My New 1996 Mx-5 Miata - 2017 Dixie Championship Tour

[Katiegan]

No play that I can see or feel. I think it is that mechanism but I want to be sure before I start fixing / replacing it.

Thanks for the suggestion.

It's quite simple to tinker with it. You'd probably be best with getting a buddy or someone to keep pulling the handbrake on and off, and watching the caliper to see if it releases. A bit of WD-40 and elbow grease should help free it off temporarily, but to be honest you really need to replace it if it is seized. I'm speaking from experience as mine is a headache right now.

 

[carracerptp]

I've never seen an MX-5/Miata footwell, so I can't comment on the pedal set, but it does sound like what everyone goes through when starting. I know that I was missing the pedal a lot when I first started.

I just kept practising and watching lots of pedal cams on Youtube () and eventually it just clicked.

I have the day off so I'm just going to sit in the garage until I find a good foot position on the brake pedal.

EDIT: After reading it seems like I may have selected the wrong shoes. I got really small and narrow shoes to drive with because that's what I use / like on my wheel ( G27 pedals ). Some people ( many actually ) are saying in a miata you will need wider shoes...

I'm only an amateur, but:
For me heal-toe'ing/tripple-footing is like Mr. Miagy (sp?) said, "Left side: fine. Right side: fine. Middle of road: squash."
You either heal-toe all the time (illegal where I live) or you **** up alot. If you don't do it all the time then when in a panic / in a critical situation you'll revert to normal or, worse, hesitate between the two.

As a US Marine I've learned what you practice you execute. If you use normal pedal work most of the time and only heal-toe "while practicing" then you'll only confuse yourself.

Only my 0.02$. I welcome all comments.

I have been practicing ( heal-toe) on long straight back roads with nobody around ( 3rd to 2nd gear ). I don't think it is illegal here to heal-toe but I will check to make sure. Not sure what it would be under.

Once I get it right more than once via pure luck. I do want to do it all the time.

It's quite simple to tinker with it. You'd probably be best with getting a buddy or someone to keep pulling the handbrake on and off, and watching the caliper to see if it releases. A bit of WD-40 and elbow grease should help free it off temporarily, but to be honest you really need to replace it if it is seized. I'm speaking from experience as mine is a headache right now.

I'm trying to adjust it today. I think my idea of how it worked was all wrong ( funny considering how simple it is ). My sister helped with my clutch bleeding so I hope she is up for this

 

[FordMKIVJ5]

I have the day off so I'm just going to sit in the garage until I find a good foot position on the brake pedal.

EDIT: After reading it seems like I may have selected the wrong shoes. I got really small and narrow shoes to drive with because that's what I use / like on my wheel ( G27 pedals ). Some people ( many actually ) are saying in a miata you will need wider shoes...

I wouldn't have thought a wider shoe would make a huge difference, they might make it a tad easier to hit the throttle, but they'll feel a lot more clumpy.

Honestly, just keep practising getting your ankle up and around. I found just sitting in the car in the garage, engine switched off and practising the ankle motion helps, especially as you can actually look at what you're doing and what you need to change. 👍

It'll take a bit of time, but you'll get there.

 

[homeforsummer]

Also I'm trying to figure out heal toe. I don't know why it's so much easier ACs or even in iRacing. The pedals are just in the wrong place in this car for me. I even got smaller shoes and I still can't get my feet right.

*Heel

From what I remember, the Miata's pedal positioning isn't too bad for heel/toe. I hadn't learned myself at the time, but I did rev-match, as you do.

However, there is a way of changing it from "not too bad" to "ideal" - find an aftermarket pedal set that has a longer gas pedal, so you've got more chance of hitting it with your heel while the ball of your foot is on the brake. Some pedal kits feature an extended section to the gas pedal for exactly this purpose:

You either heal-toe all the time (illegal where I live)

Also *heel

Really, it's illegal in Oregon? I didn't know it was illegal anywhere. I'd also imagine it's quite difficult for anyone to prove you heel/toe, unless you're observed braking and hearing a throttle blip at the same time.

 

[Ronald6]

Yeah, it sucks. It's also illegal to drive without shoes on. Ask me how is know. (Long live the Barefoot_Driver!)

...

Good luck on heal/toe practice. Flexibility helps. Perhaps some Wii Fit balance exercises would help, strengthen those ankle muscles. @homeforsummer has the right idea with those pedals. Having the right equipment can go along way.

I want pics and/or video of your Rallycross. There's nothing like taking your own car out and learning its limits in a controlled environment.

 

[carracerptp]

I wouldn't have thought a wider shoe would make a huge difference, they might make it a tad easier to hit the throttle, but they'll feel a lot more clumpy.

Honestly, just keep practising getting your ankle up and around. I found just sitting in the car in the garage, engine switched off and practising the ankle motion helps, especially as you can actually look at what you're doing and what you need to change. 👍

It'll take a bit of time, but you'll get there.

Thanks for the tip, I'm going different shoes in the garage.

*Heel

From what I remember, the Miata's pedal positioning isn't too bad for heel/toe. I hadn't learned myself at the time, but I did rev-match, as you do.

However, there is a way of changing it from "not too bad" to "ideal" - find an aftermarket pedal set that has a longer gas pedal, so you've got more chance of hitting it with your heel while the ball of your foot is on the brake. Some pedal kits feature an extended section to the gas pedal for exactly this purpose:

Also *heel

Really, it's illegal in Oregon? I didn't know it was illegal anywhere. I'd also imagine it's quite difficult for anyone to prove you heel/toe, unless you're observed braking and hearing a throttle blip at the same time.

*Well that's embarrassing...

I may try a pedal set, I'v seen some people say they are illegal to run in the stock class of some autocross groups but my local group has a blacklist approach to the stock class ( disallowed parts, mods etc ) so I think I would be fine as they are not mentioned.

Yeah, it sucks. It's also illegal to drive without shoes on. Ask me how is know. (Long live the Barefoot_Driver!)

...

Good luck on heal/toe practice. Flexibility helps. Perhaps some Wii Fit balance exercises would help, strengthen those ankle muscles. @homeforsummer has the right idea with those pedals. Having the right equipment can go along way.

I want pics and/or video of your Rallycross. There's nothing like taking your own car out and learning its limits in a controlled environment.

Autocross, not rallycross, but that would be fun.

It will be a huge photo dump, not sure about video. I have an old flip HD camera that I'm trying to figure out how to mount.

 

[carracerptp]

OK, just spent 600 dollars on the AC
I wish I understood how they work better so I didn't have to go to the shop for it.

Anyway, I'm now looking for a helmet. My local event will take any DOT helmet ( motorcycles etc ).

 

[Rhykus Finlay]

Thought the title said 1969 at first.

Anyway, really nice work on the car, I love it! (And I don't usually like miatas. )

 

[carracerptp]

Thought the title said 1969 at first.

Anyway, really nice work on the car, I love it! (And I don't usually like miatas. )

Thanks!

 

[Crash]

You either heal-toe all the time (illegal where I live) or you **** up alot. If you don't do it all the time then when in a panic / in a critical situation you'll revert to normal or, worse, hesitate between the two.

That's interesting. I've never heard of heel and toeing being illegal in Oregon. Do you know what police would cite to write you up for doing it?

EDIT: After reading it seems like I may have selected the wrong shoes. I got really small and narrow shoes to drive with because that's what I use / like on my wheel ( G27 pedals ). Some people ( many actually ) are saying in a miata you will need wider shoes...

Shoe width can significantly impact heel-toe-ability of a particular set of pedals if you're doing the left side of foot on brakes and right side of foot on accelerator pedal version. Obviously, wider shoes will give you more surface area to better press down on both pedals at once. I've got pretty narrow feet and I struggle to heel and toe successfully in Miatas, but the brake and accelerator pedals are much closer together on my E30, and I can heel and toe all day long in that car.

Though wider shoes would help, ideally, you would swap out the pedal set so that the pedals are physically wider to give you better leverage if they are currently too far apart.

I would keep practicing it, and after a bunch of botched shifts and car lurches, you'll eventually get it down to how hard to pivot your right foot to rev match.

 

[carracerptp]

That's interesting. I've never heard of heel and toeing being illegal in Oregon. Do you know what police would cite to write you up for doing it?



Shoe width can significantly impact heel-toe-ability of a particular set of pedals if you're doing the left side of foot on brakes and right side of foot on accelerator pedal version. Obviously, wider shoes will give you more surface area to better press down on both pedals at once. I've got pretty narrow feet and I struggle to heel and toe successfully in Miatas, but the brake and accelerator pedals are much closer together on my E30, and I can heel and toe all day long in that car.

Though wider shoes would help, ideally, you would swap out the pedal set so that the pedals are physically wider to give you better leverage if they are currently too far apart.

I would keep practicing it, and after a bunch of botched shifts and car lurches, you'll eventually get it down to how hard to pivot your right foot to rev match.

I am practicing, I'm getting closer ( I'm in left field now instead of the wrong town ). I did find a foot arrangement that I can hit the throttle with but it's just that, hit it. Very little finesse.

Now, can anyone help me remove my seat belts for new ones? I can't get the belt retractor out Besides the big bolt at the bottom, what on earth is holding it in place?

 

[carracerptp]

Double post: sorry but I got a major breakthrough.

New road to practice on - narrow shoes + new foot position = Heel toe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OK, first part was the new road, found a road lots of very low speed corners ( rare as people using their turn signals, or a mountain here in florida ). It's even more remote than my previous road choice.

I haven't had much time to ditch the narrow shoes and try my new foot position until now.

Notes: I'm not dropping down into the top of 2nd gear because that would too fast for the speed limit and the corner.

First 3rd to 2nd attempt - "Slight lurch, but still way closer. A little quicker throttle next time..."

2nd 3rd to 2nd attempt - "DID YOU FEEL THAT!! YES, NOTHING!!!!!! PERFECT, now repeat..."

3rd 3rd to 2nd attempt - "OK, not quite as good, I did feel a little, very tiny, bit of over revving the engine ( don't want to do that often ) still close enough"

4rd 3rd to 2nd attempt - "And I missed the throttle..."

I did it more times, getting it right 70% of the time. I'm really happy I can finally do it like in iRacing or Assetto Corsa. Sure I'm still messing up 30% of the but it's a lot better than 100%

 

[FordMKIVJ5]

Double post: sorry but I got a major breakthrough.

New road to practice on - narrow shoes + new foot position = Heel toe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OK, first part was the new road, found a road lots of very low speed corners ( rare as people using their turn signals, or a mountain here in florida ). It's even more remote than my previous road choice.

I haven't had much time to ditch the narrow shoes and try my new foot position until now.

Notes: I'm not dropping down into the top of 2nd gear because that would too fast for the speed limit and the corner.

First 3rd to 2nd attempt - "Slight lurch, but still way closer. A little quicker throttle next time..."

2nd 3rd to 2nd attempt - "DID YOU FEEL THAT!! YES, NOTHING!!!!!! PERFECT, now repeat..."

3rd 3rd to 2nd attempt - "OK, not quite as good, I did feel a little, very tiny, bit of over revving the engine ( don't want to do that often ) still close enough"

4rd 3rd to 2nd attempt - "And I missed the throttle..."

I did it more times, getting it right 70% of the time. I'm really happy I can finally do it like in iRacing or Assetto Corsa. Sure I'm still messing up 30% of the but it's a lot better than 100%

This is a really good little clip where Hurley Haywood explains it. It also shows the other guy messing up, which is useful to compare how it should be timed versus how it shouldn't:



Watch from around 13:30 until 15:15. 👍

17:05 on is when he does it out on the track.

Timing is probably the hardest bit to get down. A lot of people blip too late (as the guy in the video does).

 

[Heldenzeit]

I'll see if I can take a pic, but you can actually bend the gas pedal closer to the brake making for easier heel/toe. Wider shoes definitely help.

 

[CodeRedR51]

@carracerptp sounds like you found a heel/toe solution, because I was going to suggest trying this.

 

[carracerptp]

Lots of work coming up this weekend, engine, wheel stud, handbrake, seat belts.

I decided to write a quick review of the car. Just for fun, and anyone else considering grabbing one. I'll cover the fun stuff first.

Handling

The key to enjoying this car is not blasting out of corners - it's flying into corners and "forgetting" the brake pedal to slow down, only using it to adjust the chassis. In my opinion, this car really excels in this department.
I'd compare it to riding a bicycle. You're in complete control. Every steering input, every brake input, does exactly what you expect. Grip is low, kind of like a bicycle (but that might be my tires; changing them soon), but that's also what makes it fun. You can feel oversteer, you can feel understeer, all at reasonable speeds.
Continuing with the reasonable speed statement, I think this goes under Performance.

Performance

When I say reasonable speeds, I mean safe and reasonable for the street speeds. I have a few roads nearby where they, quite frankly, have an unusually high speed limit for a particularily tight section of road (basically 90 degree corners and hairpins at 30 - 35 mph posted speed limit). Is it fast? No. But you can have so much fun actually feeling the car react to a corner. In a better car, it will just go around the corner, and in a lesser car, it will understeer off into the grass. In my opinion, it's the balance that makes it. You have just enouh horsepower to pull out of corners, but not so much that you'll be pulled over for doing double digits over the speed limit. I have spent 99.9% of my time in the car at the legal limit ( give or take 3 mph ) and had a blast.
Now for the bad news. It's slow. I don't care what people say, this car is ridiculously slow in a straight line. It just feels fast you still low and the car loves revs. You will think you just hit 60 but you are actually doing 40. After a week this effect will wear off and when you glance at the speedometer it will no longer be surprising.
When these things were new they'd be slow compared to modern cars, so I'd imagine mine, which wasn't maintained perfectly and has a really dumb hot air intake, excuse me, cold air intake, I'd say it's even slower (I've yet to take it to the drag strip, but I intend to).
So, if you're into red light racing, get a Mustang and take it to a drag strip. If you're into out-running most grocery-getters, get a Dodge Charger or a new Camry (those things are actually not slow anymore, if you get the v6). If you don't care about getting wasted in any sort of a straight performance competition, this is the car for you.

Braking

You will get cut off in this car, and you will be very thankful it has great brakes. Or it's just so light it doesn't need much braking power. Either way, I've been cut off enough to give them a thorough testing, practice, and can spot it coming long before I need to panic stop. It's ridiculously easy to threshold brake this car with the ABS disabled. I only messed up once in the rain thanks to a VERY shot yellow light. If you've driven this car in GT5 or 6 with ABS disabled, it's not like that at all. It is so easy to spot and feel.

Safety

The good news is, you can see everything that's trying to kill you because it has excellent visibility with the top down.
If you're like me and live in an area with lots of people driving trucks, you will quickly discover that apparently a Miata is invisible to them. I think it's its size, plus they cut each other off anyway.
If you're not a very alert defensive driver, I'd almost say this car is dangerous on any major road. Especially when people start feeling like merging around you. Or if two guys in corollas with coffee can exhaust decide they want to go street racing and find that the road merges just ahead of you.
Its redeeming feature is its handling. It can stop on a dime and easily get out of the way.

Is it a girl's car?

Sure, why not? My sister wants a 69' Camaro, If she could afford one she would be making that a girls car.

So far, I haven't had any real problems with this. Only a few comments - it wasn't exactly in regards to it being a girls' car but a hairdresser related comment seems more popular around here. Really, it's not a problem. Most people who may have an opinion are generally in their car and probably won't be speaking to you personally.

Price

If your AC doesn't go on you, it's actually quite cheap to buy and own. I got mine for about $2,000, not factoring in tax and tag. Insurance is cheap compared to other cars, especially considering it's a "sports" car and I'm still a teenager. Parts selection has a huge aftermarket so the prices are good. And most repairs can be done in the garage with little to no mechanical experience.

It's not a very good HP / speed / price ratio but a great Fun / Mid-corner Speed / Price ratio.

Overall

Live near some tight roads? Don't need to take anyone with you? It's the perfect car.

 

[carracerptp]

Good news, after adjusting EVERYTHING that I could on the handbrake I got it to work. It feels a little weak but it works!

Tomorrow morning is engine day.

 

[carracerptp]

OK, 40% done the timing belt, water pump seals, thermostat, degreasing ( man it's a mess ).

The day started out well:

Then I found out I needed a spark plug socket... Then new spark plugs, then this hose was found to be cracked

Never mind: I need a new Ventilation Hose, forget I a pictures with the parts labeled incase I need to replace coming.

Then when I removed the radiator the bottom bolt ( the one that holds the AC lines bracket ) snapped. I wasted a lot of time making runs to the local Harbor Freight and AutoZone.

Also, the car had so much oil and road tar on it I couldn't find / see the bolts for the 2 lower timing belt covers.

That was after cleaning 50% of the gunk off...

Still, so far it has been fun, time to put the new stuff on.

 

[homeforsummer]

Holy crap that's a lot of gunk. What on earth do they put on the roads around there?

 

[Heldenzeit]

Change the front main seal while you're at it.

 

[carracerptp]

Holy crap that's a lot of gunk. What on earth do they put on the roads around there?

Tar, oil with LOTS of road tar. I had to scrape and/or peel it off.

Change the front main seal while you're at it.

What a nightmare. I'm doing this right now ( well "was" before I got on GTP ).

Just when though 2 drill bits ( one snapped and the other dulled ) getting the old one off. Apparently 2/3s of my drill bits are garbage. Thankful my older set had hard bits.

Once I got a starter hole I threaded a screw in and pulled it out. I don't see any scratches from the drill bits on any of the surfaces but I do see some on the back that look like someone or me ( I used a small hook on that side ) left a few very light scratches. They look like they won't hurt it, I can barely see them so I will find out.

 

[carracerptp]

Best moment of the day:

Finally seeing that seal come out after working on it most of the morning was a relief. Next was cleaning, took up the rest of my day.

All the tar and 80% of the oil is off thanks to a potato brush, tooth brush, gloves, oven cleaner and gunk degreaser. Still a bit messy but I'll get the rest tomorrow.

Finally I have enough tools for a tool box! Found this one on sale at Harbor Freight:

 

[nobuffalo]

Safety

The good news is, you can see everything that's trying to kill you because it has excellent visibility with the top down.
If you're like me and live in an area with lots of people driving trucks, you will quickly discover that apparently a Miata is invisible to them. I think it's its size, plus they cut each other off anyway.
If you're not a very alert defensive driver, I'd almost say this car is dangerous on any major road. Especially when people start feeling like merging around you. Or if two guys in corollas with coffee can exhaust decide they want to go street racing and find that the road merges just ahead of you.
Its redeeming feature is its handling. It can stop on a dime and easily get out of the way.

In the miata I must inch out of intersections and what not because it sits so low I have a difficult time seeing over things, even those stupid signs businesses put on the sidewalk. It would seem for me this increases the chance of pulling out in front of someone. Same for backing out of spots. I also find the a-pillars can get in the way and the rear visibility with a standard soft top up is crap. Much better with a hardtop, they also make soft tops with two windows kind of around the side increasing visibility but those are ugly!

 

[mustangGT90210]

Yeah, it sucks. It's also illegal to drive without shoes on. Ask me how is know. (Long live the Barefoot_Driver!)

...

Same here in FL. And it blows my mind! They'd rather people drive in flip flops, stilletos and all other forms of shoes that aren't conducive to safe footwork, yet being barefoot is a problem.

I'll continue being a rebel. But I also leave my flip flops right in my footwell so if for some reason I get pulled over, I can just slip em on without moving.

OK, just spent 600 dollars on the AC
I wish I understood how they work better so I didn't have to go to the shop for it.

Anyway, I'm now looking for a helmet. My local event will take any DOT helmet ( motorcycles etc ).

If you go on Ebay, they have DOT helmets for like $20 shipped brand new. I'd personally never use one for my purposes (Motorcycling) but as a starter helmet so you can go autocross it, you can't pass that up!

Also, where are you in Florida? Your picture seemed to have a hill in it... And I can't find those around my area here

 

[carracerptp]

In the miata I must inch out of intersections and what not because it sits so low I have a difficult time seeing over things, even those stupid signs businesses put on the sidewalk. It would seem for me this increases the chance of pulling out in front of someone. Same for backing out of spots. I also find the a-pillars can get in the way and the rear visibility with a standard soft top up is crap. Much better with a hardtop, they also make soft tops with two windows kind of around the side increasing visibility but those are ugly!

Those signs and the "road work" barrels are the worst.

I have been honked at for being a little slow pulling out from behind them.

Same here in FL. And it blows my mind! They'd rather people drive in flip flops, stilletos and all other forms of shoes that aren't conducive to safe footwork, yet being barefoot is a problem.

I'll continue being a rebel. But I also leave my flip flops right in my footwell so if for some reason I get pulled over, I can just slip em on without moving.


If you go on Ebay, they have DOT helmets for like $20 shipped brand new. I'd personally never use one for my purposes (Motorcycling) but as a starter helmet so you can go autocross it, you can't pass that up!

Also, where are you in Florida? Your picture seemed to have a hill in it... And I can't find those around my area here

EDIT: Wait, it is illegal here? Everything I have seen says it is legal but could be used as a liability?

I will be using a loaner helmet supplied by the autocross event, then I just buy whatever size fits based on that.

As for hills I can only think of one worth mentioning. Mostly flat here. I live just above the Tarpon Springs area now.

 

[mustangGT90210]

EDIT: Wait, it is illegal here? Everything I have seen says it is legal but could be used as a liability?

I will be using a loaner helmet supplied by the autocross event, then I just buy whatever size fits based on that.

As for hills I can only think of one worth mentioning. Mostly flat here. I live just above the Tarpon Springs area now.

Ahh gotcha. I'm in the Sarasota area, bout 45 minutes south of Tampa. Guess you found the one worth seeing

For the helmets, go to a local motorcycle dealer and try on a few. Different brands come in different shapes, so it'd be good to get a better feel of what's up. Plus some brands run big, some run small, etc.

And from what I gather, yes barefoot driving is illegal here. As a secondary offense, so they can't pull you over for it. Which is why Jeep guys don't give a rats ass lol

 

[carracerptp]

OK, so I was putting the timing belt covers back on and noticed after removing the oil, tar, etc there was plastic ( and stuff like seals ) missing underneath it:

Looks like the crankshaft pulley ate it? That can't be right...

So wanting on that part, I may be getting a new radiator as well.

I'm going for the worlds slowest timing belt, water pump and seal change

 

[CodeRedR51]

Call any Miata salvage place and they'll have those covers for cheap. I would say because of all the oil on the front of the motor, the cover deformed enough for the crank pulley to rub on it. And yes, they do have little rubber seals behind them. (see below)

Lower Cover
Center Cover
Top Right
Top Left

 

[carracerptp]

Call any Miata salvage place and they'll have those covers for cheap. I would say because of all the oil on the front of the motor, the cover deformed enough for the crank pulley to rub on it. And yes, they do have little rubber seals behind them. (see below)

Lower Cover
Center Cover
Top Right
Top Left

I already ordered the parts from the dealership. I believe it said they came with the seals.

 

[CodeRedR51]

Ah yes, new covers do come with the seals. 👍