Team Tora Productions

Need new rotors. Never heard of Girodisc and was wondering what peoples' experience on them were. Otherwise, looking at StopTech Centrics 125 High Carbon front and Racing Brake 2-piece rears. Looking for input on my choice here:


Front set: StopTech Centrics 125 High Carbon Rotors
Rear Set: Racing Brake 2-piece Rotors
Front Pads: Carbotech XP8
Rear Pads: Hawk HP+
Calipers: Racing Brake 4-piston Calipers


Questions here are:

Will the Racing Brake Calipers fit the Centrics?
Will I have issues with suspension?
I'd like to keep OEM rotor sizes overall. Will these choices change that, as I can't find any specific dimensions on the Centrics? RB is 303x20mm (OE is 301x18mm)
Are StopTech Centrics compatible with the compound of XP8's? I know they are not with Racing Brake, which is why I ask. I don't want to have a difficult cleaning process. Normal brake dust is not an issue.


Last question is pretty important: I will be buying CE28N's shortly after this purchase. Wheel size will be 17 x 8.5 with +30 offset OR 17 x 8 with +44 offset. Will my brake and caliper choice be an issue?

Black2010R3

iTrader: (1)

They're stock size rotors and a caliper setup designed to fit over stock sized rotors, so I'd say yes.

I can't see why you would.

I use Centric 125's for my track rotors, they fit just fine with stock calipers.

Say what? Any rotor should work with any pad, unless it's a high dollar carbon or ceramic rotor setup.

About the only way to find out is to see if anyone has specific experience, or get the vendor to print out the brake template and check.

Also, why those sizes? Why not go wider, since even 10" wide wheels fit. For pure street use with stock power, that's fine, but if you're planning to track it, then I'd go wider.

Team Tora Productions

Thanks for the assist. I like the look of 8.5's. I also thought my class required stock sized wheels giver or take an inch, I can't remember. Hmmm, I should probably verify and check they will accept the 8.5 to make sure I don't lose class.


Thanks!

Team Tora Productions

So I am reading a lot of Racing Brake rotor failures as recent as 2014 and only one involving a mustang in 2015. I don't think I will be going with them anymore. I called and spoke to a Girodisc rep and he was pretty clear about his products quality over the competition. The downside: they don't make the rotors for the RX8 anymore unless he gets a bulk order of 5+ at a time. Pretty lame Guess I'll just get the centrics all the way around. I guess that makes it easy at least.

Steve Dallas

You are making this way too complicated. Just get Centric rotors and Carbotech XP10F and XP8R pads. That combination will serve you very well.

Steve Dallas

In re-reading your OP, I'm having a hard time identifying what you are trying to accomplish. My only guess is your are trying to cobble together a combination of new and used parts to create a brake upgrade. Otherwise, it doesn't make sense to put heavy 1 piece rotors in the front and light 2 piece rotors in the rear. The mixed brand brake pads also does not compute for me. The behavior of that setup would be very hard to predict.

I know some guys who are running Racing Brake setups at the track, and they have found the rotors to be incompatible with Carbotech pads. Those rotors seem to like the more aggressive compounds utilized by Hawk and others.

If you want to move to a lightweight brake setup for the track, Wilwood now has RX-8 offerings at reasonable pricing. Front and rear components are available. A variety of manufacturers make brake pads for Wilwood calipers. Just be aware of the trade-offs. Two piece rotors are obnoxious with the heating and cooling sounds they make, for example.

Having said all that, I still know you will be happy with Centric rotors all around and Carbotech pads. I will amend my pad recommendation slightly, however. I am running XP10F and XP8R now. When these are done, I will switch to XP12F and XP10R, because my current setup fades on me a bit after about 20 minutes on the track. Carbotech pads do not have too much initial bite like a lot of Hawk pads, so there is plenty of headroom to move up to the next level without sacrificing anything.

Guys at the track without exotic brake setups swear by cheap Centric rotors and whatever pads they happen to like; they (cheap Centric rotors) are a staple among track rats.

Todd TCE

For those looking to do complete kits, TCE has been doing 14" front kits for years. As well as offering two piece larger rear rotor kits to match them and aide in track day cooling needs. Even keeps the parking brake.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

You can keep the rear parking brake now? When we met in vegas I thought you mentioned that you could not keep the parking brake? I already have the Racing brake BBK up front and RB rear stock sized two piece rotors.

Black2010R3

iTrader: (1)

Mazdatrix offers a 13" rear kit using a 2 piece disk that relocates the stock caliper.

The stock brakes are more than sufficient for heavy track use as long as you use high temp fluid and proper race pads.

Team Tora Productions

The problem I am having is that I can't seem to find a good track ready, competitive set of 2-piece rotors. Racing Brake only makes rears and even then, they have a lot of negative reports so I don't want to buy them.

I was suggesting the centrics up front because I can't find any 2-piece for the front. I am currently looking at the TCE link provided above. I would like to do some research on them and see the reliability, weight difference, etc.

Thanks for the suggestions, I'm just trying to get the car as performance oriented for this upgrade as I can. An extra 2 lbs lost in the wheels is a good advantage to have over the people I'm competing against on track because I know they don't have it.

Team Tora Productions

I'm putting this here just in case anyone else needs exact dimensions of manual tranny rx8 rotor dimensions. 323 mm Front disc size and 302 mm rear.

I'm also looking at DBA:
DBAUSA | 5000 Series
But again, I'm having a hard time finding someone who has the actual parts ready to buy. Everyone I talk to is sold out and doesn't have any pending orders.

Steve Dallas

You are going to spend a lot of money that could be put to better use elsewhere to save that couple of lbs or unsprung weight. What rims are you using? You can save more weight there for less money if you have not already gone to lightweight rims. And, going a little wider can give you more grip.

What suspension do you have? My coilovers saved a few pounds per corner over stock, and have the added benefit of providing better grip.

I have looked at all kinds of brake upgrades too, but decided to invest my money in seat time instead. I am outrunning much faster cars that have lightweight brakes just by focusing on the line and the fundamentals.

Driver mod and grip are the most important things. I wouldn't spend much time or money on brakes if you have not done the above. Even then, I would still put the money into seat time. It realistically costs $2000 to buy a competent big brake setup for all 4 corners. That is more than 10 track days at my local track. I'll take the track days and keep running cheap Centric rotors and nice Carbotech pads.

Team Tora Productions

I don't have a garage so I can't get new lighter wheels (lots of problems with theft here). Since I need to replace the rotors anyway, I'd like to do it with lighter ones if I could. I have to make a special bulk order for the 2-piece set, though, so I doubt I am going to be able to make the 2-piece change. I'll probably buy the single disks anyway.

I don't want a BBK. The Girodisc would be an OE replacement keeping all the same dimensions, etc. so I don't have to go back through and get bigger parts or start frakenstening the car together. Since I posted this thread, I've decided not to get Racing Beat's rotors.

Just out of curiosity, what track do you go to that is so cheap? $2000 is about 3 - 5 track days here pending on the group you join with.

Steve Dallas

OK. I see what you are trying to do now. Sometimes my beer-addled brain needs a little help. That is still a pretty expensive way to save a few lbs, but if you can't do it any other way and have money burning a hole in your pocket...

It is interesting that Girodisc does not have any Mazda fitment options. One would think they would at least support the Miata. The S2000 isn't too far from the RX-8 in terms of size. Pretty pricey stuff, that. Made in the USA, though.

Eagle's Canyon Raceway is $185 for 2 hours of track time. Motorsport Ranch is also $185 for 2 hours for advanced drivers. SCCA TNIA is $150 for 1 hour. There are more expensive options, of course. Texas World Speedway is a little more. CoTA is a lot more at around $1300 for 6 hours.

.