and Bronze Bush
- New OEM Rear Sports Calipers
- New OEM Rear Sports Discs
- HEL Performance Steel braided brake lines x4
- Service: Diff Oil, Gearbox Oil, Engine Oil & Filter, Brake fluid, Spark plugs, Air Filter
- New OEM w/ ABS sensor mount Front Upper Control Arm x2 (wishbones)
- Wire brushed down and fluid film on the rest of the arms and rust areas under the car.
- Throttle cable spacers
- Alignment – an apostrophe ‘ is a minute there are only 60 in a degree° of angle. e.g. -2° = 1° + 60’
- -2° Camber Front
- Max Caster Front
- 0 Toe Front
- 0.15° Toe Rear / 0°8′ (this is toe IN) 4′ each side.
- 1.6° Camber Rear / 1°36′