Replaced my brake lines + brake master cylinder brace

[Uncle Arthur]

So where in Brisbane would you recommend for SS lines?

[Steampunk]

Grazza, I personally think just fitting ss lines only, the difference would probably be minimal in brake feel, BUT, doing as Andrew has done,
basically the whole kit, then all added together you will definately feel an overall improvement. Its basically insurance for a street only car, as most only change their rubber lines when something goes wrong : a burst rubber line, bit late then!!!!

..... We all winge (me especially) when paying car insurance but still pay it, do the same with braided lines!!!winge but still fit em!!!

Terry

The better the condition of your lines, the less improvement you will feel, and this goes across the board with pretty much everything mechanical, hydraulic, electric etc etc.
My brakes never felt "right", so I thought, "what the heck" and changed every part that is easy to change.

The Goodridge lines actually worked out to be cheaper than genuine Mazda OEM rubber lines (for me anyways Fatty, as I didn't really shop around much for OEM lines), and that pushed me over the fence.
Plus I just simply wanted to find out first hand if SS braided lines DO make a difference or not.

Oh and yes.... late-braking heroics are greatly enhanced with them on Tez..... but I'm waaaay too much of a girl to stomp on the brakes like all you maniacs

Uncle Arthur, unfortunately I bought Terry's and mine from abroad.
eBay is a good place to start looking

[wun911]

I know the specs I wasnt happy with my goodridge lines so I got someone to custom make them.
Im pretty sure there isn't a locator on the goodrige lines I know the banjo bolts that came with goodridge lines are really week and should be carefully torqued (stock banjo bolts seem stronger).
The lines I have are still ADR aproved and they are pressure tested before being fitted.
The best part is being custom made its the perfect length and it has the locator, thus its easy to install and it doesn't rub against any of my suspension components and frey.
Yes I could have cable tied them out of the way but thats just adding to unsprung weight (works out to be about the the same price getting them custom made)....

On the big forums people are getting new masters and have reported a better feel in their breaks Im thinking of doing the same...

(puts the flame suit on)

[Steampunk]

I installed a brake master cylinder brace the other day and now my brake system is complete, and am very satisfied with the result.
To summarise for people who are interested in going down the same route I have;
I have Castrol Super Dot 4 brake fluid,
- Hawk HPS pads front and rear,
- Goodridge stainless-steel braided lines,
- front and rear slotted rotors,
- Carbing Strut Tower Brace with brake master cylinder stopper.

Each upgrade has made a very tangible and worthwhile difference.

If you have no track aspirations, higher boiling point brake fluid and aggressive brake pads will probably not make a noticeable difference to you.

Safe motoring everyone

Andrew

[RobH]

Hi Andrew,

Where do you get the Carbing Braces and Master Cylinder Stopper from? Is there an Australian dealer?

How much was the Carbing Strut Tower Brace with brake master cylinder stopper? I am very interested in one of these.

[Steampunk]

Hey Rob
It's a second-hand item from MX-5Plus, but I believe Josh at Wholesale Suspension may be able to sort something out for you.
Look in the Forum Sponsors section.

[Sasso]

I did end up getting the braded lines. got them from 949 racing, $150 landed. Easy to intall if a little messy, you lose all of your fluid. I also put the stock bleeders back on. Didn't feel much difference to be honest but I adjusted the plunger on the brake pedal and now the pedal feels great, its also now consistent, importantly, even on the track, it wasnt before. So I am pretty happy with the brakes, although I think cheap standard rotors aren't that great, next time I'll get slotted. I seem to get a bit of fade on long braking zones like on eastern creek, I even got brake fade at akuna bay/mccarrs creek rd, but no fade on OP or wakie.

[rascal]

Sasso,

Did you have any issues with fitment?

I always get a bit worried about potential lhd-rhd differences between their cars and ours..

[WASP]

Hi A little friendly advice,double check that the new lines are not "chaffing' anywhere,when you have done a few K's take the wheels off and check the lines very carefully for rub marks,especially the front.Do NOT fit and forget.
WASP

A few forumites here have patiently endured my occassional whinge about how the least favourite thing about my car is the lack of brake feel.

I bought the car in late 2000, with 85,000km on the odometer (now has just over 144,000km) and from day one I have felt uncomfortable with the rather soft pedal.
I have dríven every model of MX-5, thus of varying mileage, and each one had better brake feel than mine.

In summary:
- changing brake fluid and rating only made a marginal difference
- changing rotors and more "aggressive" pads, made a definite improvement in bite, but not feel.

Still not happy, so I thought I may as well take the final step and change the brake lines themselves.

BINGO!

Even though my OEM lines looked OK, they were obviously "weak" (for lack of a better term).

So for anyone else out there who is unhappy with their brakes, invest in a set of good quality lines and

Thank you to Mr Starlet for helping me with the swap.

[edit 24th Sept]
upon advice for fellow forumites, and years of looking for a good one, I installed a brake master cylinder brace.
In short, yup ..... it works
You don't really feel it under normal/gentle/everyday braking, but if you give the pedal even a half-hearted stomp, you know it's doing it's job.
I assume the harder you brake, the more tangible the feeling.

[manga_blue]

Hi A little friendly advice,double check that the new lines are not "chaffing' anywhere,when you have done a few K's take the wheels off and check the lines very carefully for rub marks,especially the front.Do NOT fit and forget.
WASP

x2, then check again after a few months and after each time you change wheels or spacers.

[Sasso]

Sasso,

Did you have any issues with fitment?

I always get a bit worried about potential lhd-rhd differences between their cars and ours..

No they were perfect. Only problem I had was front lines I twisted in the wrong direction so they rubbed on the tyre at full lock. Fixed that, now its good. The lines have a clear rubber outside so the metal doesn't actually touch anything.

[rascal]

No they were perfect. Only problem I had was front lines I twisted in the wrong direction so they rubbed on the tyre at full lock. Fixed that, now its good. The lines have a clear rubber outside so the metal doesn't actually touch anything.

Excellent. I've had my eye on these as they're half the price of locally sourced ones, but was worried they might not fit.. Worried no more..

cheers

[Sasso]

No they were perfect. Only problem I had was front lines I twisted in the wrong direction so they rubbed on the tyre at full lock. Fixed that, now its good. The lines have a clear rubber outside so the metal doesn't actually touch anything.

Excellent. I've had my eye on these as they're half the price of locally sourced ones, but was worried they might not fit.. Worried no more..

cheers

Yeah I was quite impressed with them. Pretty good service too, Shipping was like $12 and it came in about a week.