Differential drive-pinion/ring-gear backlash — setup target (NB1)
≈0.00354–0.00433 in (0.09–0.11 mm)0.09–0.11 mm
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.
- NB 1999–2000 (BP-4W) — Actual 1999 factory evidence; other years in the approved family inferred with owner approval.
- Verified in: 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual
Sources (1)
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Page 03–14–11 (PDF p. 366) · Printed value & notes
Page 03–14–11 (PDF p. 366)Printed: “0.09—0.11 mm {0.0035—0.0043 in}”
Related service specs
- Differential pinion bearing preload (NA6)
- Differential pinion bearing preload (NA8)
- Differential pinion bearing preload (NB1)
- Differential side-gear/pinion-gear backlash — standard (NA6)
- Differential side-gear/pinion-gear backlash — standard (NA8)
- Differential side-gear/pinion-gear backlash — standard (NB1)
- Differential side-gear/pinion-gear backlash — standard (NB2 open differential)
- Differential drive-pinion/ring-gear backlash — setup target (NA6)