MAZDA MIATA BRAKE ADJUSTMENT PAIN

Anyone who owns a Mazda Miata and has replaced the brake pads on the rear wheels knows that adjustment of the parking brake is the biggest pain ever!  On the rear of the rear brake caliper is a small 14mm bolt that covers a secret adjustment screw.  It is this screw (it uses a 4mm hex) is the cause of a lot of problems when installing rear pads.

Above is an example of a rear caliper.

This is the hidden bolt on the rear of the caliper.  The spring/cable bracket is removed for clarity.

Once you have the bolt removed (it has a washer so dont lose it) you can loosen the piston to fit the new pads.

It takes a 4mm hex or allen to retract or tighten the e-brake actuator.  Once you have retracted the piston as far as you need to put in the new pads, put the whole caliper back onto the disk and tighten the caliper bolt to specifications.  The hidden bolt should still be open at this time because we are not done with it yet.  With the wheel off the ground (obviously) slowly turn the disk and tighten the retracting screw with the 4mm hex (or allen for you weirdos) until the disk stops moving. Back off the screw about 1/3 (thats one third) of a turn and see if the disk turns freely.  If not back off a little more till it turns.  Then tighten the hidden bolt cover and you are done.  

If, for some reason know only to you, your screw falls out onto the ground while manipulating the caliper this is what it looks like.

Just stick it back in and continue no harm done.  If for some reason it becomes hard to turn the screw, please for the love of all thats holy do not force it or you just bought a new caliper.  It doesn't take much force to adjust the screw and you will destroy it if you do it too hard.  Run your car for a few miles checking the rear brakes for seizing (that means you tightened it too much).  Get back under the car and loosen the bolt and loosen the screw a small bit to make the parking brake the perfect distance between too tight and not tight enough.  

Because not all brake pads are the same size and shape as the original Mazda brake pads, it is probably not possible to get it right on the first try (God knows I didn't )but keep at it and you will have it perfect.  Keep your Zen attitude and you will probably get it done quickly........maybe.