Alez
|
 posted on 1/9/05 at 02:56 PM |
|
|
MX-5 brakes are poor??
Hi All,
What's the best brake pads (as for performance) that I can get for a MX-5? I have bought a mk1 MX-5 (aka NA) recently and I'm not too
happy with its brakes.
To be fair I must say overall I'm very impressed with the car, actually I bought it for my other half and now I want it for myself but
that's another story!  Oh, also I must say big thaks for all the excellent advice I received from this forum which enabled me to make a
sensible purchase. Actually if it wasn't for this advice, I would have bought an early car with the crankshaft problem that was advertised.
The thing is, what's everybody opinion about the MX-5 brakes? Are they poor or is it my car? The discs have plenty left (I assume the 4 of them
have been changed not very long ago), and also the pads. Everything LOOKS fine with them, it's only they don't brake. I have checked for
non-uniform braking (I don't know a better name for it, I mean bent discs basically) and I can feel maybe just a bit (or maybe I'm being
paranoid about it). I suppose that, if the car braked, any bent discs would be much more noticeable. Also, if you brake hard in the dry, you
won't be able to block the wheels. Still the car goes in a straight properly (won't go to either side by braking).
Lastly, when checking pads I've noticed that the front ones are black colour while the rear ones are green and actually look like the Green
Stuff ones I have in the Locost. What does that mean? Are there any Green Stuff pads for this car or something?
In view of all this, I was thinking buying a good pair of pads for the front (maybe they turned hard because the car has covered very few km over its
life, so that'd be worth a try for the money).
Cheers,
Alex
|
|
|
|
|
ChrisJLW
|
| posted on 1/9/05 at 03:02 PM |
|
|
My Dads Mk1 Mx5 has very good brakes, they're the one thing I like about the car!
They're stock Mazda jobs BTW.
I've lived a life that's full.
I've traveled each and ev'ry highway.
But more, much more than this,
I did it side-ah-ways.
|
|
|
David Jenkins
|
| posted on 1/9/05 at 03:12 PM |
|
|
Servo working OK? Or maybe just needs the brake fluid changed and then bled properly.
David
|
|
|
Bob C
|
| posted on 1/9/05 at 03:25 PM |
|
|
One of the things they did to make it a 'driver's car' was to NOT over-servo the brakes - you do have to give the pedal a good
shove! If you're used to an over-servoed hatch it can give that impression!
Yeah you can get "green stuff" pads, don't like 'em myself cos they fall apart if you cook 'em. I think these have
slightly higher coefficient of friction.
I think the original equipment mazda pads are pretty good actually
Bob
|
|
|
tadltd
|
| posted on 1/9/05 at 03:59 PM |
|
|
If you want decent brakes on your MX5, please drop me an e-mail or U2U. I can supply performance pads only or can offer a pads + discs deal for £135
(inc. VAT & shipping).
I've just done a full set of discs (front & rear) for ceebmoj's Mk1 MX-5, and by all accounts he's over the moon with them!
Discs:
[Edited on 1/9/05 by tadltd]
Best Regards,
Steve.
www.turnerautosport.com
|
|
|
blueshift
|
| posted on 1/9/05 at 06:14 PM |
|
|
I have a mk1 mk5, 1.6, and have found the brakes a bit shit. it's not about shoving them, you can give them a good hoof and have them just not
slow you down much, then lock up or something. have bled the system and rebuilt one rear caliper (for another reason) and replaced the other, new
discs and pads at the back, didn't make much difference (apart from to the handbrake). my front discs are fairly grooved, I vaguely intend to
fit greenstuff as I've heard good things about them.
I don't think my brakes have ever been the same since I took the car for an airfield day and cooked them - major brake fade. maybe I cooked my
front pads.
|
|
|
rusty nuts
|
| posted on 1/9/05 at 06:46 PM |
|
|
Recently brought a 97 MX5 1.6 for the other half , brakes are fine . Possibly due to the fact that car has full Maxda service history so hopefully
genuine pads all round.
|
|
|
MikeR
|
| posted on 1/9/05 at 07:04 PM |
|
|
ask irvined what he thinks of his. He got one recently. Not heard him complain about them yet.
|
|
|
donut
|
| posted on 1/9/05 at 09:14 PM |
|
|
My Mk1 MX-5 had really good brakes.
Try changing the fluid and pads
Andy
When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andywest1/
|
|
|
MikeR
|
| posted on 1/9/05 at 11:28 PM |
|
|
daft question, if the brakes don't do a lot them lock up ........ what tyres are you using?
|
|
|
Alez
|
| posted on 2/9/05 at 07:07 AM |
|
|
Thanks a lot everyone!!! I'll change fluid, have it bled and change front pads for a start to see what happens.
I'm using normal road tyres, 195 wide all round. I think it should be easy to block them at least doing say 20 mph? I can do that anytime with
my Locost, surely it weighs half of the MX-5 but it's running on 185 road slicks and has no servo whatever!
Steve: U2U sent 
Cheers,
Alex
[Edited on 2/9/05 by Alez]
|
|
|
SidewaysMatt
|
| posted on 2/9/05 at 11:42 AM |
|
|
I really like the brakes on my Mk1 MX5. You do have to give them a good shove, but they do give lots of feel. They're standard pads as far as I
know (well the rear ones certainly are as I fitted them!).
It is interesting when I get in the Impreza, press the middle pedal half as much and go through the screen
Visit our blog at http://more-power.blogspot.com
|
|
|
MikeR
|
| posted on 2/9/05 at 11:50 AM |
|
|
must be expensive on windscreens
|
|
|
.jpg)
