Do you REALLY wanna go with 5x4.5? 4x4.5 should yield some good rim choices and be less trouble in the rear..
My eventual plan for this project will be to use a FC 4 lug rotor with the 4pot calipers and keep 4x4.5 all the way around and go with a set of Konig Rewinds if I ever get some money..
I need to double check and make sure about the 4 lug rotors and 4 pot calipers, but I am pretty sure I read it`s doable..

 

Okay, I just read something interesting.. It seems that the 5 lug FCs with 4 pot brakes use a 10.9" rotor, and if I'm not mistaken the GSL-SE rotors are 10.9"... All the way around, too.
So, for those of us with GSL-SE brakes, is it as simple as fabbing a new caliper mount bracket and getting two 4 pot calipers???
I have a set of GSL-SE rotors at home, but I can't get to them until the weekend. Can somebody verifiy the 10.9"/277mm diameter? I can seem to find it via search.

 

Actually, I don't suppose using the dust shield off a 5 lug FC with 4 pot brakes would fit on a GSL-SE spindle? Damn, that would be sweet...

 

One more thing.. The rotor thinkness is different according to the FSMs.
FC rotors are 22mm in thickness while the GSL-SE rotors are 18mm. Is this something to worry about? Seems like it'd work, though the FC rotor IS ~20% thicker and can wear 2mm where the SE rotors can only wear 1mm and still be in spec.
Also, given the weight difference I don't think the brakes would heat up as quickly as they would on the TII, so maybe the thickness value is negligable? What do you guys think? I am thinking along the lines of something like running on a SCCA track event, normal driving shouldn't be a problem, I would think.

 

I'm in the same boat. I have a beautiful complete front suspension from a TII, and I really want to see these brakes on the front of my -SE without dumping my wallet out for adapters. I really don't have anything new to add, other than there appears to be a lot of travel in the TII pistons. What if you were to make a 1.5mm shim for each pad? That would displace the extra rotor width.

/Did you ever find out if the rotors were the same diameter?

 

I've already acquired the parts and am waiting on an inner bearing adapter so I can put the FC 5bolt hub on my spindles.

On a side note, if anyone buys the CP Racing kit you should seriously shoot yourself, I don't see how it's economical in the least to buy that "kit." Just lookup a competent machine shop and get the labor and parts machined for <$100.

 

No, I didnt find the sizes, only posts from a 323 board about them being 10.9".. I'll have to wait until the weekend to get home and measure the ones I got.
Even if the FC backplate doesn't fit right, I wonder how difficult it'd be to create a hybrid plate out of the two, or just have a new one stamped. I dunno how much that kind of fab work costs.
I would really like to keep the dust shield 'functionality' as opposed to just getting an adapter, but an adapter can be made easily enough..

 

Oh, yeah, and if a custom backplate could be made, having a spot for vents would be a really nice feature too..
Does anyone have pics of a mazdaspeed vent setup?

 

Having a backing plate stamped seems pretty simple and if you have the design CAD'd out, any competent shop should be able to cut that very cheaply.

 

The 4 pot/5 lug FC brake rotors are LARGER than the Single pot/4 lug FC rotors...

The Single pot/4 lug FC rotors are the same size as GSL-SE 1st gen.

I'm going to be running FC front spindles (And suspension and R&P...)


I wanted 5 lug all around, but it looks like I'm gonna either have to use adapters out back, or make a custom axle...

 

Ah, crap, that's right.. They use the same size pads don't they? 9.8" I am pretty sure..
Well, maybe there is another 4x4.5 10.9" rotor/hub combo out there that is usable? hmm...
I really wanna keep 4 lug.