88 vert NA FC brakes and rotor replacement
 

Hey folks! So my front right brake pad ate through and grinded into the rotor, so I need to replace the rotor now. Everyone tells me I should have heard that characteristic squeaking noise, but I really never did. I have a convertible and don't use the radio much so I know I should have. I heard nothing until I heard it grinding the rotor. Stupid on me for not knowing they were going, but alas.


ANYWAYS, I'm trying to figure out the best way to replace them, and if a slight upgrade or different rotor/brake set would be a smart idea. I also don't know specifically what I'll need for the calipers, I read on here a "cube wrench" is needed?
I know the front calipers are solid while the back ones are vented, (i hope I have that right). And my wheels are five lug. I'm not sure on the brake pads what pads are acceptable, a local shop indicated to me that I need to obtain actual old RX7 pads but this seemed odd to me.

I was searching through the forum for a step by step and found scattered tips, but does anyone have useful links on where to get replacement rotors, if/what alternatives are acceptable should I not be able to find exact mazda parts, and how to actually replace them?

Fortunately, Mazdatrix has a really good guide for replacing pads & rotors with proven parts, both OE Mazda and aftermarket. Here it is: Front Brakes, Rotors, Hubs, Calipers

Since your car is a 5-lug, you've got the 4-piston GXL/TII setup and will use the FB05 parts. Strange little quirk I just noticed is that Mazda front rotors are CHEAPER than the aftermarket ones Mazdatrix offers. :scratch:

One thing worth mentioning is that you'll likely find the front rotors locked to the aluminium hubs. Be prepared to try bashing them out with a hammer, which in my experience is 50% successful. Then when that fails, if you don't have a press, you'll need to take the rotor/hub assembly to a shop and have them pressed out.

To prevent this in the future, paint the sides of the aluminium hub with good paint once you remove all the corrosion. Paint the inside of the rotor hat sides. Then on the front surface of the hub and back surface of the rotor hat, thoroughly coat with anti-seize.

Excellent stuff and thanks very much for the link Comet!

For painting the hub, I guess I will need to look up how to get rid of corrosion. I havent even had the wheels off yet, but looking at the tops of the rotors they look pretty red. I havent seen much rust on this car so hopefully I wont have much to do.


ALSO I looked at my back discs and realized they arent ventilated? They are just a smaller disc, like the setup I see on low spec camaros. Should I look into upgrading or replacing these?

The only real upgrade from the single caliper setup is the 4 piston setup off an FC with that 4 piston fronts.
Singles are solid and 4 piston are vented.

So I'm taking the rotor off now. I see a lot of threads about not bending the rail frames, and about a picture that no longer pulls up where people replied in threads like this: https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-generati...cedure-421670/ . They say that it's from the factory service manual, but I do not see anything about jackstand procedure in the manual after searching it a lot of times.

Anyone have tips on removing and reinstalling the disc rotor as well?