Advice - Fitting NB8B front brakes to NB8A

[infrarob]

I am upgrading the front brakes on my NB8A (track day car) to 270mm rotors.

Can I use the same calipers and pads from the NB8A?

Will the caliper bracket from the NB8B bolt directly onto the NB8A?

[StillIC]

Remove the entire caliper and bracket from your NB8A uprights.
Remove original rotors.
Install larger NB8B rotors.
Bolt entire caliper and bracket from NB8B to your uprights.

Unlike the 2 early MX5 brakes, the calipers are not interchangeable from the NB8B brackets to the others and must be used with their own brackets. But these big brakes bolt to the uprights on all NA and NB models.

[infrarob]

I really appreciate that advice. I don't have the NB8B brackets and calipers as yet, but should be relatively easy to obtain. However, I do have the Hawk pads for the NB8A. Do you know if those pads will fit the NB8B calipers?

[greenMachine]

You could always save some money, and LOTS of unsprung weight, and stick with the OE calipers. Big brakes are only really required for very high energy stopping, usually turbo cars. And if you do the fronts, you will need to do the backs too.

Good pads, good fluid, well maintained sliders will perform really well. I used stock brakes on the GM when it was a serious dual duty car, and never had a fade problem - good pads were the secret. Hawk pads may not be the best, but are better than stock. Search here, you will find lots of advice on pads, but fwiw I use Carbotech pads on both the GM and the racecar.

But don't let me stop you if bling is your thing.

[infrarob]

Does anyone know whether NB8A pads fit in NB8B calipers?

[93_Clubman]

Pad pattern is the same: https://mx5cartalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=64668

[infrarob]

I tried the link but I got a screen message that the site was not secure, so I backed out.

Can I presume that if the pad patterns are the same, that the pads are the same?

[RS2000]

NB8A & NB8B pads are not the same - different length & width & thickness & different shape backing plate.
However, NA8 & NB8A are the same.

[infrarob]

Once again, thanks for that information. This forum is better than going to Mazda dealers, etc.

I will be selling some Hawk Blue brake pads suitable for an NB8A or an NA8 soon. They are still in their plastic wrap and boxes, unused. I will buy some NB8B front calipers and mounting brackets first. I may need to buy both front and rear brake calipers, so I am not sure if I will be selling front only pads or front and rear pads at this stage.

[rascal]

I may need to buy both front and rear brake calipers, so I am not sure if I will be selling front only pads or front and rear pads at this stage.

You can buy just a dogbone spacer (from Flyin Miata and others) to space the NB8A caliper out to fit the larger NB8B rotors on the rear.
That way you can use your existing calipers and therefore your current NB8A brake pads..

[RS2000]

Rascal, do you know of a link to those spacers? My searching is turning up zero.
Cheers.

[rascal]

Hmm, You're right, looks like all the big vendors are only selling the spacers are part of a whole kit now rather than individually, or not at all..

http://949racing.com/Supermiata-big-brake-kit.aspx )The link to their 'Rear Sport Rotor Conversion' on this page no longer goes anywhere..
http://www.good-win-racing.com/Mazda-Pe ... 6-R16.html
Stage 1 rear is an option for whole kit - https://www.flyinmiata.com/flyin-miata- ... -7095.html)

Maybe they might still offer the adaptors if you rang them?
Alternatively you could just have some made to suit the NB8A calipers on 276mm NB8B rotors? Imagine it wouldnt be hard to have a machine shop make an adaptor with 13mm more radially built into the mount points. (diff between 250mm NB8A rotors and 276mm NB8B rotors)

[RS2000]

Thanks rascal

[infrarob]

Good advice here. I will try a machine shop.