1991 MAZDA MIATA parking brake

1. Raise and support rear of vehicle. Ensure parking brake is released. Remove plugs from rear of backing
plate (one below wheel cylinder, other near outer diameter of backing plate). Insert a screwdriver through
hole below wheel cylinder. Rotate star wheel adjuster in direction of arrow stamped on backing plate until
wheel locks.
2. Insert a drift through other hole in backing plate. Push pawl back from adjuster and back off adjuster 6-7
notches. Ensure wheel rotates freely. Perform same procedure on both sides. Adjust parking brake.
B2600i 4WD & MPV
1. Raise and support rear of vehicle. Ensure parking brake is released. Remove plugs from rear of backing
plate. Insert a screwdriver through hole for star wheel. Rotate adjuster in direction of arrow stamped on
backing plate until wheel locks.
2. Insert a drift through other hole in backing plate. Push pawl back from adjuster and back off adjuster 8-10
notches (13-15 notches on MPV). Ensure wheel rotates freely. Perform same procedure on both sides.
Adjust parking brake.
MX-6, Protege, 323 & 626
1. Raise and support rear of vehicle. Remove wheel. Release parking brake. Remove lock nut from axle
shaft. Remove brake drum. Insert screwdriver between adjusting plate and quadrant. Twist screwdriver to
disen
gage teeth. See Fig. 2 or Fig. 3 .

1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata
BRAKE SYSTEM 1991 BRAKES Mazda Brake System
Microsoft
Sunday, July 05, 2009 2:18:08 PMPage 3 © 2005 Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC.

Fig. 3: Moving Quadrant on Rear Brake Adj. (Typical Protege & 323)
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
2. Push adjusting lever toward backing plate. Install brake drum. Install new lock nut, and secure by
crimping. Operate parking brake a few times to reset adjuster. Adjust parking brake.
Navajo
1. Raise and support rear of vehicle. If drums are installed on vehicle, remove cover from adjusting hole at
bottom of brake backing plate. Turn adjusting screw with a brake adjusting tool until shoes drag against
brake drum and lock drum.
2. When shoes are against drum, loosen adjusting screw an additional 10-12 notches so drum rotates freely.
If drum does not rotate freely, remove wheel and drum and vacuum dust and dirt from linings. Use
sandpaper and remove rust from points where shoes touch backing plate. Apply a light coating of
molybdenum grease to brake shoe-to-backing plate contact points. Install wheel and drum and adjust
shoes.
3. To adjust brakes with rear drums removed, first clean all rust and dirt on points where shoes touch
backing plate and apply a small amount of molybdenum grease to those areas. Use a brake shoe
adjustment gauge and adjust brakes to inside diameter of drum braking surface.
4. Reverse tool and adjust brake shoes until they touch gauge. Gauge contact points on shoes must be
parallel to vehicle with center line throu
gh center of axle. Hold automatic adjusting lever out of

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

engagement while rotating adjusting screw to prevent burring screw slots. Ensure adjusting screw rotates
freely.
PARKING BRAKE
B2200 & B2600i
1. Depress brake pedal several times while vehicle is moving in Reverse. Ensure brakes are properly
adjusted. Pull parking brake lever with a force of 44 lbs. (20 kg). If stroke is 7-12 notches, parking brake
is properly adjusted.
2. If stroke is not 7-12 notches, raise and support rear of vehicle. Release parking brake lever. Loosen cable
lock nut at lever end of cable. Rotate adjusting nut until correct stroke is obtained. Operate parking brake
several times and ensure rear wheels rotate freely. Ensure parking brake warning light illuminates when
brake lever is pulled one notch.
Navajo
1. Adjust service brakes before adjusting parking brake cable. Ensure brake drums are cold. Apply parking
brake to fully depressed position. Grip threaded rod to prevent it from spinning.
2. Thread equalizer nut 6 full turns past its original position on threaded rod. See Fig. 4
. Check cable
tension at rear of equalizer assembly using Cable Tension Gauge (021-00018). If tension is not 400-600
lbs. (182-272 k
g), repeat step 2).

1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata
BRAKE SYSTEM 1991 BRAKES Mazda Brake System
Microsoft
Sunday, July 05, 2009 2:18:08 PMPage 6 © 2005 Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC.

Fig. 4: Adjusting Parking Brake (Navajo)
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
3. Release pedal, and check rear wheel drag. If drag is noted, remove drums, and check for clearance
between parking brake lever and cam plate. Cables should be tight enough to allow full application of rear
brakes and loose enough to allow full release of rear brakes.
929
1. Depress brake pedal several times. Pull parking brake lever with a force of 44 lbs. (20 kg). If stroke is 6-8
notches, parking brake is properly adjusted. If stroke is not 6-8 notches, adjust parking brake shoes. See
PARKING BRAKE SHOES under ADJUSTMENTS
.
NOTE: Tension limiter will reset parking brake tension any time system is
disconnected if distance between bracket and cinch strap hook is reduced
during adjustment. When adjustment has been performed so cinch strap
contacts bracket, system tension will increase greatly. This may cause an over-
tension condition. When available adjustment travel has been used, replace
tension limiter.
NOTE: If rear brake shoes are removed for any reason, parking brake cable

1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata
BRAKE SYSTEM 1991 BRAKES Mazda Brake System
Microsoft
Sunday, July 05, 2009 2:18:08 PMPage 7 © 2005 Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC.

2. Release parking brake lever. Using a screwdriver, reach through parking brake handle hole in console and
rotate adjusting screw until stroke is 6-8 notches. Ensure rear wheels rotate freely. Ensure parking brake
warning light illuminates when brake lever is pulled one notch.
Miata, MX-6, MPV, Protege, RX7, 323, 626
1. On models with rear disc brakes, depress brake pedal several times. On models with rear drum brakes,
start engine and depress brake pedal several times while vehicle is moving in Reverse. Stop engine.
2. On all models, pull parking brake lever with a force of 22 lbs. (10 kg). If stroke is 5-7 notches, parking
brake is properly adjusted. If stroke is not 5-7 notches, raise and support rear of vehicle. Release parking
brake lever.
3. Rotate cable adjusting nut at lever end of cable (under console cover) until stroke is within specification.
On models equipped with rear disc brakes, ensure clearance between stopper and lever (at each caliper) is
not less than .08" (2 mm) on RX7, or zero on all other models. On all models, ensure parking brake
warning light illuminates when brake lever is pulled one notch.
PARKING BRAKE SHOES
929
Raise and support vehicle. Remove rear wheels. Remove service plug from rotor. Using a screwdriver, rotate
star wheel adjuster toward axle until rotor locks. Rotate adjuster in opposite direction 3-5 notches. Ensure rotors
turn freely and parking brake functions properly. Install service plug and rear wheels.
PEDAL FREE PLAY
Depress pedal a few times to eliminate vacuum. Pedal free play should be .16-.28" (4-7 mm). Adjust play by
loosening push rod lock nut. Turn push rod until correct free play is obtained. Tighten push rod lock nut.
PEDAL HEIGHT & STOPLIGHT SWITCH
1. Released pedal height is measured from carpet surface on vertical portion of firewall to pedal pad center.
Disconnect stoplight switch electrical connector. Loosen lock nut on stoplight switch. Move switch away
from pedal. Loosen push rod lock nut. Turn rod until correct pedal height is obtained. See BRAKE
PEDAL HEIGHT SPECIFICATIONS .
2. Adjust pedal free play. See PEDAL FREE PLAY
under ADJUSTMENTS. Tighten push rod lock nut.
Rotate stoplight switch until it contacts pedal and then rotate an additional 1/2 turn. Tighten stoplight
switch lock nut. Reconnect stoplight switch electrical connector.
3. Applied pedal height is measured from angled portion of firewall (without carpet) to pedal pad center.
Start engine. On B2200, B2600i and MPV, depress brake pedal with 33 lbs. (15 kg) pressure. On all other
models, depress brake pedal with 132 lbs. (60 k
g) pressure. tension should be checked and adjusted.
NOTE: Pedal height and stoplight switch information is not available for Navajo.

1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata
BRAKE SYSTEM 1991 BRAKES Mazda Brake System
Microsoft
Sunday, July 05, 2009 2:18:08 PMPage 8 © 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. 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.