I am purchasing a set of wheels soon, and the only brake kit I am currently considering to upgrade too is the RZ oem kit. What I would like to know if the caliper clearance, the distance from the caliper hat/wheel matting surface to the highest point on the calipers, Mazda lettering on the front and cooling ribs in the rear.

For the OEM USDM/standard brakes I have about 5/8" front and 3/8" rear.

Thanks for the help!

 

It would be easier to tell us what wheels you are planning on running.

You have seen the thread in the Suspension Archives, right?
https://www.rx7club.com/suspension-wheels-tires-brakes-archive-112/2002-rx-7-spirit-r-brakes-218468/

I used to have the RZ kit.

 

Here is some more info from the Suspension Archives for you:
https://www.rx7club.com/suspension-wheels-tires-brakes-20/bbs-rg-r-follow-up-222753/

 

Thanks for the links I will take a look to see if there is anything in there I can use.

It would not really help telling you the wheels I plan to run since anyone can look up generic disk types. I am after the lowest disk type possible. It would be easier for me if I have the measurements for the caliper clearance, I can calculate and then I can purchase the appropriate wheels from there. But as I said I do not have the RZ brakes, but they are my only consideration for an upgrade.

I have spoke with the wheel manufacturers/distributors and if I give them an exact measurement they can tell me what disk type to run, and how much clearance is there. They just have generic specs on disk types that will clear, but nothing for a spot on fitment like I am looking for.

 

The calipers are the same front and rear. The mounting brackets are different as they space the calipers out further to accomodate for the larger diameter rotor. The rotor differs in diameter and thickness in front and diameter in rear. If you do the math between the RZ and USDM spec rotors and calipers, you should be able to figure it out.

I have a spare set of the RZ front rotors in the garage if you want something physical to mock up with.

 

I know about the differences in the calipers/rotors The fronts being wider rotors (wider calipers), the rears having a larger diameter, but same caliper.. and etc

Ideally what I would need is the whole swap front and rear calipers/rotors, just the rotors will not help, I appreciate the offer. I know there are people currently running these, I whish they could just help a fellow rotorhead out.

 

The fronts are not the same. Besides jusrt radial spacing they are wider and as bores are different dia's, body may be slightly different.

 

You are correct. I oversimplified things when I was typing that. They are not the same. However, dimensionally the are very similar. One should be able to use the original USDM caliper and add width for the outward spacing and length for the radial spacing. For the purpose of wheel fitment the other differences aren't relevant.

I think most of that is in this thread https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.php?t=222753


Those brakes are very roomy in general so I don't understand why one needs to get that precise with custom wheels. Mazda used 17" x 8" +50 wheels up front with those brakes. Anything larger in the sizes specified in JimLab's spreadsheet stickied in the Suspension section should fit w/o much issue.

 

Warning, Mazda's BBS wheel spokes are bowed to curve around caliper. I also used some Enkei RPF1 17 x 9 45mm offsets hand had to use 5mm spacers to gain 1/16" clearance over caliper face.

 

If I understand the question, looking for axial rather than radial clearance. Specs for the rotors are -

front: total height standard, 67 (hat, rotor combined)
rotor width 22
RS/RZ height 67.5
width 32

rear: height standard 45
width 20
RS/RZ 45.5
width 20

So .25mm difference in clearance for the rears. Have to make an assumption on the width of the front caliper half being the same as standard....which I could measure next week if you're desperate, but I 'll let you do the maths on that end, rather than run the chance of going the wrong direction myself.

 

The FD brakes are roomy, but not as roomy as some Nissan's or Toyota's, as I said before I want a precise measurement so I can get the LOWEST disk type possible, for the most lip. JimLabs spreadsheet does not help me any, its all based of what will fit without modification. For what is it worth I am looking at 18x9 +24 to +18 fronts, and 18/19x10 rears +20 to +14, or step the rears up to 11" with appriopriate offsets (offsets depends on wheels and what is avilable in increments or custom made). As you can see according to jimlabs spreadsheet they do not fit, and its not follow under the "approved" fitment for the RX7 community.

--Just looked through that thread again, nothing will help me. There are a couple of clearances, but they are based off of wheels, not what I am looking for.


I think I follow you, however you have to take into account the caliper mounting as well. If you could take a measurement I would appreciate it, what I am looking for is the on the front the top of the rotor hat to the "Z" (highest point on the caliper), then the rear is pretty much the same but gotta go off the ribs.

Thanks for the help! If anyone else wants to chime in with some measurements I would greatly appreciate it!

 

Do you plan on those fitting under stock fenders?

If you are that tight on space, it would make sense to buy the BBK and do your own measurements.

 

Yea most of wheel, with camber, roll/pull they will fit nicely. I am not tight on space, but I want the tighest fitment for the lowest disk type, again back to wanting the caliper clearance on the RZ brakes. Stock brakes are fine for me, as I said before the RZ are the only upgrade I am considering and since I am considering those I might as well get the caliper clearance to check it against the wheels I am going to buy.

I know people have them!!! Help a rotorhead out!

 

Anyone?!?

 

Around 28.5mm +/-

ordinary shot, scale should be half readable still



rears are bit more problematic, requiring removal of a couple of tons of panelling and ductwork to access the bits....your standard car should be sufficient for measurement.

 

I am surprised there is that much of a difference in the USDM and JDM.. Thanks for the pic and the measurement!! Not sure what removal you are referring to in the rear, it would be the same as the front...

Anyone have the rear measurement?