If upgrading NA6 brakes to NB8A/8B what do I need?

[lucmor444]

Pardon my ignorance as a newbie and a mechanical clutz but if looking to upgrade by NA6 brakes to the NB series other than the rotors and calipers should I be trying to source any other particular parts?

If I can I want to find some NB8B brakes. Pads I assume are easy to source?

[smy0003]

You'll need the nb8b front brake lines if you go for those. The bigger disc of the nb8b gives a greater sweep of the caliper requiring the longer lines.

Sent from my LG-H815

[lucmor444]

You'll need the nb8b front brake lines if you go for those. The bigger disc of the nb8b gives a greater sweep of the caliper requiring the longer lines.

Sent from my LG-H815

Thx smy0003. Do you know if the NB8B rear rotors/calipers fit OK (assuming you would need that brake line as well)?

[lucmor444]

Further to my brake upgrade consideration I was wondering whether anyone have used the NB8B front brakes to replace the rear brakes of their NA6/NA8 or whether anyone knows if this is doable?

[StanTheMan]

On the NA6 the rear brakes hardly get used.

If this is for a road car . I'm not shure id bother. Unless your bolting on a hair dryer and expecting 300 whp and the engineer is telling you to do it.

If you just do the front brakes you may also think about the brake bias valve from a later MX 5 where a little mor goes towards the rear. I've gone to nb8a brakes at the front but changed nothing else.

In a case where I do really need to use the anchors the fronts lock up quite easy.

If your building a race car that's a totally different thing

[lucmor444]

Thx StantheMan

My car will be purely for road use.

Its just that I have the rotors and calipers available and now no longer need them for their original purpose (ie as a replacement for the fronts on an NA6) so thinking do I use them or sell them on?

I have both the vented front rotors and the solid rear rotors from an NB8B but only the calipers from the front rotors. If the front calipers can be used on the rear I could stick to the solid rear rotors? I do have a brake proportioning valve if that is needed.

[greenMachine]

You would need bigger wheels - you have 14s?

Why are you doing this? Want bling - OK!

If you have a stockish engine, and brake problems, it is more likely to be a case of bleed/flush the fluid, maybe replace the pads, grease the slider pins, and you are good to go.

Seriously, bigger brakes may look racy, but they add unsprung weight (just pick up the disk and calliper and you will see what I mean), mandate bigger wheels (more unsprung weight), and you end up wondering where that sweet-handling car went. Better off selling the ones you have, and putting the money into fluid and pads for the ones on the car.

My 2c.

[lucmor444]

Thx greenMachine - I am leaning towards simply selling them.

[Cus]

I put NB8B bakes on my NA6, and braided lines (psychedelic yellow HEL ones) and the 15" wheels I have ooonnllly just clear the calipers. My NA6 caliper spat a seal and needed to be rebuilt .. so I spent a little more and got the bigger ones.

"Adjusting" the stone shields is a pain, and takes a while (unless you're actually good at metalwork - I am not) with a few rounds of putting the rotors/calipers on and off to check clearance. And then re-adjusting them in a few weeks when you realise just how many little stones get caught in there....

[lucmor444]

Thanks for the input from everyone. I have decided not to worry about putting these brakes on and will post them up on the classifieds.

[93_Clubman]

have both the vented front rotors and the solid rear rotors from an NB8B but only the calipers from the front rotors. If the front calipers can be used on the rear I could stick to the solid rear rotors?

First thing that occurs to me is that the front calipers aren't going to have the handbrake fitting hardware & adjuster on them, & I don't believe this hardware & adjuster can be retro fitted.

[lucmor444]

Thx 93_Clubman. That is a good pick up and have now realised that too:). These NB8B front rotors and calipers are going up for sale!