The Rx7 calipers are still a possibility, we would just need a rotor with more offset. However, its turning out that these aren't easy to find.

 

Screw the heavy *** RX7 calipers. Wilwoods are good, light, and cheap enough.

 

How much are the wilwood calipers at cost?

 

But the RX7 Calipers can be had for cheaper.

Chris

 

If you think those are heavy, try picking up some Toyota 4runner/pickup calipers. Those are a brick in comparison.

 

If you think those are heavy, try picking up some calipers from a Kenworth cab-over. Those are an anvil in comparison.

 

So what about talking bout when an upgrade is needed in a braking system? As in what power levels a system should be able to handle? And when its time to upgrade...

Just been hearing alot of people saying the 1.8system w/ good pads is "more than enough" and wondering what systems/combinations are capable of what?

 

haha fair enough

 

Depends on the use, if you are driving on the street the stock system can lock the wheels up and is good enough. If you track the car hard you will want something that will be able to handle the constant heat and stress.

 

Chad, I've seen them around $300/pr new. Personally, I'm OK with spending $300 on a pair of new, high tech, lightweight calipers vs $60 on 20+ years old heavy things.

 

Well half of the old bags over at m.net tell you the stock 1.6 brakes are more than enough, too. I learned that was a load of crap when I overheated my stock brakes slowing from 120 - 40 and nearly ate ****.

 

i wouldnt mind either,

but you still need to take into account the pads, the rotors, the brake lines, and the bracket for that matter.

i calculated it up, it comes out to about 700 dollars total out of the pocket.

keep in mind that those old foogies dont drive their car as hard as we do, nor does their miata go as fast as ours either. well, at least 70-90% of them dont at least. we cant account for spec miata drivers though

 

So what, you're buying new pads, rotors, and lines no matter what.
unless we use the 10" oem rotors, which almost all of us already have. then we can save like $50 on the rotors + whatever the spacers end up being.

 

My 1.6 brakes with dot4 fluid, hps pads, and stainless lines worked great on the track last year. We'll see how they hold up to r compound tires. My friends itr civic with huge willwoods and r compounds was incredible on the track until he ate an axle. Most of the magazine tests don't show any improvement with big brakes because they aren't getting them super heated.

 

so with these upcoming uber-upgrades on the horizon, anyone want to sell me their 1.8 brackets? ;-)

 

Spec Miata's are a good example of what stock brakes can do with proper pads. Those guy's run hard, fast, consistent laps with stock rotors, r-comps, stock calipers and good track pads. Even at endurance events I don't think brakes are a big issue for them.

Granted we have more hp, more weight and generally less skill but big brakes certainly aren't a neccesity. Nice to have if you want em and have the cash but stainless lines, frequent bleeding with high quality fluid, maintaining rotors and calipers and using proper pads for your track days will cover 98% of the needs out there.

 

we have more power, more weight, less skill, and LESS HEAT IN THE BRAKES typically. we need **** that grabs good in stop and go traffic, not just when hot.

 

HAHA, timing. Just got a call from Brembo.....

 

:noo b:

 

My new (replacement) 91 is all stock, and there is no comparison to the one I had with big brakes and stopping. Granted, it is only street driven, but braking from interstate speed is noticeably different on the new one. It took me a few days to get used to not having the better braking and I had to remember that I was not driving my old car.

KMag