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Hi guys,

My NB8B rear brakes have a tendency to rattle (ie make a metallic clunky noise) when I go over rough roads. This especially happens when driving over cat-eyes on the road etc.

I did some snooping around, and I found that its just the rear pads rattling around, I can stop the noise by having my foot slightly on the breaks or by lifting the handbrake up by one click. I also had this checked out by Heasmanns Suspension and they confirmed what I thought, and told me that its not a safety hazard.

This has been going on for a while, but its finally annoyed me enough to want to take action to fix it.

Does anyone know what I can do?

I saw this on MX5parts.co.uk, Rear Pad Fitting Kit, Mk1 1.8 & all Mk2. However, it says not for the 1.8 sports model, which I think is the NB8B. So Im not sure if its what Im after. Does anyone have any advice?

Cheers,

Josh

AFAIK the anti rattle clips for NB8B's were only available with the ridgy didge OEM genuine straight from Japan new brake pads, not the "Mazda approved" parts available from Mazda Australia.

My brake pads rattled almost from when the car was new. I tried bending the clips and it fixed the problem for a while but not for very long as they had lost their "springiness". I got a set of genuine OEM Mazda Japan pads with new clips and shims included from MX5Parts UK about 18 months ago and haven't had a pad rattle since.

Pity Mazda Australia dont sell them as a seperate part as they are only designed to last the life of the brake pad and are an intergral part of the braking system. Over time they get brittle and break leaving the caliper useless as there's nothing to stop the pad from falling out.

I think you can buy the anti rattle clips as a seperate item from the US but they dont fit the Australian calipers without some modifications. Do a forum search and you might find some info about the US clips and fitting them to AUS cars.

Just a guess here, but could it also be that the rear calipers are not tightened eneough behind the 14mm bolt, using a 4mm allen key???

Just saying this because I pull my brakes apart all the time when doing trackdays as I have seprate pads, and if you don't adjust the rear calipers the right amount, you either get nice red hot rear discs if you make it to tight, or ratling rear brakes if it is too loose.

Worth a look, since mine does not have the clips either, and I don't have rattling noises.

I didn't have trouble fitting them when I got them from the US on an NB8B. From memory it was finishlineperformance.com . Caffeine would remember if he see's this. Pretty sure he bought them and I got them off him.

adjusting the hand brake intial fiction point would be a start. allen key in behind a bolt at back of caliper.

also, what are the ages of the discs in kilometers? over 160,000km?

I have the same rattle from my NB8B.

Hi guys thanks for all your replies Its nice to know that Im not alone with this issue.


project.r.racing - I did get mania to adjust my handbrake last service, but it didnt seem to make a big deal of difference. However, my discs are almost 150,000km old. Are you thinking it might be time for a disc change?

What is the average life of discs on an NB8B anyway? (Normal road use, no track)

most astina/mx5 rear rotors get too thin around 160,000km of age for regular street use. that's why i threw the option out there. it may be wrong. once they get to a minimum thickness, there is nothing you can to stop them squealing/rattling.

yep mine rattle i have no spring clips in the rear...oh well, just turn the music up more

How do you hold the pads in place without the clips? It looked like they would fall out when I was contemplating taking mine out.

Caffeine is the person that told me the US clips needed modifying to fit in his calipers.

Garry wrote:How do you hold the pads in place without the clips? It looked like they would fall out when I was contemplating taking mine out.

Caffeine is the person that told me the US clips needed modifying to fit in his calipers.

I'm running 4 new ones right now and I didn't have to alter them in anyway to fit that I can remember.... Might be a bit hit or miss then. Or I got a later batch... I honestly just don't remember them being an event at all to fit. I got a second set incase at the time and we found one of Irwins clips missing last weekend. So we'll see if they fit his no problem.

Hi Josh,

The clips do the job, got mine from MX5 Centre in Melb. Forum Sponsor.

PJK

Careful I dont think the NB8A clips fit the NB8B.

I got my clips when I purchsed some OEM pads from mx5 parts uk (fit perfect) no rattles.

I know the rear rotors are not vented but I've shaved mine down to minimum thickness and they seem to last ages.