i need new brake pads anyone got any ideas what i should go for ?

 

depends what you use the car for


daily driving - OEM is fine but if you want that extra bite go for the mazdaspeed ones


do a bit of tracking go for the project mu HC+

Theres heaps to choose from to suit your tastes and budget.

 

I'm considering the EBC red stuff pads
http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/de...5DP31691C.html

 

what about hawk pads? (i am in the market too, maybe we can help each other)

 

Which Hawk pads are you looking for
http://www.hawkperformance.com/performance/

 

http://www.rx7store.net/product_p/hawkhpsrx8.htm
$58 for front $58 for rear

they have a good price on rotors if you need them too?

 

HPS high performance for the street

 

Hawk is another one I'm considering but I like the idea of a ceramic compound over a metallic one

 

the OEM brake pad kit also comes with brand new hardware (clips, shims, anti-squeal grease pack), so if you want to do a clean job with all new hardware, that'll be the best choice.

 

I like the hawk performance ceramic for street usage. They are very noise friendly and the dust is minimal and very easy to clean up(as compared to OEM and EBC redstuff)

I tried the EBC redstuff and they bite harder than the OEM, HPS, HP+ and Hawk Performance Ceramic. But the downside is that they have more dust compared to all of them and its hard to clean up if you don't get it right away.

I would go for the performance ceramic by hawk, its a good street pad and will do auto X and mild track usage also.

Anything with more stopping power and you will also start getting into 1) noise and 2) corrosive dust.

 

Another vote for Hawk Performance Ceramic.

 

any idea how much those cost?

 

like 140 for fronts and rears from tirerack.com

 

Recent order...

1 61-0079 RX8 Hawk Performance Ceramic $67.00 Front Pads
1 61-0082 RX8 Hawk Performance Ceramic $66.00 Rear Pads

 

ok so what about rotors...if i have to go that route...heard that not all pads are compatable with all rotors?

 

stock rotors are just fine for 90% of all senarios...mazda did a really good job with the brakes...get steel lines instead.

 

To build:
For daily driving - you don't need anything. The OEM pads and rotors are WAY more than adequate. A fluid change yearly and leave it at that. Mazda did all of us a great service with the OEM brakes. In the paraphrased words of PowerSlot to me "the RX-8 already comes with a big brake kit from the factory given the diameter of the rotors and weight of the car."

For road course driving with NA power -
-First weekend out - nothing except maybe ATE SuperBlue or Motul 600 brake fluid.
-After the first weekend - HP+ or XP8 brake pads (I use XP8s) and ATE SuperBlue or Motul 600
-No need for rotors, unless you simply want the look or weight savings of a two piece, AL setup.

-And imo, having driven high speed tracks like Road America, and tight technical ones like GingerMan, you don't need anything more aggressive than a XP8. If you do, you're probably overbraking and have slower than needed corner entry speeds - or you have completely F'd up driving lines. And yes, at times I've been guilty of both.

 

On top of what RedDevil just said I'd like to address this by saying all rotors - aside from really high dollar specialty purpose built rotors - are cast iron. I can't imagine a pad compound that wouldn't be compatible with any rotor on the market assuming the swept areas mate.

 

ok thanks i just need to get my brakes replaced before its too late (not sure how late it is yet) but i hope there is enough rotor to be plainned down to make it flat again. lots of puslating currently.

 

i hope this isnt a stupid question....but...if I get my brake's done at, say, firestone or something, would they use OEM brake pads or some cheaper generic pad for replacements?

 

most likely generic OE replacement brands, like Bendix or something.

only Mazda dealers use genuine Mazda parts for service, IIRC.