jakewah

iTrader: (17)

Does anyone have access or links for new or used FD (RS/RZ/Spirit-R) 314mm front brake calipers and affordable rotors?

I see calipers appear on ebay every now and then for $$$$.

Rotors are around $500 minimum for a set, outrageous.

- Does anyone have a secret to finding better pricing?

- Does anyone know the pricing of the parts through Mazda Motorsports?

- Is there a reputable source for importing these calipers and rotors at a decent price?

- Is there a similar rotor from a different car that can work?



So far I have read a lot of forum posts to no avail.



My backstory:

I drive my car nearly every day but also track it 2x per year. Last year with slicks and 350hp I boiled my new 600 degree fluid. I don’t have any air ducting and will plan to run air duct fans in addition with larger brakes.

My goal is to have track capable brakes with dust boots if possible. I plan to run a brake proportion valve to offset the diameter difference.

cr-rex

iTrader: (114)

expensive parts are expensive

these are very limited production OEM parts for a very limited produced vehicle in a very limited trim level......... in another country.

it basically is what it is homie

AE_Racer

iTrader: (1)

I purchased dixcel rotors for my 17" front setup. They were around $250 + shipping from rhdjapan.com (https://www.rhdjapan.com/dixcel-brak...17-inches.html) I got them with some other things so not sure what shipping cost was exactly. When I was looking in the past, apparently you can purchase rotors from mazda motorsports if you have an account.

jakewah

iTrader: (17)

Cr-rex, well put

AE_Racer, great find. These seem to be the cheapest options. Shipping was $108 when I quoted it just now to Oklahoma. Looks like I wont be going this direction since I put a lot of miles on my FD.

Thanks guys!

ItalynStylion

iTrader: (1)

Are you tracking the car? If not, you probably don't need upgraded calipers. Just a simple rotor and pad update would do well for you.

If you ARE tracking the car, why not go aftermarket? Lots of good options out there.

jakewah

iTrader: (17)

Thank you for your feedback I do but only twice a year. Please see more below. My goal is to own the car for life and I am afraid that aftermarket parts may not be support in the future, but the RZ parts are already like that



Right now my best option may be to use the RX8 rotors in the SakeBomb kit: https://www.sakebombgarage.com/wilwo...kit-fd3s-rx-7/

From what I have read, the lack of dust boots should not be a danger for daily driving. Any more info on this would be helpful.




I drive my car nearly every day but also track it 2x per year. Last year with slicks and 350hp I boiled my new 600 degree fluid. I don’t have any air ducting and will plan to run air duct fans in addition with larger brakes.

My goal is to have track capable brakes with dust boots if possible. I plan to run a brake proportion valve to offset the diameter difference.

billyboy

Over here, secondhand 17" fronts with rotors would normally run $500 up, there's some on yahoo at present at 65000 yen, complete front and rear 70000, bank fees and shipping usually kills stuff out of Japan though. If you do buy any, make sure pins are included, otherwise more expense....but you can use long SHCS in place of the pins if you safety wire or use jet nuts.

For the price of the different caliper mounting brackets and a set of rotors, I'd suggest you don't.

If you want to go another route, someone posted here the boy racer blue mazdaspeed calipers and rotors they used to sell came off a Toyota(??) of some description.

jakewah

iTrader: (17)

This is all great, information, thank you!

Since the FD already has a proportioning valve limiting the rear brakes, my idea was to remove it and run a custom one. Instead of placing a new valve to limit the fronts, I would place it in the rear to allow more fluid than before. Other than the danger of a leak, what are the other draw backs to this? Keeping the stock rear rotors is the affordable route.

ItalynStylion

iTrader: (1)

Are you saying that simply running a caliper spacer and a larger rotor is an option that people run? I don't have any experience in that area which is why I'm asking. A larger diameter rotor on it's own (without larger calipers) would go quite a long way just from a leverage and heat dissipation perspective. Google tells me the RX8 rotors are 29mm (1.14") larger in diameter than the stock FD rotors. Even with the stock calipers that would be quite a nice upgrade. Is that possible to do?

jakewah

iTrader: (17)

A caliper spacer and a larger rotor was done in the early 2000's as shown in these links, it is hard to find now:
https://www.rx7.org/Robinette/bigbrake.htm
7-Up Club Racing: Home of Triple-R, Ground Control Coil-over Conversion and Mandeville Big Brake Kit

If you space your calipers like this, hit up ronin here as he made some spacers: https://www.norotors.com/index.php?topic=9463.0

It is important however that you keep in mind the pins and springs. If you go the width of the rz, you can buy most of the parts. Any other width and you would have to custom make your own or cram large springs in the center.

TOTAL HEIGHT of the rotor is the most difficult part. Brembo has a search feature that I have used a LOT recently. The FD has a tall hat unlike most. If you get a short hat, your caliper will hit your spokes. Especially me with RPF1's that have spokes very close to the brakes. Brembo search by size link: https://www.bremboparts.com/europe/e...eter=335&th=32


However, "billyboy" was referring to the rear brakes. The rz rear for example has just a different caliper cast bracket using the same rear caliper and a taller rotor as shown here: https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generati...-36-a-1123586/
There are other aftermarket $$$ rear options available like this: https://www.sakebombgarage.com/sbg-c...tem-fd3s-rx-7/

billyboy

Main one I can think of, if you're trying to adjust it on the run, a brake line running through the interior of a mostly street car. The brackets and rotors (dba) were being sold over here a little while back, for around $200 and $400 a pair (around 140 and 280 US), which didn't strike me as hugely expensive and avoided drilling holes in the car.

I wouldn't be hugely worried about the springs and anti rattle shims if they're missing, maybe slightly better from a NVH perspective, and might save the dust boots a little.....but if you're on a track that makes demands of the brakes, you'll melt them in short order anyway.

Marcus at MSF Racing was doing spacers for S4 and up calipers a few years ago, probably still is, he was notorious for taking money and the thing was ready when it was ready. Any half competent jobbing machine shop should be able to drill 4 holes and 4 O ring grooves however without the prospect of potentially a year's wait. One of the guys here was running the 17" fronts with Evo 5~9 320x32 rotors with just an adapter bracket rotating the mount slightly and spacing out the extra 3mm on the radius, in this case, a proper multi-vane 2 piece racing rotor was used (custom hat). Big advantage over the mazda ones, off-the-shelf availability without all the dicking around and cheaper than 1 piece OEM!

SakeBomb Garage

iTrader: (17)

We've had a few sets of RZ rotors/calipers in the shop and did notice a up tick in searches. Although, our front and rear bbk's are built to last as far as reliability and parts. The calipers have tons of pad options and rotors too. Shoot us an email at info@sakebombgarage.com and we can get something sorted exactly to your needs. We ship worldwide.

jakewah

iTrader: (17)

Thank you for the response! My interest in the RZ oem kit was fitting within my wheels. If rotors were cheaper I would buy a set to fitup. I am actually the person who emailed your company recently. I have confirmed that my notoriously difficult 17x9 +45 RPF1 wheels will have wheel spoke interference with the RX-8 rotor kit. Good news is, I believe I have found the solution! I will send you an email today.