Updated specs are available.
Differential drive-pinion/ring-gear backlash — setup target (NB2 and Mazdaspeed)
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Not yet checked against the factory manual for your car's year. It's verified in the 2005 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual (electronic manual capture); 2003 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual (electronic manual capture); 2004 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual (electronic manual capture); later manuals may differ.
≈0.00354–0.00433 in (0.09–0.11 mm)0.09–0.11 mm
Factory manualTaken from a Mazda factory workshop manual, with page citation.
Procedure
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.
Applies to
- NB 2001–2005 (BP-Z3) — Actual 2003, 2004 and 2005 factory evidence; 2001–2002 inferred within the owner-approved NB2 non-turbo family.
- NB 2004–2005 (BP-Z3-TURBO) — Actual 2005 shared factory driveline specifications; 2004 MSM inferred with owner approval.
- Verified in: 2005 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual (electronic manual capture); 2003 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual (electronic manual capture); 2004 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual (electronic manual capture)
Sources (3)
View 3 source citations
- 2003 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual (electronic manual capture)Tier 1
Page Driveline/Axle Technical Data (PDF p. 1058) · Printed value & notes
Page Driveline/Axle Technical Data (PDF p. 1058)Printed: “Backlash of drive pinion and ring gear (mm {in}) Standard 0.09—0.11 {0.0035—0.0043}” - 2004 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual (electronic manual capture)Tier 1
Page Driveline/Axle Technical Data (PDF p. 1078) · Printed value & notes
Page Driveline/Axle Technical Data (PDF p. 1078)Printed: “Backlash of drive pinion and ring gear (mm {in}) Standard 0.09—0.11 {0.0035—0.0043}” - 2005 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual (electronic manual capture)Tier 1
Page Differential Assembly Note (PDF p. 1202) · Printed value & notes
Page Differential Assembly Note (PDF p. 1202)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)