Loose Emergency Brake

He's right that most cars self adjust the parking brake during rear braking and this is a common way to get it to do it. Sadly, I don't remember if my

Of course you can always try the google search or check it on Miata.net but, give it a whirl and see what happens (let us know).

Chris

The mechanic's advice will not work. The rear brakes must be adjusted by hand, at least on the NA and NB models. It's pretty straightforward. Have the car on a level surface. Raise both rear tires by lifting under the differential. Put car in neutral, e-brake off. On the back side of each caliper are two bolts, 14mm I think. The lower one closest to the middle is literally just a 'cap'; take it off and then you'll need a 4mm allen key. Use the long-end of the leg of the allen key to turn the adjuster screw. Very little force is needed. Turn the adjuster screw inside the hole, while turning the wheel of the car to gauge the effectiveness of the adjustment. Once you start to feel a little drag on the brakes and the wheel starts to get harder to turn, back the allen screw off a bit and put the cap back on. Repeat for the other side. I think you'll be quite pleased with the reduction in travel on the e-brake handle in the car and it improves the brake pedal as well.

Good luck with it.

Chris

Along with Hal's advice about adjusting the rear parking brakes at the caliper - - It's also possible that the cables have stretched with age and use. If after adjusting at the caliper, the problem still exists, I think looking at the play in the cables would be the next step. A caution was that many shops that do brake repair are not aware of the Miata's peculiarities, and may force the caliper piston back far enough to damage the parking brake system. I've been fortunate enough (so far) to avoid this issue. Repair usually involves some dis-assembly to get to and fix the linkage etc. between the adjusting screw and the caliper piston. It's a hard thing to describe, and easy to see once things are apart. I do have a continuing problem with one rear side caliper. Seems that several years back, a shop managed to slightly bend the caliper bracket. The Bracket seems to be unobtanium as far as just the bracket, and rebuilt calipers come without the bracket.

What Chris said plus this link to a mista.net on how to install brake pads with a note on the bottom that reads "All that remains now is to manually adjust the rear brakes..." and it has a picture of the adjustment hole in question. Also, for safety's sake, be sure to block the front wheels before jacking up the rear and push on the trunk to test before you go under the car... The e brake needs this adjustment done periodically during the life of a set of brake pads. you are not alone.

I'd suggest that be the first step and, if the adjustment is all taken up, it should be loosened to somewhere around midrange BEFORE adjusting at the rear calipers.

Remove the parking brake cover (one screw) and check the cable adjuster. Again, if there's no adjustment, left loosen it up and then do the caliper adjustment.

The cable travel is fairly short. There, to my knowledge, is no automatic adjustment to compensate for pad and rotor wear. Thus, checking and adjusting the parking brakes at the caliper is the best first step in my opinion. At least then you know what to do next, and likely be done with the problem. Besides, it's a chance to look at the wear on the rear pads. Speaking of which, it's been several years since I did any brake work on my 99. It's probably due for some attention. (Sigh)

I disagree, if the cable has been adjusted as far as possible (likely since it doesn't involve getting under the car) you will not be able to adjust the calipers correctly.

Trust me on this one, cable FIRST! BTDT.

I assumed from the original post that the cable, (like most Miatas) Has never been adjusted. Everyone I've looked at (club cars, anyway) had never been adjusted. Whatever floats the boat!

I think that's the first thing people try because it's the easiest. Mine was as far as possible so the arms that work the emergency brake couldn't go all the way back, that reduced their total travel and prevents the caliper adjustment from being successful.