New alternator in, charging at 14.5 volts when I've got the AC and lights on. Thanks everyone who helped me diagnose my issues!

Called it! What did I win!

2 stickers, you got them last week lol.

They're already on lol

Well, the deed is done, I found a good deal on the fans I wanted on eBay:
Spal 30101504 12?? Medium Profile Fan Pull | eBay

$133 for both fans shipped.

so...
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1433777740
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https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1433777740https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1433777740
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https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1433777740

I hope...

Are you running a stock radiator?

I was thinking about doing cooling upgrades as well, my MSM doesn't overheat, but it feels like the A/C can't keep up in this TX heat.

Nope, 37mm koyo, but still have heating issues, my MSM is cursed. To be fair, the general consensus is that the 37mm koyo has more capacity, but is really only about as efficient as the OEM unit.

Brake questions:

about a 3 weeks ago my brakes started squealing a tiny bit, I made a note, ordered pads.

Last friday week they started making noise even just driving down the road. Alternator died monday so I quit driving the car and borrowed my wifes minivan for a few days. Got the alternator done saturday, and I was replacing my pads tonight, no problem with the fronts, when I got to the driver rear I couldn't get the caliper in. I had the car on a jack stand, in gear, no e-brake. I put a C-clamp on the piston but no matter how much I pushed, the piston wouldn't budge. Also noticed the boot on the slider was torn. See this pic:
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1433821354
So I assume I need to either rebuild or replace my caliper, yes? Any recommendations on a kit?

front pads had a bit of life left, but I put in the new ones anyways.
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1433821354

Intro turned build - Humming's '05 Lava Orange
 

<p>lol. remove plug in back, retract piston with allen wrench.</p>

<p>Damn it Sean I wanted to answer, go to bed you wake up too early.</p><p>hes right, common rookie mistake, RTFM :)</p><p>theres a bolt on the back that covers up an Allen head adjustment bolt.</p>

Intro turned build - Humming's '05 Lava Orange
 

and don't forget to adjust the parking brake when your done. going to bed now.

Turn until tight then back off a half turn or so.

yeah, someone on clubroadster pointed me the right way. I've literally never once changed rear brake pads on anything I owned, I've never needed to before. At any rate, glad I don't need to rebuild them or anything. Thanks!

Don't feel too bad. This thing threw me for a loop as well. I was even following the brake guide in the garage thread from M.net. The rear Miata brakes are very interesting.

Yeah, when I first did the rear I couldn't get my ebrake to work. My C-Clamp was able to push it in, when I found out about the rear adjuster, it had a note saying I could have killed the rear calipers.

I almost wet myself.

Anyway, for adjustment, I could never get it right, so I pulled the ebrake up, and tightened the adjuster until the wheel wouldn't move. Then I backed off the adjuster until it would allow the wheel to move. Then I put it in the middle point, and all is well.

<p>inhave to admit the first time i did mine, i did the same thing.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>rob- i have a spare slider boot somewhere if you need it, theyre also only a few $$ at vatozone and oreallys</p>

Thanks, it's already taken care of. Got it done after work today. I backed it out a half turn on the e-brake adjuster thing and that seems about perfect.

Did you replace the oem alternator? Be ready to swap them every few months now. Or stock up on TCM $45 oem ones.

Yeah I did. Are the parts store ones really that bad? :-(

Yep. I swapped 2 in one day on the MX6, then got smart and started having them tested before i left the store. 2 more failed out of the box before i got a 3rd one that passed.

Which i then installed.

And 2 months later it got flaky again.

Parts store alternators and starters are the worst things ever.