I ordered break pads for front and rear wheels yesterday. I went to put them on and removed the front driver side wheel and pads. Then I looked at the pads that I got from the auto parts store... Definitely not the right ones. The new ones have flanges on the sides that stick way out and the old ones are pretty rectangular. It also looks like the shoes were glued onto the old breaks and in pretty bad shape. I got MDK131 front breaks they are like 19$ from Oreilly. So my question is, which breaks do I need? Where can I get them since Oreilly seems to not distinguish between the models...

 

Those counter people can be total idiots sometimes...

I'd just return them and order up some from tirerack.com or rx7.com.

 

19 bucks for brakes?..(lots of luck stopping!)
the rectangular ones sound like 4 piston brakes..the ones you got from Reilly's are for single piston calipers.
Just a Note: you get what you pay for..Cheaping out on brakes is not a smart thing.Buy a quality pad,you never know when you need to stop..QUICK!.At least you'll be able to count on Good Brakes.

 

Thanks guys. Yeah the car isn't a daily driver. And I don't plan on racing yet. It's more to stop to damn squeak. Later this year I plan on replacing the rotors and with it, putting on some good quality racing breaks. (Yellowstuffs?)

 

Oh man, new problem... I got new breaks and in the process of trying to change the front passenger side the lower break pin is pretty much rusted in place. I can rotate it, I can't move it. Nothing. I sprayed break cleaned on it in hopes that it would penetrate and loosen the bolt. What happens if I can't get it out the 'easy' way?

What I was thinking (after having read some forums for some trucks, same problem) Is you either have to use a hacksaw and just them in half, or drill them out. If I do that I need new pins, other than the junk yard where can I order, NEW ones?

 

Ya,just order a Hardware kit for the 4 piston calipers.
check this link:http://www.mazdatrix.com/j-1brake.htm
note they have a single pin that you can get instead of the whole kit.
the Parts stores will sell you a kit that contains the pins and W springs..I think the shims may be in another kit(but not necessarily used).

 

By the way,I remember when my pins stuck SO bad,.
I cut the pin Inside the caliper area,then used a center punch and got the rest out.The round end may need to be cut so you can force the pin through to the inside.

 

I was hoping I could avoid that, but *sigh* as soon as I get my garage here to take the caliper off, I'll cut the pin. It's drivable for now I'm really glad it's not a daily driver at the moment lol.