NA6 owners - your brakes

[Slugoid]

What do you think about your tiny brakes After my adventures on track yesterday, I've concluded that my brakes aren't up to scratch.

I'm stumped as to what to do Few choices I was thinking of:

1. Upgrade to better pads (such as Ferodo DS2500), matched with DBA slotted rotors.

2. Upgrade to NA8 brakes and use better front pads on the stock rotors.

Choosing 1 will give me pretty good results, but at the end of the day, they are still tiny brakes. Choosing 2 means more money out of my pocket, but then I have a better base to work around later on. Just what to hear people optinions and personal experiences.

[Mr_Q]

I did the swap to some NB8B brakes on my old 1.6. Only got one track day with it, but had no brake problems at all.

I'd suggest keeping an eye out for some cheap NA8/NB8 brakes (my Clubman brakes will be up for sale in the next few weeks ) and grab them. Much cheaper than most of the aftermarket \"big brake\" kits.

[phatMX]

I upgraded to the na8 setup with EBC redstuff and the only thing letting me down was the tires. QR has some long straights and it was no fade whatso ever.

[Sheck]

I'm running a turbo and have only the stock brakes and (from what i can tell) stock pads, never faded before, and the only reason i cant stop faster is due to my tires letting go..
i dont know what everyone complains about with the standard braking.
If you wan tbetter feel get braided lines and better pads, and possibly a master cylinder brace, i dont see anyhting wrong with em...

I also had no problems on QR's straights, for the whole 4ish laps i got before my engine fire
Multiple high speed stopping has never let me down, 10 x 120kmh plus stops in a row without fade only some stinky pads, thats pretty good in my books..

[ZenArcher]

I agree withe Sheck.

Only I have DBA slotted discs and installed some QFM pads from ACT Brakes, here in Canberra. The pads are actually quite cheap and I wasn't sure if they were any good or not, but the guy I spoke to said he would give me my money back if I didn't like them. Followed his break in procedure and after that I found that the brakes are awesome. Stops me in a a huge hurry no matter what speed, wet or dry, hot or cold. They are awesome pads.

I am going turbo in the next month and have spoken to several certified engineers (to keep the car legal and certified with turbo) about what my plans are and all have said that the brakes I have will be just fine and not to waste my money on bigger brakes. That the only things I may (at the extreme) need to do is better pads or drilled and slotted rotors, but most likely not. This was from one engineer who has turboed 3 MX5's and certified them.

[Mr_Q]

Even cheaper options.

Better pads are probably the best bet.

I'll point out that I really only went to the NB8B set as I needed new discs and rear calipers and the NB set came up cheap at the right time.

[Matty]

First question: what do you have now?
Pads?
fluid?

If you don't know, it means old, old fluid and cheap or OEM pads. Which is a bad combo for the track.

Get some good fresh DOT 4 fluid, and some semi-race pads and the OEM hardware can do remarkably well.

A DIY brace on the master cylinder is a cheap addition.

[Boags]

I have new DBA rotors, not slotted or drilled, just replacements for the OEM ones, and TWR Lucas pads.

When i bought the car it had a brake wobble, i had to choose between standard or slotted rotors... For twice the money, you get better stopping on the track, and WAY more wear on your pads for the month or two on the road between track days. I chose standard with better pads.

No fade, no problem stopping... LOTS OF DUST and a horrible smell

What i have is perfect for what i use it for.

Boags

[Slugoid]

Pads - Galfer FDT1055 (info here)
Fluid - Castrol Response Super Dot 4 (replace later with Motul RBF 600?)

Already has a master cylinder stopper.

I mean, it wasn't a disaster on track, but it just didn't stop as well as I expected. Will trying flushing and bleeding the brakes properly and see how it goes. If it still doesn't meet my expectations, then I'll look into different front pads and/or rotors.

[jules]

Are the rears adjusted properly??


Jules

[Black04RSC]

Couldn't agree more slugoid,

I flushed the whole system with new fluid, adjusted the rears, changed all the rotors and pads, putting DBA slotted rotors and RB74's on the front and the result was just average. Very average.

Maybe the R74's aren't the go although they were recommended to me by Mania. The rears don't really do a lot so just solid rotors and Bendix Advance back there.

Has anyone found a really good pad for the front? Sorry to hijack the thread but i'm disappointed with the results i have (especially after the turbo went on) and have been thinking about upgarding my brakes to the 1.8 setup. I'd rather just change the front pads though... $$$

Rob

[SuperMazdaKart]

would a brake bias adjuster help out much?

[phatMX]

When people say the mx5 brakes are average what exactly do you refer to? If you cant lock up the current brakes then i can understand (and something is wrong) but otherwise you probably need wider/stickier tyres and better suspension to get you stopping quicker.

I admit my rx7 brakes used to pull that thing up fast on normal driving conditions but terrible when stopping from above 160kph but that just came down to having street pads.

[JBT]

I've only got standard brakes and OEM pads. No brake fade or other problems for me at the two track days I've entered this year.

[jules]

I noticed pretty obvious brake fade when I used to chase Craig through the Old Road. After putting RB74's on Malibu that stopped abruptly.

No fade ever since.


Jules