1.8 brakes onto 1.6 question (again)

[Fatty]

sorry guys, i know this has been discussed a millions times.

i have a full set of 1.8 rears to go onto my na6, including calipers etc, so that part is sorted out.

my question relates to the fronts. i have been told that you can just get 1.8 rotors and use the 1.6 calipers etc if you swap the calipers from left to right, or something like that. i'm not sure if this is correct.

can anyone set me straight on this? can i just buy the rotors and do the swap? or do i need to buy the full set ?

[Uncle Arthur]

Full set as I understand it - different swept area on the larger discs.

[GS]

Ive started investigating the NA8 brake conversation as well. I remember seeing a guide on m.net indicating that you can get away with just the 1.8 rotors and the caliper brackets and utilise your existing 1.6 calipers.

Obviously if you do this you get the bigger 1.8 rotors but not the bigger pads, but its something to consider. I dont know how hard it is to acquire the caliper brackets on their own though.

[manga_blue]

For the front you need NA6 calipers, NA8 rotors (you can have mine, I think they're OK but they should be machined first) and NA8 caliper brackets (no, you can't have mine!).

Better option might be DBA NA8 slotted rotors at $140 each (MX5Mania and Repco price).

http://www.bigllama.com/miata/brake/bigbrake.htm

[manga_blue]

There's always this too.

http://www.aus-cartalk.com/viewtopic.php?t=26664

[Matty]

There are two methods, depending whether or not you use 1.6 or 1.8 calipers, which leads to the confusion. (Note that this ONLY applies to the front brakes. The rears always stay on their repective sides.)

If you keep the 1.6 calipers, you need to swap the brackets L-R and vice versa.

If you use the 1.8 calipers. you use the brackets on the side they are marked for.

In either case, you will need 1.8 rotors AND 1.8 pads (and shims, springs, etc).

[Fatty]

thanks for the info guys. i think i will just use the 1.6 calipers then. phil, i will take you up on the offer of the rotors, cheers mate. i guess i'll give mania or mx5 factory a call to get some brake pads and any other bits needed for the conversion.

[Fatty]

cancel that. after speaking to josh at mania i've ordered some na6 dba slotted rotors. that should do me for now i reckon.

[zoomzoom]

Just get the bigger brakes, you will not regret spending the money the first time you come down a steep wining road and actually have brakes to use.

You can use the na6 calipers if you buy the 1.8 brackets to move them further out as the disc is bigger, but this will probably cost as much as jsut buying the set of second hand calipers brackets and discs.

Or alternatively, go the whole hog and jsut buy the NB8B brakes and smile about those huge (for an mx5 at least) brakes which miss the 15\" wheels buy about 5mm

[kula]

i did the upgrade myself from 1.6 to 1.8.

got the new brackets from NZ, but there was a mob in the states selling them for like $10 or something rediculous.

when i upgrade to FD brakes, ill have my 1.6 and 1.8 kits for sale:)