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[quote][i]Originally posted by nibnob21[/i] Since having the car I've always thought the brakes should be a bit more effective than they are. Obviously I don't have another MX5 to compare them to, but they just didn't seem right to me. I was told that giving the rear caliper pistons an adjustment can help improve pedal feel whilst also improving the handbrake. So I thought I'd try this out before anything else. This is when I noticed the rear discs look like they've seen better days (identical on left and right side of car): [IMG]http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g230/nibnob21/Eunos%20Roadster/0586.jpg[/IMG] The 14mm bolts on the caliper were pretty stuck but got there in the end: [IMG]http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g230/nibnob21/Eunos%20Roadster/0588.jpg[/IMG] But in the process managed to do this...: [IMG]http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g230/nibnob21/Eunos%20Roadster/0589.jpg[/IMG] ...with my fist: [IMG]http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g230/nibnob21/Eunos%20Roadster/0590.jpg[/IMG] Adjusted the caliper pistons until the discs wouldn't turn, then backed them off a quarter turn: [IMG]http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g230/nibnob21/Eunos%20Roadster/0591.jpg[/IMG] Put it all back together and adjusted the handbrake lever bolt in the cabin but the brakes felt the same as before. Also noticed this while I was under the car; could perhaps be contributing to the rattling I've been getting on overrun. The exhaust is pretty sturdy so I don't need to put a rubber on there, I'll just grind off the exhaust hook at some point. [IMG]http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g230/nibnob21/Eunos%20Roadster/0592.jpg[/IMG] I decided to have a more thorough look at the brakes the next as I ran out of light the day before. You can see here how the pads are wearing unevenly to each other. These are the two from the driver's side. Left one is inside, right one outside. Notice the big ridges in them from the small sections where they contact the discs. [IMG]http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g230/nibnob21/Eunos%20Roadster/0593.jpg[/IMG] Absolutely no evidence that copper slip had been used on any of the components. Everything was crudded up; pads, pad plates, metal clips... (photo below shows the faces that the pads are meant to move smoothly over) [IMG]http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g230/nibnob21/Eunos%20Roadster/0594.jpg[/IMG] Thankfully although the calipers themselves were a bit manky (I gave the calipers a good going over with a wire brush to help remove most of the surface crap), the bottom bolt and the sliding pin are absolutely fine. They were the only bits that showed evidence of being coppered up. [IMG]http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g230/nibnob21/Eunos%20Roadster/0595.jpg[/IMG] And the discs...driver and passenger side both the same. Outside face as below: [IMG]http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g230/nibnob21/Eunos%20Roadster/0596.jpg[/IMG] Inside face even more buggered, don't think I've ever seen discs in this bad a state: [IMG]http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g230/nibnob21/Eunos%20Roadster/0597.jpg[/IMG] I think this photo exaggerates the caliper piston rust. They move in and out fine with the grub screw adjustment so I'm assuming this exposed bit is just cosmetic. Either way I cleaned up the face that contacts the pad the best I could and applied some copper slip. [IMG]http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g230/nibnob21/Eunos%20Roadster/0598.jpg[/IMG] Pads and other bits cleaned up: [IMG]http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g230/nibnob21/Eunos%20Roadster/0599.jpg[/IMG] Everything was greased up and reassembled and new parts swiftly ordered! I haven't had the front wheels off but from peering through the alloys the discs look absolutely fine so only the rears are getting changed for the time being. The rears obviously haven't been contributing to me stopping much, so again that points to the fronts being ok lol. So ordered this lot that evening: Mintex discs [url=http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/190670474006?_trksid=p2060778.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT]MINTEX REAR BRAKE DISCS MAZDA MX-5 Â* 1990-1998 MDC772 | eBay[/url] Mintex pads [url=http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/310636496268?_trksid=p2060778.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT]MINTEX REAR BRAKE PAD SET MAZDA MX-5 Â* 1990-1994 MDB1414 | eBay[/url] Proper brake grease for the caliper sliding pins [url=http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/391044660258?_trksid=p2060778.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT]CASTROL RED RUBBER GREASE 50 gram, BRAKE CYLINDERS,SEALS, O RINGS | eBay[/url] Brake nipple spanners (fronts are different size to the rear) [url=http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/310452236983?_trksid=p2060778.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT]LASER TOOLS 2602 BRAKE SPANNER - 1/4" X 7MM HEX | eBay[/url] [url=http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/200824484200?_trksid=p2060778.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT]LASER TOOLS 2600 BRAKE SPANNER - 8MM HEX X 10MM HEX | eBay[/url] Tube to fit over the nipples for bleeding [url=http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161205843690?_trksid=p2060778.m2749.l2649&var=460263779280&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT]Clear 4mm (ID) 6mm (OD) Air Line Aquarium/Fish Tank/Pond Air Pump Hose Pipe Tube | eBay[/url][/QUOTE] From just one 4 mile journey I could see the pads cleaning up the discs already. Obviously they were still beyond saving, but it just goes to show what just a bit of grease in the right places can do. On the inner ring of rust you can see quite a clear line where the pad was then making more contact with the disc. [IMG]http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g230/nibnob21/Eunos%20Roadster/0600.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g230/nibnob21/Eunos%20Roadster/0601.jpg[/IMG] New bits turned up so got started one evening last week after work. [IMG]http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g230/nibnob21/Eunos%20Roadster/0602.jpg[/IMG] Quite a handy little light bollard by my parking space. That and an LED inspection light actually made the job pretty easy despite it getting dark. Managed to cut my left hand AGAIN undoing the 14mm bolts that cover the caliper piston grub screw (3 times out of 6!). Gave these bits and pieces a good cleanup with a strong mix of G101 and a nail brush. General little gubbins used for the caliper and brake pad assembly. [IMG]http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g230/nibnob21/Eunos%20Roadster/0603.jpg[/IMG] Got the brakes finished the next day (Thursday last week). Covered around 150ish miles since then just taking it easy. The brakes definitely feel firmer and more responsive though so job's a good'un! Still need to do the fluid at some point soon though, and have a proper look at the fronts. [/quote]
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