Mazda Miata: Brakes wearing wedge shape

I pulled my wheels several years ago when my '91 B had 80,000 miles
on it, figuring that with the mileage, it would need brake shoes. I found
the front pads with about 3mm uniform thickness, but the back pads were
worn down to the metal on the bottom edge, with about 3mm thickness on the
top edge. I thought it rather odd, but did notice the rear pads did not
have the spring clips installed like the front brakes (I had bought the car
new in '91, and knew no one had touched the brakes).
I installed new pads on front and rear, and installed the spring
clips provided with the pads. I suspected the lack of clips on the rear
pads caused the uneven wear, but I have not checked my pads since then.
Did your pads have the clips installed? Rod



<net> wrote in message
news:bay.webtv.net... 

I second the spring clip theory. Go to page 6 of my site here and note the
position of the spring clip:

http://www.cardomain.com/id/wueys


"rod" <net> wrote in message
news:mtCkc.819$news.pas.earthlink.net... 
miles 
car 

Sorry, Rod... Couldn't tell you about the clips. ...I took my Miata to
the shop assuming the "trained" Mazda mechanic knew what he was doing.
...They kept harping about lubricating and thus keeping the emergency
brake operational. They felt this was where the problem lay. ---I never
use it, as the winters here can be long and cold. I've heard horror
stories from those who have.

Ironically, I took my Miata for new tires a few months ago. I figured
it's probably time to change the pads -- again. ...He said they were
fine. Perhaps the clips were the problem, but the dealarship didn't
want to admit to the previous screw-ups. They just quietly slipped the
springs in. ...Jon