I'm lookin to pop a new of brakes on my 85 gsl-se. I've got 4 disc, the rear rotors are at about 5% and the front somewhere around 45-50% I'm guessing. I'm going to do all 4 wheels, rotors/pads/calipers, but am unsure of what to get. Anyone have any suggestions of good brakes, under $800 CAN?

thanks muchly
serup


rims and wheels are next!

 

Use stock-replacement rotors and calipers (if you're replacing them) as there isn't a whole lot out there that's a cheap, easy bolt on package... as far as brake pads, well, that's about as personal a preference as underwear type.. we use Hawk HT10's for our Z race car, though I doubt you'd need anything that strong.. I'd recommend finding a set of Zxxis Metalmasters or the Hawk HP's or Blacks... understand that when you switch to a better-performance brake pad you're going to get more dust... to bite better, they wear faster... which is my gripe about lifetime-warranty brake pads, but that's another story...

--Danny

 

thanks for your reply, I understand what you mean with pad preference, but since I don't really have a preference of my own, these being my first set of brakes I've put on here, I am open to your suggestions. As you said, I don't need anything too overkill.... yet!

thanks again
serup

 

get the hawk hp's, hands down best for your application as far as i can tell. Those "lifetime warranty" pads are bs cause they are hard as hell and just kill your rotors pretty darn fast, therfore having to replace rotors rather then much cheaper pads.

 

I am *almost* finished doing my ENTIRE brake system on my '84 GS (drum rear brakes).

I replaced:

The front:
Rotors
Calipers
Hoses
Inner and Outer Bearings
Grease Seal
Pads
Hardware kit

Rear (Drum Brakes for me):
Wheel Cyls
Shoes
Hardware
One of the brake adjusters
Metal line from drum to drum
Chassis hose

Other:
Master Brake Cylinder

And it has cost me so far just a little over a thousand dollars Canadian.

Here's what I picked up:

The Rotors, Inner and Outer Bearings (with their races), grease seal, Pads and Shoes I got at Canadian Tire. Their parts are pretty good, the price is right, and it's same-day delivery most of the time for me at least, since they usually have them in either the Toronto or Montreal warehouse.

The brake hoses can be had at Mazdatrix. SS hoses are available there and the price is right, conisdering replacement stock rubber ones are almost as expensive. Victoria British is where I got mine, but unfortunately they don't make SS hoses that are DOT approved for rear drum brakes, so I needed to get rubber ones.

The rubber hoses mentioned above, and the front and rear hardware kits I got from Victoria British. Very impressed with them. If you get the front hardware kit, you don't need to buy pad shims (I'd assume the same for the rear, but I didn't buy for rear disc brakes).

The Calipers I got as rebuilts though my local mechanic, 35$ each. The Wheel Cyls though NAPA autoparts (shipped from Vancouver) for 45$ each. Not that you need those, funny how things work. You don't need 'em, and they are from Vancouver, I needed them, I'm in Ottawa... Ugh..

What I'd suggest for you is to get a Victoria British Catalogue (free, shipped right to your door seasonly), and check out www.mazdatrix.com. Get some prices from your local Canadian Tire too. From those three, you should be able to do your brakes for the price you want, depending on what you need. If the car's been on the road, you might not need as much as I did. Use the local Mazda dealership as a last resort for things you can't get anywhere else, or things that would be too expensive to get from the states.

Good luck, have fun. The brakes are a fun system to work on, I just wish that after three days I could stop running into problems!! Today I thought I was finished.. and then found out that I snapped an e-brake cable! Gah!

Jon

edit:
oh yeah, one last helpful little thing. In ordering from the states, I found the most accurate measure of what it costs goes something like this:

Example, 100USD part

100USD at roughly $0.70 to the dollar (100/.7) = $143ish
At the boarder they're going to check the sheet VB or Mazdatrix attaches with the component's "value" on it, and charge you tax and 5$ handling fee

143 * 1.15 (15%, roughly GST and PST together) = 165ish + $5 handling = 170

So you're looking to pay 170 dollars canadian plus shipping for a 100 dollar part.

Just take any price "x" and:
(x/.7)*1.15 and add 5 dollars handling
boom, you have the price, minus shipping

 

wow great! thanks for the responses guys, you've been really helpful, i'm gonna go check out some places tomorrow and see what prices are like.

serup