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Upgrading brakes on na6

Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 8:22 pm
by bootec
Hey guys, i want to upgrade all my brakes. The stock ones are tiny. Can you guys tell me what factory brakes will directly bolt on or with minimal effort? For example, will the na8 brake calliper, disc and pads be a straight fit? What about nb brakes? Thanks in advance guys. Sorry if its a silly question.

Re: Upgrading brakes on na6

Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 8:42 pm
by Magpie
Why is the first question? Have you thought about different pads first?

NB8b will fit as will NA8. NB8B will require the uprights at the same time you may as wellchange out the upper control arms.

Re: Upgrading brakes on na6

Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 8:45 pm
by sailaholic
Na6 race cars can make do with na6 brakes, are you actually overpowering your brakes?

Re: Upgrading brakes on na6

Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2014 10:56 am
by MattR
The standard brakes are fine for the NA6. I do plenty of track days in mine and have yet to run out of brakes.

First thing to as is why do you want to upgrade? If it's for looks because they look to small?

If it is for performance, a few cheap and easy things will make the brakes perform better without having to spend the time and money trying to put new brakes on.

First do a general check of your brakes and the braking system. How long since the fluid was changed? If over two years, then it is well worth changing the fluid for a good quality fluid. You don't need to buy special racing fluid, but a good quality fluid will do the job. Personally I use the Penrite Sin fluid, cheap and for what I use my car for does the job very well.

If the pads are nearing time to be replaced, then choose a good performance pad, again you don't need an out an out race pad. A good quality performance pad will suit you well. The choice of pad is very subjective and you have to balance things like dust, noise and performance to best meet your demands. Some people prefer different pads. For general use I like the Bendix ultimates, but in my NA6 at the moment I have Hawk HPS pads as I like the Hawk pads and have used them in all my race cars as they seem to suit my driving style. Others use Winmax or QFM.

Once you have the general condition of the brake system sorted, the pads sorted and the fluid sorted and you still wnat more then look at replacing the flexible rubber lines with braided lines, a set of lines will be a couple of hundred at most depending on where you get them from.

Only after all this has been done, and for not a lot of cost would I then worry about upgrading to bigger brakes, and then it comes down to what do actually want to do with the car.

Believe it or not, it is actually possible to overbrake a car. You also have the problem that go too bg in brakes you will increase the unsprung weight of the car and that will affect the handling performance of the car.

Re: Upgrading brakes on na6

Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2014 11:39 am
by kazama
so much love for na6 brakes im surprised na8 and beyond boys dont downsize lol

Re: Upgrading brakes on na6

Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2014 7:47 pm
by bootec
Thanks for the insight guys. I ask simply because i want to upgrade my brakes for better performance and my first thought was bigger brakes. And we all know how tiny na6 brakes look behind the wheels. If you guys think upgrades to my existing brakes are a better option then ill do so. Im also thinking more long term. How do na6 brakes hold up in turbocharged track mx5s?

Re: Upgrading brakes on na6

Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2014 9:36 pm
by gslender
Rebuild the calipers, install new disc rotors and quality pads, fluids and you'll be unlikely to need more. Whilst they seems small, remember the car is light and started with 14" wheels.