mk2/2.5 brakes? bearings?

[Lord_Howit_Hertz]

Hi All,

Firstly, apologies if this question comes across as simple, as I am a completely novice when it comes to these things......

Anyway, earlier this year, after years and years of reading how good MX-5's are on this site I decided I might as well try for myself................ turns out everyone is right.

I bought a mk2.5 with 58,000 miles on the clock and no rust for next to very little money and already it owes me nothing through the number of times its put a smile on my face and made me enjoy driving again.

Its been trouble free ................. until now, to start, I don't use the car during the week, so it spends a majority of its time parked up (in fitting with its previous life, where by it only completed 400 miles in 3 years a long time ago). This weekend while out driving I heard a slight 'scraping' noise coming from what sounded like the rear passenger side wheel, during the drive this worsened, by the time I returned home it was unbearable. At walking pace the sound cannot be heard, but anytime other than that its prominent, in reverse its just horrible.

Please could someone advise me on what this may be? At first I wondered if the handbrake wasn't releasing properly, possibly bearings, but the more I read the more I think the discs are shot and just need new ones?

Thanks in advance, advice always appreciated!!

[battered]

Are the wearing faces of the discs shiny, as they should be?
What state are the pads in? They should have a steel backing plate with a friction material bonded to them. If this falls off or wears out you will get the niose you describe.

[fatjon]

very unusual for a wheel bearing to fail that fast. They usually grumble for months before finally giving up and front's are much more inclined to fail than rears due to the heat of the front disks and turning input. I would be looking at brakes.

[Lord_Howit_Hertz]

Thanks Gents, it was for the reasons described I thought it couldn't have been bearings, I shall get the discs checked.

On that note, one of the appeals to me about the MX-5 was its relative ease to maintain (from what I have read on the internet) when compared to my previous cars, mainly German saloons. How easy would changing discs and breaks be on this car armed with YouTube and the right tools?

[battered]

Lord_Howit_Hertz said:

Thanks Gents, it was for the reasons described I thought it couldn't have been bearings, I shall get the discs checked.

On that note, one of the appeals to me about the MX-5 was its relative ease to maintain (from what I have read on the internet) when compared to my previous cars, mainly German saloons. How easy would changing discs and breaks be on this car armed with YouTube and the right tools?

Pretty straightforward. I'm not sure if you need a tool to push the pistons back on the rear calipers.

[Planet Claire]

The brake pads usually come equipped with a metal tab which scrapes on the disc as the pad gets worn down - the noise lets you know that the time has come to change them. This would be my initial check.

[MX-5 Lazza]

The rear brake pistons have to be wound back using an Allen key.
You are near to Wayne Bates aka Mazda Mender. I suggest you register onto Mazdamenders.net and take a look at the great advice and tutorials (I should add that I'm an admin on there).

[Lord_Howit_Hertz]

Thought I best update this, firstly, thank you all for your help, it gave me a good idea where to start.

So it was an uneven worn brake pad on the right rear, caused by the caliper being to tight, was a pain to break free, but now sorted with new pads and is back to its normal great self!

Thanks again for your help!

[Perseverant]

Easy to change the rear pads and discs if you have to. The "Brand X" manual isn't bad, just make sure that you have a close fitting socket to remove the plugs that give access to the hex-headed thing that winds the piston back and thus resets things for the handbrake (on a previous car with a service history they were both bearing the traces of a gorilla and a monkey spanner!) Also need an Allen key. A rust free Mk2.5 is something of a novelty - I bought mine with 39000 for a pretty good deal as I was able to show how rusty it was in all the usual places and one or two more for luck. Mind you, this is North East Scotland in the arse end of the sticks. Good luck!