I had it rebuilt twice, which would last about a week or so before it'd start leaking again - it's gotten so bad that the brake fluid reservoir would empty to less than half in a day or two, even from just being parked. I don't think another rebuild will help.

Seeing that replacement calipers are extinct, I'm trying to figure out what options I have left - I was thinking checking the local junkyards, or:
https://ceika-store.com/products/cbk840

Is there any other alternative that I'm missing?

thanks, all.

 

That's becoming a problem with these cars. Parts are becoming harder and harder to find. Did you try Googling?

Here's what I found after Googling:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/28429342391...4AAOSwTRRgnYQ-

 

Thank you! I missed that one somehow.. I found a pair of used 5-lug rear brakes (which are unavailable virtually everywhere else - rock auto, napa, various mazda part sites, etc) on ebay that looked to be in better shape than mine, visually at least.

Got rebuild / boot kits and will clean em up a bit and see how they work - fingers crossed.

 

Online junkyards - ebay are a decent option.

oops you beat me to it.

 

​​​​​Found out carid doesn't actually have the caliper in stock, if anyone tries to buy from that eBay link.

 

OP - where is the caliper leaking from? If it's leaking from the backside where the parking brake lever/mechanism exits the caliper body, that can be fixed by a DIY rebuild with the Mazda OEM parts. I had this issue with mine, it would leak only when parked with the parking brake engaged. Contact Ray Crowe for the OEM Mazda seal kit, should still be readily available.

FYI - The "related thread" that the forum pops up under this one (scroll down) outlines my rear caliper repair adventure.

 

I think this might be the case for me also - my parking brake wasn't working and the leak started after I got it working again. Visually looks like it's coming from there also.

I'm in the process of rebuilding used calipers I found online- it'd be cool to make sure they don't leak also. I'll look into what you've mentioned, thank you !
​​​

 

Update, found bent up little needles in the cylinder of the used caliper

The parking brake nut is extremely stuck too so I can't even see how bad the bearings are, but I think I'll have to do what you did Pete and reinstall new needle bearings... or just get wheel chocks lol

Guess i'll reach out to Ray and see- I'm sure he'd know what I'm talking about, but do you happen to remember the part numbers for the kits that includes internal seals (I'm guessing this isn't the FB02-49-240 one..) for the ebrake as well as the needle bearings just in case?

 

The part # for the seal & rebuild kit, which does both calipers is FB02-49-240. Part # for the bearing is H001-26-205, you'll need 1 bearing per caliper. I ended up just doing the one leaky caliper because that bearing was such a PITA to remove, and saved the extra bearing & seal kit parts for the next time either side leaks (bought everything needed to do both sides).

 

happy ending - rebuilt the used ebay calipers, painted em, got em on, no more leak.

(turned out the needle bearings were completely fine, what I thought were needles were just tiny bits of wire from someone else's rotary wire brush, from a previous rebuild attempt no doubt)

I got to take a closer look at my old ones- parking mechanism is totally ruined, I can see how they leaked...

Thanks Pete for the info and parts numbers- I ended up pre-emptively ordering the needle bearings from tascaparts - unsure if it'll actually go through though since it's been in process for some time. If they do come through maybe I'll use them with my old calipers if I have time to rebuild them one day.

 

The last time I ordered from Tasca (April 2021), it took 2-1/2 months to get my parts. Good luck with that place!