Brake Rotors and Pads
 

I just bought a 2004 RX8 and I had my 72000km (45k miles) check up at the Mazda dealer last week. I don't know if the last owner was heavy on the brakes, but I'm in for a new set of front rotors and pads.

Now, I did search the post on the forum and I think the OEM brakes suits my needs well enough. But at 800$ for a replacement set at the dealer, I want to know what are my other options ! Basicaly, I don't want to loose any braking power, I don't want knew squeaking noises and I don't want to pay 800$. Also, a set of rotors that last more then 45k miles of street driving would be appreciated.

Any suggestions ?

Porterfield carbon kevlar
http://www.porterfield-brakes.com/

If you don't get ceramic or carbon kevlar you will get brake squeal.

Get some Rotara rotors from Vivid racing.

you should be able to buy a used set of OEM rotors off a local person for cheap.

for pads, I love my hawk ceramics. no noise, and low dust. After 3 weeks I start to get a light gray colored dust, but it wipes off without any fuss. Cheap too.

People in this forum buy a car and almost immediately change it out for aftermarket rotors and pads. I think mysql's advice is good. Look at the For Sale area on this forum for OEM rotors that are near new.

After the rotors, I would stay with OEM brake pads. They stop great and if you don't track your car, there is no need to go with Hawk or other pads. I'm on my 3rd pad set up front and 2nd in the rear, and I have never had any squeal. I have never resurfaced my rotors, and I'm over 100,000 miles. Make sure you bed-in the pads and everything will be great.

oem pads make a lot of brake dust, and they like to embed themselves into my rims.

the hawk ceramics still make dust, but it's light colored and if you wash your car weekly, will be completely invisible.

Do not buy OEM rotors... way overpriced!

I found Racing Brake rotors to be one of the best deals, check out forum vendor Auto R'n'D, Rishie is the man there who can hook you up w/ a good deal.

When I was researching, I also found that TireRack carries quality rotors for not much money.

Money, wise, OEM rotors and pads are $800 MSRP and ~$638 from onlinemazdaparts.com (another forum vendor).

I got the Racing Brake Slotted RX-8 rotors with black hats and Hawk Ceramic Perf Pads for just over $550 from Rishie at AutoRnD (that was several months ago, your price may vary based on shipping too).

45k miles is about right for new brakes and rotors... it varies based on driving style, some people replace at 30K.

Though I found is that if you DON'T wash it off, the dust has a red tint to it and it will look like someone exploded a flower pot over your wheels. (my wheels look like that after a 600-mile weekend of driving in rainy weather)

if you dont want to go all out and buy a BBK or replace OEM stuff...then i would look in the FS section...
i sold my used oem rotors for prolly 50% of the factory price with very low mileage on them...i sold them cuz i bought new rotors...
got EBC 3GD sports...great price on a brand new set of 4....
they stop on a dime with the original factory pads...

so, you do have some options..

PS..another reason why i bought the EBCs was that the oem rotors were constantly rusting...
they looked terrible most of the time...until i painted the hubs..

you are right about this
i am about to replace mine and i have 33k so far im gonna install drilled rotors and hawk HPS pads all the way around. By the way, where could i get this pads at a good price ($100-$140 price range )

i'm kinda late on replying to this

but i too went with the racingbrake slotted setup with HPS pads

i live in canada as well

try to ship to a UPS store in the states i got hurt by brokerage fees and drive down and get them yourself

I just ordered my setup from racing brake , slotted and drilled front and rear with et500 pads with lines and brake fluid for 750 with shipping..........I expect another 70 - 100 in brokerage fees at worst......and they wont ship to a ups store as they take credit card payment and has to go to the shipping address on the card/ home address.

How are your EBC rotors hoding up? Any rust yet? I'm thinking of getting these myself. They are dimpled correct?

Bob

What Type Of Hawk Brakes Are Most Comperab;e To The Oem Brakes. They Have So Many Different Compounds. Are Their Ceramics Any Good? WHAT COMPOUND ARE THE OEM MAZDA BRAKES?

I am running the ceramics and I am disappointed in their initial bite and how they feel (yes, I have brakes bled). They may advertise them as having a more linear feel, but I think that's marketing speak for "reduced initial bite" or something like that. The braking is not quite as confidence inspiring. Once I got used to it, it's fine and I can lock up the tires no matter what, it's just that the feel is poor.

I am gonna swap out the ceramics before they are worn out, because I want that OEM feel back.

Hit me up,

I can get you club discounts on all the Racingbrake stuff.

Rishie