Anybody in Philly? Broken down - got 36 hours to fix miata

Man, I've had a rough week. In last few days my ever-reliable-since-2009 NA miata has needed a RF caliper, wheel bearing, and passenger door lock retaining spring (had door stuck shut). The stuck RF caliper of course happened in Philly... like on the street. At 8PM as it was getting dark. That was a fun swap:

Last night I wanted to finish out prepping it for NJMP this weekend: Bleed brakes, coolant, oil, etc.

However, I noticed that my shifts on my way into work were a bit tough so I picked up a clutch master and slave just to be safe. Took 20 minutes to swap em out and bleed the system, only to get back into the car and not be able to put it into gear at all. Kept bleeding and looking at it... no hydraulic issues.

Pull the boot and look into the bellhousing and I can see the housing on TO bearing cracked and everything just floating around. I'm assuming that the clip that holds the fork either broke or popped off, taking the bearing with it.

Bad news = Now I'm pulling a transmission tonight. And putting it back in tomorrow.

Good news = I broke down in my friends driveway. So I have a garage, jacks, air tools, etc on hand.

So if there's any chance anybody is local and can lend a hand tonight or tomorrow - I can use it. Also, if anybody has any ideas as to what happened here, whether it was installation error or if that clip is known to break, let me know. I did put a new clutch in it a few months ago (along with pilot and TO bearing). I'm not sure what I'm going to do if it turns out the clip is broken. Don't know who would stock one?

Sorry that I can't offer anything other than my sympathies - that sucks! At least a Miata trans is fairly easy to R&R. As for parts, there is almost certainly either a Spec Miata racer or a shop that builds them within 20 minutes of you - that's the sort of thing they'd have sitting around.

The TO bearing will be cake to find. Anybody stocks it. I'm worried about the clip if it is indeed broken. I have to have it removed by tonight.

According to Mazda's parts fiche, the clip is not available by itself, but the part number for the fork which includes it is B622-16-520. Should be around $25 if a local dealer has one.

Where is your friend's driveway? I'm probably a little over an hour away, but if it's on the Northern end of Philly it might be near work for me.

Also, if the friend who owns the driveway will be helping you you're probably good on people- I can say from experience that trying to fit more than two people under a Miata will only make things more difficult

Yeah - unfortunately he's headed outta town on a camping trip. Thus the request. Sorry, I live in northern Philly but I broke down south of in Ridley Park.

I'll call the local mazda dealer to see if they stock the part. Good call.

sorry to say I am at work at the moment and won't be done till around 4. After that I have to go Delaware to buy a boat.

In reply to Blaise:

Ridley Park is too much of a hike for today, but if you find yourself up E36 M3 creek I could get down there tomorrow after work.

Wish I were near. There's something soothing about being under a car.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ wrote: In reply to Blaise: Ridley Park is too much of a hike for today, but if you find yourself up E36 M3 creek I could get down there tomorrow after work.

Same for me. Good luck, keep this posted if you get in a jam.

So, how's it going?