mazdatrix sells brake hardware kits and thye have all these plates in them. Do i need the whole kit..as of right now i have the two pins, the pin springs, and the pads, do i need anything else? i dont have any of those plates

 

Those plates are just covers for the outside of the brake pad... you smutz up the steel back of the brake pad with anti squeal.. or rtv... and then slap those plates to them, the plates then ride against the caliper (kinda like your making an oreo with RTV as the cream center!!! acts as a vibration damper so that your brakes seat better and don't howl....

Honestly, I don't know too many people who bother replcing them after the stock pads wear out, HOWEVER.. if your springs are tired.. it might be worth it to get new ones...

 

just reuse the stock shims and springs. if they are rusted, you need to replace them.

 

well im a ******* retard. For the record...91 NA's DID have the big brake option..and mine had them.

 

lol that doesnt make you a retard, just uninformed. as for the hardware...my rears were kinda hashed so i left them off. didn't notice any problems except that they squeal a little more, but i've got aftermarket pads on them.

i have been told the backing plates are pretty much just there to help with the squealing issue. figured i would get some if the squealing was unbearable...but its not. my springs were still good so i didn't bother buying a new set of hardware.

 

nice. while replacing my pads, i noticed that the bottom of the pads can easily just move in/out and rub on the rotor. Is there anything that keeps them from tilting inward on the bottom?

 

it should be fine. they are meant to just hang down like that and shouldn't be a problem. as long as there is no pressure being applied it won't really cause any wear and tear. nothing holds the undersides apart, so they just kind of flap around like that until you press the pedal.