More and more reasons why not to get a base line AT RX8 keep popping up. But when you pay $22k for a car like this with only 3 miles on it and that is all you can afford at the time then I can't complain one bit. Love the car regardless.
With that being said, I took my car in last week because of the break squeal because it is pretty damn annoying. The dealer kept the car overnight and when I got it back they said that they couldn't replace the pads because I had the 16" wheels (which have gotten a few compliments on the looks by the way) and the smaller size rotors. They said that they were on the phone with Mazda for over an hour trying to see if they would pay for the replacement but of course Mazda refused so they did nothing. They said that the brakes were operating as designed so no replacement on their behalf. Go figure.
But what I don't understand is why is it that if my car came with the 18" wheels, larger rotors and had the same hidious noise when the brakes are applied they would have replaced them with no questions asked? Has anyone else with the same wheel and brake set up I have experience the same kind of problems when dealing with getting warranty/recall work done? My car is an 04 model with a build date in June. Oh and the reason they kept it over night is to replace the motor mounts because I told them that it vibrated a little at idle. The car still has a little vibration so I am wondering if they even did that work or did they just let the car sit there and blow smoke up my ***.

 

Find another dealer. They should take care of the breaks. I "think" that is listed in their technical sheets as a warranty item. My dealer replaced two rotors and metal guards behind the rotors when I complained about corrosion.

 

my brakes squealed and they machined the rotors. they still squealed i took it back they'd have to charge a labor fee to inspect the rotors. i said no thanks then i got the pads replaced for free. also remind them there is a TSB about front brake squeal. :D

http://www.finishlineperformance.com...6-04-1369b.pdf

 

They knew about the TSB but the TSB only covers brakes with the larger diameter rotors. For some reason mine has the 12" (not 100% sure they are 12" but whatever size they are they are 1" smaller than the cars that come with 18" rims) rotors and I believe the manuals come with 13" or so. That is the only reason why they wouldn't replace the pads was because of the rotor size. I guess if you don't spend the money up front then they tend not to help you out down the road.

 

ah sorry i did not see that in your first post.

 

try this what have you got to lose?

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-do-yourself-forum-73/diy-brake-squeal-fix-59318/

 

Thanks I'll try that. As for cleaning my rims, I have almost lost all hope on keeping them clean. I can clean them in the morning and by nightfall if I do a good bit of driving around town it will look as if I haven't touched them. I wouldn't mind spending the $70 or so for some performance pads that don't give off as much dust.

 

Are the pads the same part#? Maybe they haven't even come up with the new formulation for the smaller wheels...

 

Anybody have experience with the Mazdaspeed pads? Are they better with the squealing issue or the dust? Do they need to warm up before they grip for real?