Since I've been corrected in my ways and now know the e-brake works with the rear caliper, here's Big Brake Idiot Question #2...

Does everyone with Big Brake kits have both front and rear? And if not, what does everyone with just the front have on the rear? Again help is appreciated...

 

I've never seen a big break kit for the rear. I someone has one, I'd like to know about it.

 

Just looked at Stoptech, Brembo & RacingBrake's sites and didn't see any rear kits for street driven RX-8s'. This should not be a concern. But the OEM brakes perform quite well so is this for looks or do you track your car alot?

 

60-0mph Brake test
Ferrari Enzo......109ft
Mazda RX-8......110ft

I can't remember the exact numbers, but I do remember there was only 1 foot difference between the two. So my question is this...Will a BBK on the RX-8 outperform the OEM brakes and outperform most supercars on the road?

 

Reason almost all Big Brake Kits are for the front only is due to weight transfer. Under heavy braking most weight is transferred to the front wheels, so big brakes stopping the car is needed for the front of the car, not the rear.

 

those number seem right. no demanding reason to upgrade

 

Nah... would be for looks. I figured a nice looking 4 or 6 piston front would look really nice with at least a 2 piston rear. I wouldn't expect much of a performance difference.

 

Hmm, I thought racingbrake had a kit for the rear.

At any rate, the only real benefit would be reduced weight. The racingbrake front kit saves like...12 lbs. or something.

 

i know the rotors are perfect stock, all you might need to do is change the pads if you're tracking a lot.. but hey, looks wise.... all on you

 

No. If you want to shave distance off your braking distance get better rubber. Big brakes are mainly for resistance to brake fade. You would be better off getting better tires, stainless steel brakelines (better pedal feel), brake pads than getting big brakes.

 

these are some words of wisdom right here. thanks for the info!

and knowing is half the battle.... G..I..JOE!

 

I'm kinda thinking more for looks than anything. The wheels Im pickin gout are quite open and thought the look would be good. I might run it on a track sooner or later...

Thanks for the help everyone...

 

Just swap out the rotors and pads in back and keep the stock calipers (but painted to match the fronts maybe). I got the cheaper 1-piece racingbrake rotors strictly for functional replacements, but as it turns out, not only are they slotted but they are very rust resistant for some reason. No more washing your car and getting an instant orange coating on your rotors, they stay fairly shiny.

 

Yeah the Insta-orange rust is horrbile... I kinda had the same idea... I was either just going to do a full swap or swap out just the rear and big brake the front... just wanna find a place i could get the calipers powder coated...

 

Make sure you check the temperature limit for powdercoatings. You might have to go with a ceramic coating instead.

 

I could have sworn that Speed Source is racing their RX-8's on stock brakes but all they use is different pads. That's pretty convincing if true. If I am wrong someone please correct me on this.

 

Read more here:
http://www.grand-am.com/CONTENT/Docs.../KONIRules.pdf

KONI CHALLENGE REGULATIONS
2007 Rule Book 11/30/06
SECTION 7 - AUTHORIZED MODIFICATIONS
7-2 Brakes
7-2.1 Grand American may allow a brake upgrade for specific models. If allowed, only one two-piece (split into two halves) caliper of aluminum alloy with a maximum of four pistons and two pads per wheel permitted.
7-2.2 The emergency brake system may be removed. ABS brake components and system may be deactivated and/or removed. ABS, if used, can only be OEM system for car. Aftermarket systems are not permitted.
7-2.3 Backing plates and dust shields may be modified or removed.
7-2.4 Fluid or fan cooling of the brakes is prohibited.
7-2.5 Brake pads, brake lines and hoses are free provided standard I.D. and routing are maintained. Quick couple brake line connectors are prohibited.
7-2.6 Replacement brake rotors may be used provided the replacement is of the same material and is within five-percent of the OEM rotor dimension. One-piece rotors may be replaced with two-piece design (hat and disc).
7-2.7 Air ducting to the front brakes is permitted either through the front OEM parking or fog light openings or the underside of the front bumper. Maximum two brakes ducts are allowed
7-2.8 Cars are allowed cockpit brake fluid bias adjustment.

SECTION 8 - VEHICLE ELIGIBILITY AND NOTES
8-3 Street Tuner (ST)
Mazda RX8 2004
Final Dr 5.12:1
Fuel Cap 17.9
GAC Wt 2650
Tire size: 225/45/17. RPM limit TBD. MAZDASPEED aero #QSEA-50-020-X1, QSEA-51-96Z and QSEA-70-900-X1 are allowed. Allowed exhaust header. Allowed oil cooler vent in trunk. May use aftermarket ECU.

--------------
Sooo, no caliper upgrade allowed. Can use 2-piece rotor, which is effectively limited to stock dimensions.

I guess since they run on 225/45-17 tires, there would be no point in going any larger than that, either?

Not to be sarcastic, just pointing out that racing rules are designed to limit or equalize the performance of a wide range of vehicles, as well as manage costs, so you can't really use what someone does or doesn't do in a given class to say there is or is not a real benefit to it.

Tires make the biggest difference in braking distance. BBKs may affect stopping distance by improving or screwing up the balance. BBKs add thermal capacity, so you can lap until the pads wear out with consistent performance.

I've done testing where the exact same vehicle, with no changes, stopped several feet shorter on the exact same surface at the same location on different days a week apart. Magazine tests can't be compared for that reason, unless it's a big test where all the vehicles were tested at the same time on the same day at the same place.

 

my OE brakes with OE pads showed a lot of rotor surface wear

my RacingBrake brakes with Hawk pads have zero rotor wear, ZERO ....

 

the factory calipers are great. though, I have hawk pads (auto-x, still have the oems for back up) and powerslot rotors and goodridge brake lines it just feels like i have a little more 'omph'. But I do remember when they were stock, and I found them awesome.

 

that test is just a one-time braking test. In real life situation, u may run into situation that u need to brake hard one after another. the braking distance may increase if your brake kit got too hot. so this test can't tell everything.

 

I am new to RX8. just bought it for half a year.
The first thing ppl told me to change is a bigger(better) brake kit. They suggested 6 pistons Brembo (maybe for the look). But i find it too big. Another concern is that, if I ever got a flat tire out there, and if i put on too big a brake kit, the spare tire rim won't fit. (we dont have standard size spare tire )

any suggestions?

 

tow truck

 

I have stoptech BBK, and I must say

fully braking from 60-0 is much faster and less slide than the stock

thats all I gotta say

as for the rear

why?

 

i'm running the stoptech bbk as well and i second everything taj says. only thing is my tires dont agree with them. the tires arent too good for heavy braking.

 

It looks dumb having the big brakes in the front then the puny OEM ones in the back. Damn e-brake functionality You can always carry choks with you