The easiest brake job I've ever done....
 

......was about an hour ago.

Changed the front pads on the P5, as they were wearing thin. I have done probably 10-15 brake jobs in my life. Not enough to know it all, but enough to know what I'm doing. The P5 was BY FAR the simplest job ever. Literally took about 15 minutes per wheel, from the time I laid the jack under the car to the time I let it down and fully re-tightened the lugs. And this was using the stock scissor jack and tiny little lug wrench - a hydraulic jack and impact gun coulda cut me down to Indy pit stop times....;) Awesome. It's so damn easy, I can't believe ANYONE would take the car to a shop and pay tons of money for this. So simple, they oughtta just include the 8mm Allen wrench with the lug wrench and jack, so anyone can change pads. Maybe I'm just a newbie to imports, but I couldn't believe how simple this was.

And yes, I DID use the Raybestos pads from Pep Boys. And they had lied to me earlier, saying it was $55 for the front and rear. It was $57 for the front only. But they seem to be fine pads - I notice no difference in feel from stock at all. Bite is fine, and so is modulation and overall feel. I'm satisfied.

And a quick tip for anyone who doesn't know this: NEVER add brake fluid to your master cylinder, unless you have a leak or otherwise open the system:

I knew my brakes were getting worn, but wasn't sure just how much. Then a few days ago, my brake warning light (!) came on during a few moderate stops when the car was cold (and brake fluid cold), and once during a moderately hard corner.

Our systems seem to be calibrated well enough, so that when the pads are getting near the end, and the extra brake fluid is now in the lines and caliper piston rather than the reservoir, the (!) light comes on. I noticed my fluid level was visually low. Since installing the new pads, and pushing the pistons back into the calipers, the fluid has been pushed back into the master cylinder, and the fluid level is within acceptable limits again. Doing the rear pads (soon) should bring the level right back up to "full". Though I've generally owned older cars my whole life, I have never seen a system so well calibrated, and never had a car that could actually WARN me my pads were low by the brake fluid level.

I know this seems like common sense info, but it IS nice to know that the warning system in the car is good enough that the reduction in fluid can signal the time for a pad change. And way too many people get the (!) warning light, see the fluid low, and just top the reservoir off - light goes away, problem solved - but not really. Plus, once you DO install new pads and push the fluid back, the excess will now spill all over the place.

Kudos to Mazda for making a brake system with good calibration, and pads that are as easy to swap as changing a tire.

~HH

Do P5 pistons need to be twisted back in or just simply pushed in?

Just pushed.

I just use a big "C" clamp I've had forever.

Funny - on my Miata, there was a set-screw in the caliper that you needed an allen wrench to turn - turning it "pulled" the piston back. Of course, I had never seen anything like that, and to make things worse, the allen screw was inside the caliper, covered by a philips screw. I found it by chance - but man, was I frigging frustrated trying to push back those pistons with my trusty clamp. I was about to give up when I discovered that allen screw.

Luckily, all it takes is a push to get the P5 pistons back.

~HH

protege front brakes are relatively simple brakes to change.

The Miata's piston-retractor screw is on the REAR brakes, not the front. It's there because of the self-adjustment mechanism for the e-brake. The rear brakes on 2001+ rear-disk Proteges also use screw retractors, so you WILL need your Allen wrench to change the rear pads.

However, they're still easy compared to drums IMHO. I'm contemplating replacing my rear shoes soon and I'm not looking forward to it. I hate drum brake springs. :mad:

Thanks for the info about the rears on the Protege - this is the same on the P5, correct?

But - are you certain that only the rears of the Miata had the retraction screws? Mine was a '93, and I'm almost sure all four brakes had the retractors. *Almost* sure.

Bro - that's what digital cameras are for. Snap a pic of the brake assembly before digging in, print it out, then you have a guide to putting it back together.

Of course, there is always the old "take both wheels off and use the other side as a guide" trick.

No doubt - even if you know what you're doing, drum brake springs are a pain the ass. Too many times I've just about had one on, and then *ping*....and I'm searching in the neighbor's lawn for a damn rusty spring. ;)

~HH

do you RB have any brake dust coming off of them. also which series did you get??

oh, and you should flush and bleed your system everytime you change pads.

The brakes are the same; the Pro and P5 are mechanically identical except for the P5's strut brace and the P5's rear exhaust section is shorter.

Dunno about *all* Miatas, but my 94 had screw retractors on the rear only. I doubt that other Miatas are any different tho.

I'm not worried about forgetting how to put it back together... I'm pretty good at remembering that sort of thing. :) I'm mostly concerned about the damn things flying everywhere. :rant:

The pads are easy enough to change, yes. Did you resurface the rotors? Not doing so will cause you to go through your new pads twice as fast. The pads are forced to make contact on an uneven rotor that is full of tiny ridges and grooves. Resurfacing lets the pads last alot longer, and it's good maintenence too.

Are the Reybestos pads pre-burnished, or did you have to do it yourself?

Should have gone with the OEM Mazda ones like Jesse said...

Um, why? :confused: :rolleyes:

its kinda like motor oil, when it gets old it turn from nice clear, to dark brown. you brakes need bleeded every 15kmiles anyways, just to make sure all the bubbles are out, but when is the normal brake pad change, around 30k-50k or so, for me its 70k. you are supposed to change all your fluids at 30k anyways,(ie: coolant, brake fluid, power steereing) i don't remember what interval is for the manual or auto tranny. it only cost 5 bucks(unless you use synthedic then its about 10 bucks) and it requires 2 people for a 15 min job. also, when you do the flush or bleed the system. check your clutch line aswell for bubbles.

I was talking to Slva, but nice to hear your story! :D

In reference to the rotors and the fluid - there's no need to do anything to them unless something is wrong.

Since my pads had not worn down to grinding, the rotor is in fine shape. No need to resurface it. I do think one of them might be very slightly warped, as I have had a VERY slight shimmy under high-speed braking. But that has been for a while now - nothing to do with the new pads. And since I plan on taking this issue up with the dealer before the 50k warranty is up, I don't want to resurface the rotors and give them a reason to deny a warranty claim anyway.

And there is simply no need to change brake fluid. If it works, it works. As long as you don't open the system, there should be no bubbles. If there is something wrong with the fluid, you feel it in the brakes (or lack thereof ;)). Brake fluid doesn't simply "wear out" - and if it turns crappy brown, it's generally due to overheating. My brake fluid is fine, and still clear.

And although I've only done less than 150 miles of driving on the new pads so far, I don't notice any more brake dust with the Raybestos pads than with the stockers.

~HH

but with the eom pads there was no brake dust. so does that mean the RB have to brake dust ???

Ummm...there's always brake dust.

My OEM pads caused some, and so do the RBs.

Even with the stock pads - if I washed my car and scrubbed the wheels at the local DIY wash, by the time I drove home there'd be a very light dusting on the wheels. Not much, but a little. And it's only about 3 miles to the wash.

ALL pads give off dust.

~HH

I suppose it's true, although the OEM pads won't give off nearly as much as those Reybestos you bought...

If you say so - we'll see. I put almost another 200 miles on the car today, and still no noticeable increase in dust.

Anyone know who exactly manufactures the OEM pads?

~HH

??? would i not notice the dust as much since i have polished wheels??

The OEM pads give off a LOT of brake dust. Hawks or EBCs are a much better way to go than the OE pads.

my pads NEVER gave off dust, maybe i just got lucky

Maybe so. I have to clean that crap off my wheels every couple of days. Of course, California (even Orange County) is a dusty place to begin with - Hence the California car duster.

Hmm really you aren't supposed to clean brake dust off with a duster...I suspect it's just dusty air you mean. But if you spray your brakes with brakleen you'll see the deal.

Do NEW brakes still contain asbestos? Even small amounts? IIRC brakes used to last a lot longer with asbestos :)

If you wax your wheels well, you can get brake dust off with a duster.

If your wheels aren't waxed, the dust sticks to them pretty good.

~HH

again, since i have the polished wheels and i do wax them, will this keep the dust from sticking to them?

It should, but a good thurough dose of elbow grease will help take it off too! :D

your misunderstanding me, i don't have dust period. haven't had any since i bought the car brand new and now at 70k miles. thats why i'm asking why don't i have any?

Well it's just that on any of those brake cleaner products or haynes manuals it states not to blow brake dust around or inhale...dusting would make some airborne I'd think. I don't know if this is really relevant only for older brakes with asbestos or if it is still a concern. But anyways I'm sure it's not really going to do anything as long as it's just your brakes you're doing :)

I didn't mean that I use a duster on the wheels. Only that California is dusty, and therefore some of the dust I'm seeing on my wheels may not be from my brake pads.

I didn't have any on my stock unpolished wheels... I also tried to brake lightly to prevent tons of dust. It could be a combination of your waxing and braking....

So if you need to use the Allen to pull the piston back on the rear brakes, do you then have to adjust it with the new pads? or do you just pull it back all the way and let it adjust itself?

My old Miata used similar screw retractors on the rear brakes, and you were supposed to tighten it until you could feel the rear brakes start to drag, then back it off 1/4 to 1/3 turn.

PLEASE tell me that you guys DO know to flush your brake fluid out at least with every pad change? Reason is that, brake fluid is poly glycol (off hand im not 100% positive) and it ABSORBS moisture that occurs always and there is nothing you can do about it. Even if there is never any air in the system, itll still get moisture in it and water causes the fluid to perform worse and worse over time.

Hence, why there is a wet and dry boiling point listed for brake fluids. Besides, once you boil your fluid (all it takes is slamming on the brakes a few times) and you really need to replace it as it becomes even more succeptible to water absorption and temp. fluctation and poor pressures in the system. Brake fluid is definetely not a hydraulic fluid you wanna keep forever. Just an FYI guys. have a good nite!

DOT 5.0 is Silicone based I believe, but everything else is what you mentioned and what our cars have.

It is true that brake fluid will absorb water over time, but I don't think it has to be done every pad change. Most brake jobs from dealers and Shops don't change the fluid every pad change. It should not remian in the car for the life of it, meaning it should be eventually changed but under normal driving conditions it will out last the pads and rotors at least I thought...

you should change brake fluid
 

it is hydroscopic. Like walight posted it absorbs water. Depending on how you drive you should do it either before the recommended interval or sooner. If you autox or track the car then definitely sooner. even if you never opened the system up water gets in. If it gets bad then your brake pedal gets mushy and goes to the floor.