Brake System Upgrade. Stranded on Indecision Island
 

I am stuck on Indecision Island, unsure about what brakes I should get for my car.

I need new pads and rotors all around, and at some point will probably need new calipers too.

I am not sure what brake solution to get.

Here are the facts on my driving habits.

- I take my car to get groceries (seriously, at a store as far away as possible)
- I sometimes drive to work when I have meetings that won't land me in rush hour
- I drive very fast on the street when the highways are clear
- I want to do some autox
- I want to do some HPDEs
- I have never HPDE'd or tracked before. I do not plan to run 400hp at the track on day one; I will take my WG spring out for several track days.
- Someday I would like to go balls out with full power on the track.

What brake kit should I get? Links to vendors please. Of course, I'd like to be a cheapass but I would prefer to avoid dropping $400 on pads to replace them in 6 months because I am getting larger rotors and different calipers.

sell car. take out loan. buy z06 and geo metro.

I missed the part where you explained why you need a brake upgrade to get groceries, commute to work, and participate in the occasional autocross or HPDE at stock power.

^ this.

Some day I'd like to do HPDEs at full power.

You are planning on doing full-power track days within the lifespan of your next set of pads?

Let's say YES.

Buy JayL's TSE kit. Cheap 11" rotors, and pads that don't taper. Later on you can throw race pads in and call it good.

What about...

this one:

http://www.good-win-racing.com/Mazda...t/60-1094.html

That's what JayL has, except you'll be paying $80 for a replacement rotor instead of $30. And you'll get those rear rotors which you don't exactly need. I'm trying to save you money for once in your life. My idea was $1000 cheaper.

Why shouldn't I pay 200% more?


I like your idea but:

The kit Jay has FS is listed as only being good up to year 2002. Anyone know why? I have a 2003 with "sport brakes". Do they have different mounting holes or something?

They will work. I sold my old kit from my 90 to a guy in Ontario with sport brakes and they worked without issues.

Why'd you sell it?

I can bolt your sport brakes onto my '93, so those brackets will work fine on yours. You're actually in a great position, since you have the desirable sport brakes for the back already.

Yeah, no need to bias anything it's as close to a match as you'll really need.

to build a new set with radials that will fit under my 13' panasport wheels.

Will I have buyers remorse for not getting the six pot calipers?

You will have buyers remorse for everything you do/do not buy. Not untill you've spent upwards of $100K on your drag car, race car, street car, upgrading every part you can imagine, then upgrading it again.

I have the equivalent of version 3 and it's very nice.

replacement rotors are BIG COIN.

I cheaped out and resurfaced mine once. it worked fine.

No you will not have remorse for 4-pots. My thought is, if they're good enough for Sav, they're good enough for me. He's using the exact same units on his new 11.75" kit. Oh. Maybe you should look into that, he may have some more kits available.