Mazda MX-5 Miata (1997+). Manual - part 25

1. Raise and support rear of vehicle. Remove rear wheel assemblies. 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. Using a brake shoe 
adjustment gauge, measure 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 through center of axle. Hold automatic adjusting lever out of 
engagement while rotating adjusting screw to prevent burring screw slots. Ensure adjusting screw rotates 
freely.  

MX-3, MX-6, Protege & 626 

Raise and support rear of vehicle. Remove rear wheel assemblies. Release parking brake. Remove brake drum. 
Insert screwdriver between adjusting plate and quadrant. Twist screwdriver to disengage teeth. See Fig. 2 . Push 
quadrant adjusting lever toward backing plate. Install brake drum. Operate parking brake a few times to reset 
adjuster. Adjust parking brake. 

 

1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata 

BRAKE SYSTEM 1995-97 BRAKES Mazda - Disc & Drum

  

Fig. 2: Moving Quadrant On Rear Drum Brake Adjuster (MX-6 & 626 Shown; MX-3 & Protege Are 
Similar) 
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP. 

PARKING BRAKE SHOES ADJUSTMENT 

Millenia, MPV & 929 

1. Raise and support rear of vehicle. Remove rear wheel assemblies. Remove service plug from rotor. Insert 

a screwdriver into service plug hole and turn adjuster in direction of arrow marked on rotor until rotor 
will not turn.  

2. On Millenia and MPV, rotate adjuster 3-5 notches in opposite direction. On 929, rotate adjuster 6-8 

notches in opposite direction. On all models, ensure rotor rotates freely. Install service plug.  

PARKING/EMERGENCY BRAKE 

Miata, MX-3, MX-6, Protege & 626 

NOTE:

B2300, B3000 & B4000 are equipped with self-adjusting parking brake system. 
Manual adjustment is not required.

 

1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata 

BRAKE SYSTEM 1995-97 BRAKES Mazda - Disc & Drum

  

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 Miata, pull parking brake lever with a force of 44 lbs. (20 kg). On all other models, pull parking brake 

lever with a force of 22 lbs. (10 kg). If stroke is 7-9 notches on Miata or 5-7 notches on all others, parking 
brake is properly adjusted. If stroke is not as specified, raise and support rear of vehicle. Release parking 
brake lever.  

3. Rotate cable adjusting nut at lever end of cable, located under console cover, until stroke is within 

specification. Ensure rear brakes do not drag. Ensure parking brake warning light illuminates when brake 
lever is pulled one notch.  

Millenia 

1. Depress brake pedal several times. Pull parking brake lever with a force of 22 lbs. (10 kg). If stroke is 3-5 

notches, parking brake is properly adjusted. If stroke is not 3-5 notches, raise and support rear of vehicle. 
Release parking brake lever.  

2. Remove parking brake lever cover. Rotate cable adjusting nut at lever end of cable until stroke is within 

specification. Ensure rear brakes do not drag. Ensure parking brake warning light illuminates when brake 
lever is pulled one notch.  

MPV (1995-96) 

1. Depress brake pedal several times. Pull parking brake lever with a force of 22 lbs. (10 kg). If stroke is 3-6 

notches, parking brake is properly adjusted. If stroke is not as specified, raise and support rear of vehicle. 
Release parking brake lever.  

2. Remove adjusting nut clip and rotate cable adjusting nut at lever end of cable, located under console 

cover, until stroke is within specification. Ensure rear brakes do not drag. Ensure parking brake warning 
light illuminates when brake lever is pulled one notch.  

MPV (1997) 

1. Depress brake pedal several times. Pull parking brake lever with a force of 44 lbs. (20 kg). If stroke is 6-9 

notches, parking brake is properly adjusted. If stroke is not as specified, raise and support rear of vehicle. 
Release parking brake lever.  

2. Remove adjusting nut clip and rotate cable adjusting nut at lever end of cable, located under console 

cover, until stroke is within specification. Ensure rear brakes do not drag. Ensure parking brake warning 
light illuminates when brake lever is pulled one notch.  

RX7 

1. Depress brake pedal several times. Pull parking brake lever with a force of 22 lbs. (10 kg). If stroke is 7-

10 notches, parking brake is properly adjusted. If stroke is not 7-10 notches, raise and support rear of 
vehicle. Release parking brake lever.  

2. Rotate cable adjusting nut at lever end of cable, located under console cover, until stroke is within 

specification. Ensure rear brakes do not drag. Ensure parking brake warning light illuminates when brake 
lever is pulled one notch.  

 

1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata 

BRAKE SYSTEM 1995-97 BRAKES Mazda - Disc & Drum

  

929 

1. Depress brake pedal several times. Depress parking brake pedal several times with a force of 44 lbs. (20 

kg). If stroke is 5-7 notches, parking brake is properly adjusted. If stroke is not 5-7 notches, rotate 
adjusting nut, located under parking brake pedal, until stroke is within specification.  

2. Ensure rear brakes do not drag. Ensure parking brake warning light illuminates when brake pedal is 

depressed one notch.  

BRAKE PEDAL FREE PLAY 

With engine off, depress pedal a few times to eliminate vacuum. Depress brake pedal by hand and check pedal 
free play. See BRAKE PEDAL FREE PLAY SPECIFICATIONS . Adjust play by loosening push rod lock 
nut. Turn push rod until correct free play is obtained. Tighten push rod lock nut to 18-25 ft. lbs. (24-34 N.m). 

BRAKE PEDAL FREE PLAY SPECIFICATIONS 

BRAKE PEDAL HEIGHT & STOPLIGHT SWITCH 

Miata, MPV, MX-3, MX-6, RX7, 626 & 929 

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. Rotate switch away 
from pedal. Loosen push rod lock nut. Rotate push rod until correct pedal height is obtained. See 
BRAKE PEDAL HEIGHT SPECIFICATIONS .  

2. Adjust pedal free play. See BRAKE PEDAL FREE PLAY . Tighten push rod lock nut to 18-25 ft. lbs. 

(24-34 N.m).  

3. Rotate stoplight switch until it contacts pedal and then rotate an additional 1/2 turn. Tighten stoplight 

switch lock nut 10-13 ft. lbs. (14-18 N.m). Reconnect stoplight switch electrical connector.  

4. Applied pedal height is measured from angled portion of firewall (without carpet) to pedal pad center. 

Start engine. Depress brake pedal with 132 lbs. (60 kg) pressure.  

5. Measure applied pedal height. See BRAKE PEDAL HEIGHT SPECIFICATIONS . If distance is not 

NOTE:

On B2300, B3000 & B4000, brake pedal free play is built into pedal linkage and 
is not adjustable.

Application

In. (mm)

Miata, MPV & MX-3

.16-.28 (4-7)

Millenia, MX-6, Protege & 626

.16-.47 (4-12)

RX7

.12-.31 (3-8)

929

.12-.47 (8-12)

NOTE:

B2300, B3000 & B4000 are equipped with dual brake master cylinder and 
vacuum booster. System is designed to permit full stroke of master cylinder 
when brake pedal is fully depressed. Brake pedal height adjustment is not 
required.

 

1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata 

BRAKE SYSTEM 1995-97 BRAKES Mazda - Disc & Drum