Does any one suggest certain after market brakes over another?

 

What do you do with your 8 that you feel you need to change the brakes?

 

Yes!
http://www.tirerack.com/brakes/brake...-Treated+Rotor

 

Exactly

 

I plan on taking it on track days up at Willow Spring's and also auto-crossing

 

Just a little something I noticed that is kind of a pet peeve. Everytime someone asks a question relating to big brake upgrades to the RX8, everyone starts asking him/her why would they want to upgrade the brakes anyway. I am fully aware that the oem units are remarkable and unless you see a huge increase in power and/or track usage, nothing more than a simple brake pad upgrade is necessary. However, no one ever bothers to answer the question. Who cares why he wants bigger brakes? Maybe its to avoid brake fade, maybe he wants something that looks a little bit better. I for one think the car stops great, but the rotors always look a little rusty. Some drilled or slotted ones would be sweet. To answer chrissb's question, from what I understand, none of the big break kits out there seem to be able to post a better stopping distance than the stock set. However, I remember reading that the Stop-tech kit was more resistant to brake fading. Brembo has finally released a gran turismo brake kit specifically for the rx8, but I have heard nothing of about its performance numbers so far.

 

I just installed racingbrake's BBK an my car a couple of weeks ago. I have yet to test it on a track but I was impressed with the fit and finish of the kit.

Here is a link racingbrake.com

 

We would recommend Stoptech over all others, as far as a BBK. They really pay attention to front-to-rear bias, their ST40 caliper is THE stiffest caliper available (which translates to better brake feel and more even pad wear), and I have personal experience with how well they fit and function.

But as you didn't necessarily ask about a BBK, allow me to suggest upgrading the pads and fluid. For what you are doing with the car, that is likely all that is necessary until you get into R-compound tires and are among the top drivers at a given track day. Slotted rotors claim to help expel gasses more rapidly and with a nice coating on them they do look better, but performance-wise you don't gain all that much. The real gains are in pads and fluid, and if you want a slightly firmer pedal stainless steel braided brake lines don't hurt either.

And while we're on the subject of real gains in braking, tires are really the deciding factor. But assuming you're wanting to talk about brakes rather than tires, we'll stick with brakes.

For what you are doing, ATE Superblue or Motul RBF600 would be the way to go with fluid. ATE is half the price of Motul, but isn't quite as good of a fluid. But either way you'll be in great shape on track.

For brake pads, I'd encourage you to try Carbotech XP8 race pads in front and Carbotech Bobcat high performance street pads in the rear for track days. You'll want to swap pads in front back to stock (or better, with front Bobcats) for extended road use or autox, but if you just have a couple weeks between track events you can run XP8s on the street just fine. They might squeak a little, but once warmed up on track it's amazing how much harder they bite than a street pad and how much confidence they inspire. It is what we use on our cars on track, be them RX8s or otherwise.

Anyway, not sure if that helps, but if you are just looking for performance look no further than pads and fluid and possibly lines. If you are a badass on track and/or will be running R-compunds (on a road course), or you just want the vastly superior look of a BBK, consider this a vote for Stoptech.

Regards,

 

Oh yea Stoptech. They good too. I went throut my stock brakes in like 1 year. Powerslot or Stoptech. Yup...

 

Thanks for all of your guy's help

 

Well that's not always the proven case. Stoptech ran some tests quite a few years back and now they try to use that marketing schpiel over and over again on applications they haven't tested against their competitiors. As for stiffer calipers etc. well nobody here is racing at Lemans. I'd love to have a Ferrari for a dedicated racecar, but I can neither afford or justify the expense so an RX-8 is what I end up with; that's life. Also, depending on what wheels you have the Stoptechs will likely require installing spacers and longer studs to clear the calipers, at least on the front (factory wheels definitely won't fit without, so neither will Enkei RPF1's etc). Funny that they sell two kits for the front; one larger than the other, but suppossedly the both stay in balance with the OE rear brakes, which in theory means no increase in actual braking force. I've yet to see them advertise their weights against the OE parts either.

that said, another vote for RacingBrake, excellent quality and value

 

I don't dispute that Stoptech is using an 'old' test as far as their caliper being the stiffest, but in reference to brakes for the RX-8 I don't believe anything has come out to dispute that Stoptech is the stiffest either.

Stiffer calipers equates directly to better pedal feel and to some extent evenness in pad wear, so while it may be splitting hairs and none of us are racing at Le Mans, it does still matter; stiffer is better.

I'm not sure if the Ferrari reference was to imply Stoptechs are expensive, but they are one of the lower priced BBKs out there and in fact are less than $200 more than the Racingbrake kit.

Good point on needing new wheels or spacers with the Stoptechs; that is definitely something to consider and a plus for Racingbrake.

Stoptech sells two kits for the front and both DO stay in balance with the rear brakes by varying the piston sizes. So yes, no increase in braking force. But for those who really understand brakes, it's not about increases in braking force with a Big Brake Kit of any kind. It's about increasing the heat capacity of the system through a larger heat sink (rotor) first and foremost. Pedal feel from a stiffer caliper and stainless lines, weight savings from 2-piece rotors and aluminum calipers, and evenness in pad wear are FAR down the list of importance compared to heat capacity. And a larger rotor has more heat capacity, so Stoptech offers two kits. Just a matter of how much capacity you need.

Point being though, for an RX-8 the vast majority of people aren't going to need more heat capacity. The OEM rotors on the RX-8 are quite large given the weight and horsepower of the car, so a BBK is unnecessary from a performance standpoint. We track two RX-8s regularly, and simple pad and fluid upgrades have been all we need to cope with the rigors of track-day use. Stainless lines do help feel a bit at the extremes too, as one car has them and the other doesn't and you can tell a difference.

Anyway, I don't doubt Racingbrake makes a fine kit, but I know Stoptech stuff works so I relayed my experience. And in fact recommended neither given what the thread originator intends to do with his car .

 

I think it is because people want to be helpful. There is a big misconception here on the effects of a big brake kit. More times than not some newbies think getting a big brake kit will shorten stopping distance. Some of the posters want to know his motivations for getting a big brake kit, and possibly rectify that mistake if that is what he is thinking. It is a very common misconception.

 

Alot of responders also misconstrue that someone asking about brake upgrades wants a BBK. Perhaps they just want lighter, stock sized components.

[Plug my vote for Racing Brake in here] (though I'm still awaiting my front, 2 piece rotors)

 

I have the racing brake BBK coming as well. They have been very responsive with changing the kit to fit a specific wheel combo and this rates them an A+++ in my book

 

Bias in ABS applications is less critical than non-ABS. That's one of the great things about ABS, its ability to vary the bias. The newest issue of GRM talks about how front-biased the BMW 328i is without ABS, but with the system engaged, the brake balance is quite good.

 

well lighter is better too and there's no way you'll be getting most wheels over the StopTech caliper on the RX-8 application without a big honking spacer which then impacts other areas

http://www.stoptech.com/tech_info/ch...48-2430-00.pdf

I don't have anything personal against StopTech or the people that distribute their kts; they make a top notch quality product, but I would only recommend them for serious competition track racing

 

Well, that and people might be asking because an upgrade to have great brakes for the track would mean you have terrible brakes for daily driving.

It's always smart to find out why someone wants to change something like brakes before recommending what they change to, IMO.

 

I have a stop tech stage two brake upgrade on my 8. The kit includes factory size two plate rotors front and rear, upgraded brake pads, stainless steel lines and brake fluid. The kit is about 700 bucks. It gives better feel and look in every department. I recomend this kit because it upgrades an already great brake system.

 

I talked with the Mazda Racing team and they said STOP TECH or any other brake manufacurer does not stop the RX8 faster.

They only thing that stop tech does is reduce brake fade, and that's why they use them.
$ 2,000 plus to redue brake fade! You guys must be nuts to buy a BBK.

Anyhow Racing Brake is now out and while they probalbly don't stop faster, they are much lighter and most likely reduce brake fade just as much as Stop Tech

My Vote Racing Brake or keep the stock brakes.

Buy a Road and Track Magazine. You will be supprised at hoew well the RX8 brakes are rated.. = Ferrai = Vette

 

Here are some braking numbers from the back of my Road & Track.

Car 60-0 80-0

RX8 110' 193'
F430 Spider 107' 191'
ZO6 109' 197'
Gallardo 110' 194'
911 turbo 119' 208'

 

Hey, if we can't have the 0-60, 0-80 times, we can at least be happy with the reverse!

 

as tigray2s data shows the stock brakes are up there with the best of them. dont waste your money on bbk unless you have it as a dedicated race car and have swapped out the whole braking system. having tracked the car the stock brakes are excellent and unless you know the track like the back of your hand you wont notice any fade. if your pads are up for replacment, or youre just looking to not kill the stock ones on the track, then there are a lot of votes for hawk, carbontech and axis ultimas here. fluid and lines arent a bad upgrade, but dont mess w/calipers, rotors, etc. i take no credit for this link, it was posted by another member, but its a fantastic article. basically, if youre going to spend money buy tires.

http://www.teamscr.com/grmbrakes.html

 

Question on the OEM rotors. Does anyone know if the replacment ones rust as bad on the hubs, or have they improved that part from the stock 04s?

 

STILLEN was making an AP Racing derived kit, a while back, i remember seeing it in a magazine ...It was 4 piston kit with 2 piece rotors (aluminum hats). AP would definitely get my vote as far as BBK's go, due to their heavy motorsports involvement and championship record (NASCAR, F1, WRC, Grand AM, etc.)