# Differential drive-pinion/ring-gear backlash — setup target (NA6)

Canonical URL: https://miatatorque.com/spec/differential-ring-pinion-backlash-standard-na6/

Applicability: NA 1990–1993 (B6) — Actual 1990 factory evidence; other years in the approved family inferred with owner approval.

Confidence: fsm

0.09–0.11 mm

Always confirm against your factory manual. Match every restriction and follow all stages and procedure notes. Disputed claims must not be automatically resolved. The complete record below preserves every printed unit, source claim and procedure.

```json
{
  "id": "differential-ring-pinion-backlash-standard-na6",
  "name": "Differential drive-pinion/ring-gear backlash — setup target (NA6)",
  "aliases": [],
  "applies_to": [
    {
      "gen": "NA",
      "years": [
        1990,
        1993
      ],
      "engines": [
        "B6"
      ],
      "note": "Actual 1990 factory evidence; other years in the approved family inferred with owner approval."
    }
  ],
  "kind": "non-torque",
  "value_text": "0.09–0.11 mm",
  "procedure": {
    "notes": "Mark four ring-gear positions approximately 90° apart. Place the dial-indicator tip at a right angle to a ring-gear tooth and turn the two bearing adjusters equally to set this target. Recheck backlash after bearing-preload adjustment and inspect tooth contact using the full factory procedure. This record supplies the setup target only; also perform the cross-position inspection using the full factory procedure. Metric endpoints control over differing printed inch rounding. Owner resolution, 2026-10-16: retain 0.09–0.11 mm as the setup target. The contradictory 0.07 mm procedure wording is not used as an absolute backlash limit; no separate 0.07 mm variation specification is added."
  },
  "confidence": "fsm",
  "sources": [
    {
      "source": "fsm-1990",
      "page": "M–41 (PDF p. 424)",
      "as_printed": "0.09—0.11mm (0.0035—0.0043 in)",
      "verified_years": [
        1990,
        1990
      ],
      "document": {
        "id": "fsm-1990",
        "tier": 1,
        "title": "1990 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual",
        "part_number": "1193-10-89C",
        "covers": [
          {
            "gen": "NA",
            "years": [
              1990,
              1990
            ],
            "engines": [
              "B6"
            ]
          }
        ],
        "url": "https://archive.org/details/1990-mazda-mx-5-miata-workshop-manual_202411"
      }
    }
  ],
  "jobs": [],
  "system": "driveshaft-differential",
  "component": "differential-inspection",
  "componentName": "Differential overhaul inspection and selection",
  "sequence_diagrams": [],
  "url": "https://miatatorque.com/spec/differential-ring-pinion-backlash-standard-na6/"
}
```