1991 MAZDA MIATA differential

3. Using Bearing Nut Wrench (49 0603 635A ) and Shaft Holder (49 S120 645A ), remove bearing lock nut
from axle shaft. Remove bearing and bearing retainer from axle using Puller (49 S120 520A ). Remove
outer race from hub.
END PLAY SPECIFICATIONS
(1)
Installation
1. Press new oil seal and bearing outer race into bearing retainer. Coat bearing race and outer seal with
grease. Tap inner oil seal flush with end of axle housing. Coat inner seal lip with grease.
2. Position brake backing plate onto axle shaft. Install spacer against backing plate with chamfer facing
backing plate. Using Press Attachment (49 S120 748 ) and a press, install wheel bearing onto axle shaft.
Standard press force is 4.6-6.7 tons (4200-6100 kg). If press fit force is too high or too low, replace the
bearing collar or shaft.
3. Using Bearing Nut Wrench (49 0603 635A ), install bearing lock nut to axle shaft and tighten to 145-217
ft. lbs. (196-245 N.m). Bend tab up into groove. Install one axle shaft into axle housing. Tighten backing
plate nuts to specification. Install dial indicator on backing plate and check drive axle end play.
4. To adjust end play, remove axle and insert appropriate size adjustment shim between axle hub and
housing. End play for second drive axle installed should be set to normal end play clearance of .002-
.010" (.05-.25 mm), with both axles installed.
5. Install parking brake cable, attaching pin and brake line. Install brake shoes and actuating hardware.
Bleed brake system. Install wheel and tire.
BEARING RETAINER SHIMS (B2200 & B2600i)
MPV 4WD
NOTE: On B2200 and B2600i, left axle bearing lock nut has left-hand threads.
ApplicationIn. (mm)
B2200 & B2600i
One Axle Installed.026-.037 (.65-.95)
Both Axles Installed.002-.010 (.05-.25)
(1)Check at axle flange with dial indicator.
NOTE: Ensure end play for first drive axle is within specification before inserting
second drive axle. Use shims to adjust end play if necessary.
Part NumberThickness In. (mm)
083 26 165.004 (.10)
083 26 166.006 (.15)
083 26 167.020 (.50)
083 26 168.030 (.75)

1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1990-91 DRIVE AXLES Differentials & Drive Axles - 929, B2200, B2600i, MX-5 Miata, MPV, Protege & RX-7
Microsoft
Sunday, July 05, 2009 2:17:01 PMPage 3 © 2005 Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC.

1. Raise and support vehicle. Remove rear wheels. Remove brake drum and shoes. Using a dial indicator,
measure axle flange lateral movement. Replace bearing if play exceeds If bearing play exceeds .023" (.57
mm). Disconnect brake line from wheel cylinder. Plug line openings. Disconnect parking brake cable.
2. Remove backing plate retaining nuts. Remove axle shaft and backing plate as an assembly. Use puller or
slide hammer to pull axle and bearing from axle housing. With axle removed, remove retaining ring and
bearing collar. See Fig. 1
.
Fig. 1: Exploded View of Rear Drive Axle (MPV; Others Similar)

Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
3. To remove bearing collar, grind collar until a section of it is .020" (.5 mm) and cut through it with a
chisel. Use a puller or press to remove bearing and brake backing plate. Check axle shaft for straightness.
Maximum runout is .059" (1.5 mm).
4. Use a press to replace wheel studs (if necessary), never use a previously used wheel stud as a
replacement. Lubricate seal lips before replacement. DO NOT lubricate bearing retainer collar before
replacement. Use a press to install bearing collar. If press-fit of collar requires less than 2.7 tons (2699
kg.) replace collar or axle shaft. Reverse removal procedures to complete installation.
DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY

1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1990-91 DRIVE AXLES Differentials & Drive Axles - 929, B2200, B2600i, MX-5 Miata, MPV, Protege & RX-7
Microsoft
Sunday, July 05, 2009 2:17:01 PMPage 4 © 2005 Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC.

Removal (Front - B2600i & MPV 4WD)
1. Raise and support vehicle. Remove engine skid plate. Drain differential. On MPV 4WD, remove tie rod
end and lower arm. Remove front axle shafts. See AXLE SHAFTS
- FRONT article. Mark drive shaft
position, and remove drive shaft.
2. On B2600i, remove differential subframe mounting bolts and nuts. Remove differential, Remote Free
Wheel (RFW) and subframe assembly from vehicle. Remove RFW assembly from right side of
differential housing. Pull drive coupler from carrier. Remove differential carrier retaining bolts. Remove
differential carrier.
3. On MPV 4WD, remove differential housing mounting bolts and mount at end of Remote Free Wheel
(RFW) extension housing. Remove differential and extension housing from vehicle. Remove RFW
assembly from right side of differential housing. Pull drive coupler from carrier. Remove differential
carrier retaining bolts. Remove differential carrier.
Installation
To install, reverse removal procedure. See Fig. 2 or Fig. 3 . Apply Sealant (8527 77 739 ) to carrier mating
flange. Align marks made during removal. Refill differential with lubricant. Tighten all fasteners to
specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
.

1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1990-91 DRIVE AXLES Differentials & Drive Axles - 929, B2200, B2600i, MX-5 Miata, MPV, Protege & RX-7
Microsoft
Sunday, July 05, 2009 2:17:01 PMPage 5 © 2005 Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC.

Fig. 2: Installing Front Differential (B2600i)
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.

1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1990-91 DRIVE AXLES Differentials & Drive Axles - 929, B2200, B2600i, MX-5 Miata, MPV, Protege & RX-7
Microsoft
Sunday, July 05, 2009 2:17:01 PMPage 6 © 2005 Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC.

Fig. 3: Installing Front Differential (MPV 4WD)
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
Removal; Rear - B2200, B2600i, MPV 2WD, PROTEGE 4WD, RX7, 929
1. Raise and support vehicle. Drain differential. Mark drive axles and drive shaft positions. On B2200,

1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1990-91 DRIVE AXLES Differentials & Drive Axles - 929, B2200, B2600i, MX-5 Miata, MPV, Protege & RX-7
Microsoft
Sunday, July 05, 2009 2:17:01 PMPage 7 © 2005 Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC.

B2600i and MPV, remove brake drum and drive axles. See REAR AXLE SHAFTS & BEARINGS. On
Protege 4WD, RX7 and 929, disconnect CV joint drive axles from differential assembly and wire aside.
2. On all models, mark flanges and disconnect drive shaft. Remove ABS sensor (if equipped). On RX7,
remove rear exhaust system and differential mount on left side of pinion flange. Remove hanger mounts
and allow left side to hang down. Disconnect sublinks and remove differential.
3. On Protege 4WD and 929 models, remove differential housing assembly-to-chassis mounting bolts.
Remove differential housing assembly from vehicle. On all models, remove differential carrier-to-
housing nuts. Remove differential carrier.
Installation
To install, reverse removal procedure. Apply Sealant (8527 77 739 ) to carrier mating flange. Align marks made
during removal. Refill differential with correct type and amount of lubricant. Tighten all fasteners to
specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
.
Fig. 4: Exploded View of Differential Assembly (RX7)

Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
Removal (Miata)
1. Raise and support vehicle. Drain differential. Mark flanges and remove drive shaft. Note locations and
disconnect wiring harness from Power Plant Frame (PPF). See Fig. 5
.

1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1990-91 DRIVE AXLES Differentials & Drive Axles - 929, B2200, B2600i, MX-5 Miata, MPV, Protege & RX-7
Microsoft
Sunday, July 05, 2009 2:17:01 PMPage 8 © 2005 Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC.

2. Support transmission with a jack. Remove PPF bracket from rear transmission extension housing.
Remove PPF-to-differential side bolts and pry out spacer. Remove PPF/differential mounting spacer. See
Fig. 6
. Install metric bolt (M14 X 1.5) into sleeve. See Fig. 7 .
3. Twist bolt side-to-side while pulling bolt downward. Install a metric bolt (M6 X 1) into hole in housing
block to hold sleeve and remove long bolt (M14 X 1.5). Remove short bolt (M6 X 1).
4. Remove PPF-to-transmission side bolts and remove PPF. Mark and disconnect CV joint drive axles from
differential assembly and wire aside. Remove differential carrier-to-housing nuts. Remove differential
carrier.
INSTALLATION
1. To install, reverse removal procedure. Apply Sealant (8527 77 739 ) to carrier mating flange. Align marks
made during removal and install differential carrier. Install differential. Raise transmission until engine
and transmission are level.
2. To install Power Plant Frame (PPF), position PPF in place. Install PPF/differential mounting spacer and
tighten bolts to 27-38 ft. lbs. (37-52 N.m). Install PPF-to-transmission side mounting bolts and tighten.
3. Ensure sleeve is installed into PPF housing block. Install spacer and bolts. Ensure reamer bolt is installed
into front hole and tighten. See Fig. 6
.
4. Install transmission-to-PPF bracket. Install remaining PPF bolts and tighten all bolts to specification. See
TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
. To complete installation, reverse removal procedure.
NOTE: On Miata, front PPF-to-differential side mounting bolt is reamer bolt, which
aligns power plant frame. See Fig. 6
.

1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1990-91 DRIVE AXLES Differentials & Drive Axles - 929, B2200, B2600i, MX-5 Miata, MPV, Protege & RX-7
Microsoft
Sunday, July 05, 2009 2:17:01 PMPage 9 © 2005 Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC.

Fig. 5: Exploded View of Differential Components (Miata)
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.

1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1990-91 DRIVE AXLES Differentials & Drive Axles - 929, B2200, B2600i, MX-5 Miata, MPV, Protege & RX-7
Microsoft
Sunday, July 05, 2009 2:17:01 PMPage 10 © 2005 Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC.