No complaints with the RX-8 stock OEM brakes. 20,000 miles and 6 track days, Laguna Seca, CA Speedway, etc. The front rotors finally warped and decided for the big incremental cost for an upgrade to a Big Brake Kit (BBK).

Decided on RacingBrake BBK over Stop Tech just because they have a few more Web pages devoted to the RX-8 application and Good Win Racing, which specializes in Mazda parts, re-sells RacingBrake.

Good Win Racing was able to next day Fed-X, drop ship from RacingBrake, the BBK straight slot, 13”, stock wheels, Hawk HP+ pads, Goodridge brake lines, to my mechanic. Overnight shipping was needed as a Laguna Seca track day was only 4 days away when I noticed chatter on my front OEMs.

Not as a complaint but just as comments and I am not a techie, but just passing on what I was told. Mechanic said there were no instructions with the BBK and also wanted RacingBrakes preference for shims. Some slight sanding on the backside was needed for clearance? The OEM brakes are very touchy and it took a few months to learn to brake softly with just my big toe. The BBK are what I call ‘smooth’ and my mechanic calls ‘spongy’. The peddle play is a hair longer but still more ‘grippy’ or ‘firm’, hard to describe. The brake fluid was flushed 3 times to make sure it was not air but that was in fact the ‘play’ of the BBK.

Laguna Seca went from wet, to dry to rain to dry but I was consistently faster and was able to shave 1 second off my best time (1:57) from a month previous with just legal OEM Bridgestone Potenza with 20K. Either 1) the BBK are awesome even in the wet 2) I was more confident knowing I had a BBK 3) 2nd time with track knowledge and experience or 4) all of the above. If I had to pick, it would be 2, confidence in the BBK.

HP+, on the street, makes a little grinding noise at mid-speed around 30mph and sometimes whistles with soft braking less than 10mph. Might get some HPS pads.

Overall, happy with the BBK, they look great and should be well worth the expense during summer track days with the heat in So. CA. Will upgrade to the rear 2 piece slotted rotor when the rear OEMs finally warp.
Goodridge Brake line thread:
https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-wheels-tires-brakes-suspension-55/hows-everyones-goodridge-brake-lines-86169/

 

https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-racing-25/looking-2-piece-brake-rotors-76063/

 

RacingBrake vs. OEM is the Executive Summary. Hopefully easy to find, the good and bad, and with future reviews of each from fellow amateurs. It would be nice if old "did you see the new X..." or "I want..." strings were dropped for new strings on products actually installed, with real street and track feedback. my 2 bits.
interested in other's experience or street and track performances with BBK?

 

sorry, those are the only people who have them, just finishing them up myself

my comments are on the RacingBrake forum

 

I used mine for the first time last weekend for a 2 day course. The track is very hard on brakes....very tight corners with short straights that don't let the brakes cool down very well.

The Racing Brake Kit worked great. I had no fade...and the stopping power was awesome. I also noticed a difference in feel of the pedal. It has a smoother application of braking power..IE it is less on/off than the stock calipers...and the pedal feel is different more linear.

I found the brakes very smooth...much more so than the stock brakes with the same pads....

The fit and finish of the kit is great...easy install ( no direction ) but if you couldn;t figure it out you shouldn't be doing it in the first place

So far......Only good things to say for the kit