1991 MAZDA MIATA brakes

install remaining components, reverse removal procedure. See Fig. 14. After assembly is complete, wheel to
spindle end play should be .001-.003" (.02-.08 mm).
Removal & Installation (929)
1. Raise and support front of vehicle. Remove wheel. Remove caliper with brake hose connected. Support
caliper with rope. Remove hub cap, wheel bearing lock nut and washer. Remove hub and rotor assembly.
2. Machine rotor if lateral runout exceeds specification. Replace rotor if measured thickness is less than
specified minimum thickness. See DISC BRAKE SPECIFICATIONS
at end of article.
3. To install, reverse removal procedure. Replace wheel bearing lock nut, and tighten to 72-130 ft. lbs. (98-
177 N.m). Check hub end play. If end play exceeds .002" (.05 mm), replace bearing. If end play is within
specification, stake lock nut at groove in axle shaft.
REAR DISC BRAKE PADS
Removal & Installation (Miata, Protege & 323)
1. Raise and support rear of vehicle. Remove wheel. Remove manual adjustment gear concealment plug
from caliper. See Fig. 15
. Insert an appropriate size Allen wrench through hole and turn manual
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justment gear counterclockwise to retract caliper piston.

1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata
BRAKE SYSTEM 1991 BRAKES Mazda Brake System
Microsoft
Sunday, July 05, 2009 2:18:08 PMPage 23 © 2005 Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC.

Fig. 15: Rear Disc Brake Assembly (Miata, Protege & 323)
2. Remove lower guide bolt from caliper. Rotate caliper upward, and support using rope. Remove "M"
spring. Remove pads, shims and guide plates. Replace pad if lining thickness is less than .04" (1.0 mm).
To install, reverse removal procedure.
Removal & Installation (MX-6 & 626)
1. Raise and support rear of vehicle. Remove wheel. Release parking brake and disconnect parking brake
cable from caliper. Remove upper guide bolt from caliper. Rotate caliper downward and secure with rope.
Remove "V" springs. Remove pads and shims.
2. To install, turn caliper piston clockwise using Disc Brake Piston Wrench (49-FA18-602) to retract caliper
piston. Ensure groove in piston aligns with alignment pin on back of inner pad. Replace pad if lining
thickness is less than .04" (1.0 mm). To complete installation, reverse removal procedure.
Removal & Installation (RX7)
1. Raise and support rear of vehicle. Remove wheel. Remove lower guide bolt from caliper. Rotate caliper
upward, and secure using rope. Remove "V" springs. Remove pads and shims. Replace pad if lining
thickness is less than .04" (1.0 mm).

1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata
BRAKE SYSTEM 1991 BRAKES Mazda Brake System
Microsoft
Sunday, July 05, 2009 2:18:08 PMPage 24 © 2005 Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC.

2. To install, turn caliper piston clockwise using Disc Brake Piston Wrench (49-FA18-602) to retract caliper
piston. Ensure groove in piston aligns with alignment pin on back of inner pad. To install remaining
components, reverse removal procedure.
Removal & Installation (929)
Raise and support rear of vehicle. Remove wheel. Remove lower guide bolt from caliper. Rotate caliper upward
and secure with rope. Remove pads and shims. Replace pad if lining thickness is less than .08" (2.0 mm). To
install, reverse removal procedure.
REAR BRAKE CALIPER
Removal & Installation
1. Raise and support rear of vehicle. On all models except 929, release parking brake and disconnect parking
brake cable from caliper. On all models, disconnect brake hose from caliper.
2. On Miata, Protege and 323, remove manual adjustment gear concealment plug from caliper. See Fig. 15
.
Insert an appropriate size Allen wrench through hole and turn manual adjustment gear counterclockwise
to retract caliper piston.
3. On all models, remove lower guide bolt from caliper. Rotate caliper upward. Pull caliper toward center of
vehicle to slide it off of caliper mount. To install, reverse removal procedure. Bleed hydraulic system.
REAR BRAKE ROTOR
Removal & Installation (Miata, Protege, RX7, 323 & 929)
Remove rear brake caliper. Remove rotor-to-hub screws. Remove rotor. Machine rotor if lateral runout exceeds
specification. Replace rotor if measured thickness is less than specified minimum thickness. See DISC BRAKE
SPECIFICATIONS at end of article. To install, reverse removal procedure.
Removal & Installation (MX-6 & 626)
1. Remove rear caliper, and wire aside. Remove grease cap. Remove lock nut. Remove rotor. Machine rotor
if lateral runout exceeds specification. Replace rotor if measured thickness is less than specified minimum
thickness. See DISC BRAKE SPECIFICATIONS
at end of article.
2. To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten lock nut to 73-131 ft. lbs. (99-178 N.m). Check end play at
grease cap. If end play exceeds .008" (.20 mm), replace wheel bearings.
REAR BRAKE SHOES
Removal (B2200, B2600i & MPV)
With brake drum removed, remove brake shoe return springs, retaining springs and guide pins. See Fig. 16 or
Fig. 17
. Remove brake shoes. Remove parking brake strut, and disconnect parking brake cable from operating
lever of secondar
y shoe. Minimum lining thickness is .04" (1 mm).

1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata
BRAKE SYSTEM 1991 BRAKES Mazda Brake System
Microsoft
Sunday, July 05, 2009 2:18:08 PMPage 25 © 2005 Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC.

Fig. 16: Rear Drum Brake Assembly (B2200 & B2600i 2WD)
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.

1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata
BRAKE SYSTEM 1991 BRAKES Mazda Brake System
Microsoft
Sunday, July 05, 2009 2:18:08 PMPage 26 © 2005 Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC.

Fig. 17: Rear Drum Brake Assembly (B2600i 4WD & MPV)
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
Installation
1. Apply brake grease to the adjusting screw threads and shoe contact points on backing plate. Install
parking brake operating lever to secondary shoe and secure with clip. Engage operating lever with
parking brake cable.
2. Position operating strut between slots of shoes. Mount assembly to backing plate so slots in shoes are
toward adjusting screws. Install return springs and retainer springs.
Removal (MX-6, Protege, 323 & 626)
1. Remove brake drum. Remove trailing shoe hold-down spring and pin. Remove trailing shoe assembly.
2. Remove return spring, anti-rattle spring, and leading shoe hold-down spring and pin. Remove leading
shoe assembly. See Fig. 18
. Minimum lining thickness is .04" (1 mm).

1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata
BRAKE SYSTEM 1991 BRAKES Mazda Brake System
Microsoft
Sunday, July 05, 2009 2:18:08 PMPage 27 © 2005 Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC.

Fig. 18: View of Rear Drum Brake Assembly (Typical)
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
Installation
1. Apply brake grease to brake shoe contact areas on backing plate. When installing adjuster between shoes,
insert a flat-tipped screwdriver between adjuster quadrant and meshing teeth on MX-6 and 626, or
between quadrant and knurled pin on Protege and 323. See Fig. 2
.
2. To fully retract adjuster, move quadrant until it touches backing plate. To complete installation, reverse
removal procedure. Adjust wheel bearings and stake lock nut.
Removal (Navajo)
1. Remove wheel assembly and drum. Place a wheel cylinder clamp over ends of wheel cylinder. Disengage
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justing lever from adjusting screw by pulling backwards on lever cable. See Fig. 19 .

1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata
BRAKE SYSTEM 1991 BRAKES Mazda Brake System
Microsoft
Sunday, July 05, 2009 2:18:08 PMPage 28 © 2005 Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC.

Fig. 19: Examining Rear Brake Assemblies (Navajo)
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
2. Move outboard side of adjusting screw upward, and back off pivot nut as far as possible. Pull adjusting
lever, cable and adjusting spring down and toward rear to unhook pivot hook from large hole in
secondary shoe. DO NOT pry pivot hook from hole.
3. Remove adjusting spring and adjusting lever. Remove secondary shoe-to-anchor spring. Remove primary

1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata
BRAKE SYSTEM 1991 BRAKES Mazda Brake System
Microsoft
Sunday, July 05, 2009 2:18:08 PMPage 29 © 2005 Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC.

shoe-to-anchor spring. Unhook cable anchor, and remove anchor pin plate.
4. Remove cable guide, shoe hold-down springs, brake shoes, adjusting screw, pivot nut and socket.
Remove parking brake link spring and link. Note color and position of springs for reassembly.
5. Disconnect parking brake cable from lever. Remove secondary shoe. Disassemble parking brake lever
from shoe by removing retaining clip and spring washer. See Fig. 20
.
Fig. 20: Exploded View of Rear Drum Brake Assembly (Navajo)

Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
Installation
Clean and sand brake shoe contact points on backing plate. Apply a light coating of lithium base grease to
contact points. Lubricate adjusting cable eye and anchor pin area. Lubricate adjusting screw, pivot and socket.
To install, reverse removal procedure.
PARKING BRAKE SHOES
Removal (929)

1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata
BRAKE SYSTEM 1991 BRAKES Mazda Brake System
Microsoft
Sunday, July 05, 2009 2:18:08 PMPage 30 © 2005 Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC.