One or two v-springs on GSL-SE rear brakes?
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From: The Golden State
One or two v-springs on GSL-SE rear brakes?
I bought a brake hardware kit to wrap up my GSL-SE rear axle swap. In that hardware, there were 2 V-springs. Not sure how they were put in, I checked the factory manual, which was no help. They don't even show a spring for rear brakes. I then checked a Chilton generic Mazda manual that I'd had around here. It showed several different brake setups, one of which showed 2 V-springs being used per caliper (not for an RX7...maybe a Protege or MX6...can't remember offhand).
I checked my brake pads and they have holes on both the leading and trailing sides. I was wondering if there was a reason I shouldn't install 2 springs per caliper? I would think that 2 springs would ensure that both the leading and trailing sides of the brake pads would be off the rotor, but maybe I'm missing something?
Just deciding on whether or not to go order another brake hardware kit in order to get those springs.
fm
I checked my brake pads and they have holes on both the leading and trailing sides. I was wondering if there was a reason I shouldn't install 2 springs per caliper? I would think that 2 springs would ensure that both the leading and trailing sides of the brake pads would be off the rotor, but maybe I'm missing something?
Just deciding on whether or not to go order another brake hardware kit in order to get those springs.
fm
I'm about to install the rear pads on my GSL-SE and had the same question. After doing some generic research on it, most people call them anti-drag springs (or something similar) and say that the primary purpose is to improve fuel economy. It seems to me that the lack of drag would also translate into longer pad / rotor wear, but that effect my be minimal.
If you check Mazdatrix, the brake hardware kit for FBs doesn't include springs, while the FC kit includes one spring per pair of pads. They both use the same pad.
If I had to guess, I would think that typical parts stores carry a kit that works for FB and FC (and maybe FD). To make it generic, they just throw the springs in the kit, even though the FB didn't originally have them.
But none of this answers your question, which is whether you should use one spring per axle set or two. Even if they weren't original equipment on the FB, they might be a good thing to have. I track my car, and I have experienced significant fore-aft taper. Taper is uneven wear with the leading edge of the brake pad seeing more than the trailing edge. It's a general issue with disc brakes that is resolved with multi-piston calipers by using smaller pistons at the leading positions.
Since the leading edge sees slightly more wear, I plan to put the springs there to help even it out -- no springs on the trailing edge.
If you check Mazdatrix, the brake hardware kit for FBs doesn't include springs, while the FC kit includes one spring per pair of pads. They both use the same pad.
If I had to guess, I would think that typical parts stores carry a kit that works for FB and FC (and maybe FD). To make it generic, they just throw the springs in the kit, even though the FB didn't originally have them.
But none of this answers your question, which is whether you should use one spring per axle set or two. Even if they weren't original equipment on the FB, they might be a good thing to have. I track my car, and I have experienced significant fore-aft taper. Taper is uneven wear with the leading edge of the brake pad seeing more than the trailing edge. It's a general issue with disc brakes that is resolved with multi-piston calipers by using smaller pistons at the leading positions.
Since the leading edge sees slightly more wear, I plan to put the springs there to help even it out -- no springs on the trailing edge.
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