NA8 brake upgrade + strut tops

mexiegirl · Postby **mexiegirl** » Fri Dec 14, 2012 8:32 pm

Hi Guys

I have a 96 NA8 and i'm looking to upgrade my brakes rather just fix the issues with them. Can somebody pretty please tell if a 2001 model brake system will be an easy fit to my older model. I have 15 inch wheels and i'm hoping to keep them. I saw an MX5 company in Dural selling the upgrade but the guy was extremely unhelpful & said he couldn't/wouldn't help or supply.

Also has anybody had an annoying rattle caused by the metal between the bump stop & strut tops, i'm thinking the metal on metal is causing my suicidal rattle, maybe I could put a rubber washer between the bump stop & top

Thankyou
Mexigirl

nGtim · Postby **nGtim** » Fri Dec 14, 2012 9:14 pm

Hi Mexiegirl,
In regards to your brake upgrade question, If the 2001 is the NB8A. They are identical to NA8 brakes.
However if you go the later model NB8C they are slightly larger I think..
I'm in need of a brake overhaul myself and have been looking into the options.
Many say that the standard brakes with good brake pads and good brake fluid are more than enough to enjoy driving the hills/track.
When I get the chance I will be simply rebuilding my calipers and doing a brake fluid flush.
Don't think forking out a few hundred for some second hand brakes will be as good as getting them freshly rebuilt.

Tim

NMX516 · Postby **NMX516** » Fri Dec 14, 2012 9:31 pm

Agree with the above. The NA8 brakes are very good if working 100% and with decent pads and rotors. If yours are a bit average, have them rebuilt, master cylinder checked, add decent pads and rotors, change the fluid and also look at possibly replacing the brake hoses. NB8B front and rear brakes will cost you plenty, and what's to say that they won't need to be rebuilt anyway. Going with NB8B brakes might also mean that you need new, bigger wheels, as the 8B brakes don't fit under all 15 inch wheels...

mexiegirl · Postby **mexiegirl** » Fri Dec 14, 2012 9:55 pm

OH DEAR

Thanks for the brake reply guys, not fitting in my nice 15 inch wheels puts me off to start, maybe i'll just fix my old brakes, my local brake place has a higher boiling point fluid that should help too.

I guess the strut top thing is a trickier issue. I spent $1100 putting bilsteins in thinking it will fix my rattle from my koni's, all fitted then rattle rattle rattle, took them back out put in a washer between the shock bolt as the koni holes where bigger, back in rattle rattle rattle, it's just weird the top of the bump stop is metal the touches metal on the strut top. Then I squeezed silastic between them rattle rattle, and now a squeek too, GRRRRR

Thanks

NMX516 · Postby **NMX516** » Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:20 pm

The higher boiling point fluid won't hurt, but it won't make any difference either unless you're cooking the brakes from repeated heavy braking, such as what you might get on a race track. The Castrol fluid in the silver bottle will be fine for the road - about $12 a bottle from Repco.

The rattle noise could be any number of things... How are your suspension bushes? How many kms has the car done? If you're convinced that it's from the struts, is the surface that the struts mount up to (inner guard) completely clean of any dirt? It seems strange that you get the same problem with both brands of struts - to me that suggests that the problem isn't with the struts...

manga_blue · Postby **manga_blue** » Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:43 pm

mexiegirl wrote:I have a 96 NA8 and i'm looking to upgrade my brakes rather just fix the issues with them.

Could you describe what issues you have with them?

Stock NA8 brakes are easily good enough for an NA8 on the road and track but you do need to regard all the main components as consumables: pads, rotors, fluid and slider pins. You might be up for all the same stuff if you bought an upgrade.

bensale · Postby **bensale** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 12:13 am

Have the brakes got all the clips and springs they should have fitted? Easy to check and can make a lot of noise when they're not there.
Bushes can also make a lot of noise, more squeak than rattle though.

Also agree that your current brakes will be fine and NB8B ones won't provide you a tangible benefit over the current setup.

taminga16 · Postby **taminga16** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 12:47 am

Hi Mexiegirl,
When youy get the brake issue sorted the installation of a master cylinder brace would be worth considering.
Greg.

aka_juffa · Postby **aka_juffa** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 11:18 am

mexiegirl wrote:Hi Guys

Also has anybody had an annoying rattle caused by the metal between the bump stop & strut tops, i'm thinking the metal on metal is causing my suicidal rattle, maybe I could put a rubber washer between the bump stop & top

Thankyou
Mexigirl

There is meant to be a very thin piece of plastic that is compressed between the body and the top of shock mounts. It is white, almost translucent as it is so thin. Without this there can be a 'metal on metal' sound. Did you reinstall this when you swapped from the Konis to the Bilsteins?

J.

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 1:56 pm

nGtim wrote:If the 2001 is the NB8A.

2001 is NB8B - were built from Oct 2000.

aka_juffa · Postby **aka_juffa** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 9:07 pm

aka_juffa wrote: [There is meant to be a very thin piece of plastic that is compressed between the body and the top of shock mounts. It is white, almost translucent as it is so thin. Without this there can be a 'metal on metal' sound. Did you reinstall this when you swapped from the Konis to the Bilsteins?

J.

This is part I am referring to

Available from http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/suspension-mo ... p-710.html

J

mexiegirl · Postby **mexiegirl** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 9:29 am

Thankyou so much everyone for your advice.

/I will order some new strut tops from mazda with the lil plastic film on the top. It just seems weird to have metal on metal between the bump stop and strut top.

Thanks and merry christmas