right now i have stock brakes installed. should i first put in high performance pads and then move on, or should i get new rotors first? 2 or 4 piston calipers?

 

What year is your car?
How many miles on it?

If its a 2nd gen, like the one in your avatar, here's my preference.
o Replace mastercylinder (no rebuilds, new only).
o Check wheel cylinders for leakage - rebuild only if leaking/sticking/etc...
o Flush entire system when replacing m/c. Use Ford Heavy Duty fluid. It outperforms most fluids and is $4.25 a pint! (that's a great price).
o Note: you must absolutely, positively get every molecule of air out of the system: Speedbleeders, or long tubes into baby food jars with fluid in them.
o Check vacuume line between upper intake and Power Brake thingie - no cracks, splits, etc...
o Install braided steel lines (Corksport, Mazdatrix, shop around).
o Try the Hawke HP Plus' (the HPS's are ok for easy driving only, the Blues/Blacks will eat your rotors, and "grind" all the time - but they stop great when warmed a bit ))

{climbing on soapbox}
IMHO, a fantastic set of brakes is the best mod anyone can make. Its fun to scare the crap out of passengers - they stomp the floor (looking for "their" brake pedal), they lean waaay back in the seat, they put their hand on the dash... its great Great breaks are a prerequisite for great horsepower. They'll save your a_s if you need them to.{off soapbox}

++ ABS removal, upgrading to 4-pots, etc.. are covered elsewhere.


All best,
Steve C.

 

when you say replace the mastercylinder, do you mean with one from mazda (or equivalent OEM distributor) or from a performance manufacturer?

 

I purchased from Mazdatrix. The box was marked Tokico, not Mazda. It works great Dunno if that's the part the dealership sells or not - probably not . Regardless, it fit perfectly, and works perfectly.

A mastercylinder is a pretty straight-forward affair.

All best,
Steve C.

 

i was asking because i installed a factory master cylinder right after i picked up the car because the one on the car was bad. and i didn't want to drive it 3 hours without brakes. i really don't want to fork out the do for a new master cylinder when i jsut put one on