Got my green in as well. It's not a bad green.... but it's still not one that I want, so they'll be going back. My front rotors were actually damaged in shipping, so I am hoping to return them with the calipers... and now it seems maybe the brake lines as well?

Eitherway, given this is a first run, i'm not concerned that there are some minor issues to be resovled, and I am overall very happy with the the percieved quality of the parts.

 

The brake lines did look a tad short when I first saw them in the box. Howard didn't have any rubbing issues did he?

 

FYI - Howard is on vacation right now.

Just to let you guys know - I've spoken with both Steve and Warren at Racing Brake and they are on top of the issue. They have a local car coming in sometime around Wed next week and they should have first hand info then.

They have demonstrated some very good service and a genuine interest in resolving this. I have enjoyed working with them thus far. Hope next week yields the answers we are looking for.

Cheers.

 

I was about to post the exact same images but you beat me to it.

Interestingly I did not have the same rear pad issue (ET900). I do not use the stock pad shims.

 

Argh, my set is already in the mail. I hope this issue does not arise while I'm having them installed.

 

Maybe one of the lessons learned here is that more time should be spent questioning those tasked with R&D rather than defending their lack of thoroughness.

I bet you would have preferred more thorough testing now, no?

Boss

 

It seems like the main issue is the brake lines being too short. Easily resolved... by sending out new lines. Bad for RB as they have to eat those costs.

I have no problem with grinding the spindle/caliper mounting boss to fit a thicker rotor....

On that note... mine arrive tomorrow and I'll be test fitting them this weekend. Hopefully these are the only pitfalls.

I have the 500 series pads coming... once the car is track worthy I will install better pads based upon feedback gained on here.

 

Agreed. Pretty frustrating experience and making me second guess this.

 

This is the point...2 problems have been identified before these even hit the street. We're talking brakes here, not intake pipes, or downpipes, or hood fitments. There is ZERO tolerance for these types of issues when it comes to brakes. It is simply irresponsible to put out such a product w/ these sorts of elemental errors on the most critical component of the vehicle.

I have seen brake line failure on the track...not pretty. What is someone less "aware" got these brakes, slapped them on and started flailing on his car on the street or track and his brake line failed due to inadequate length? Not good.

What if someone took their car to the track and didn't notice the hair thin clearance on the spindle and the rotor binds during a high speed sweeper when at 9/10ths? Not good.

There has been ZERO stress testing of these brakes prior to production. This is irresponsible and should have never been tolerated by RB and the rx7 community.

Sorry for the soap-box but this type of crap ticks me off.

 

good job HOWARD....you take care..

 

I'd say they were a moron for not checking such things first.

Everyone here knows this is a Brand New product. Only a fool would bolt it on and hit the track without checking such things. That is the purpose of this thread - to learn and share so some moron doesn't do what you suggested.

 

And you, my friend, are a COWARD. Did you start a new username just to take a cheap shot at howard? Get your garbage out of this thread

 

Your solution was the hard one. I have never used the stock Mazda backing plates with my rear calibers before or with my new RB REAR BBK as they have never showed my any benefit with them on.

A well designed brake system does not need bandaids to make them work.

My 1968 Alfa Romeo with 4 great ATE fixed caliper brakes did not use any such bandaids. The pistons were sloted for proper brake force distribution against the pads instead of using a tapered SS shim.

The RB front calipers use the exact same system design to hold the pads in the calipers and reduce chatter.

But then the Germans and Italians have always been ahead of the pack!
*************************

If I returned every mod that did not fit perfectly or required me to make adjustments for it, my car would still be stock.

 

I agree Chuck. However, brakes are in a category by themselves. Life is not at stake if 99% of the mods out there have fitment issues.

 

^^^^

I agree... To suggest that the onus is on the buyer to "check" all this stuff is a bit ridiculous. "Everyone knows they're new" works for a body kit, but not for brakes.

RB sounds like a reputable company, but there's clearly a rush to market here. They need to recall what they've sent, and hold what they haven't sent, and do some proper fitment and performance testing.

 

I agree, but was Mazda's excuse for all of its design problems with the FD?
Even the RX8 which went through many years of development did not come out without its share of problems.

Maybe we are at the point of diminishing returns with some of our advances with technology . Maybe humans are becoming the problem. I ROBOT?

 

Actually that 3mm difference is without the shims. Was not planning on using them. And the sanding portion is an easy one when you have full access to a machine shop.

Same here, I have yet to purchase an aftermarket component that didn't require a little massaging in order to fit or work right.

 

There have been some testing on their systems in other cars, to me it just sounds like minor fitment issues with the brake lines and clearance.

 

Guys,
Perhaps this is a value judgement, or assessment of degrees, but IMO rotors hitting the upright, dragging brakes, missdrilled holes, pads that aren't usable without access to a machine shop, and brake lines that might be severed if you turn the wheel too far aren't "minor fitment issues". They are a lack of proper development. These are BRAKES. These issues sound as though they never fitted them to an actual car before shipping!

A "minor fitment issue" would be that the little hex fitting that rests in the shock bracket needs a corner filed off (like the old goodridge braided lines), not a line that wouldn't allow you to turn a wheel.

Not trying to fry anyone here, just pointing out that I wouldn't accept that in a $2,500 product, and I don't think that you should minimize it as the purchaser's problem or par for the course...

 

I obviously didn't understand the scope of what was wrong.

 

You were harping on Howard about track testing performance, not about basic fitment issues. Howard didn't have any problem installing the brakes / fitment from what I read. Fitment is not rocket science. If the parts have to be sent back, shipping is going to be hard on RB with all of this back and forth. My car is a bare chassis so I don't really have a way to test much, but I will put the rotors on the hubs and install the brake pads to see what I find out.

 

Mine just arrived. Well packaged and no damage to the contents.

The rotors/hats are impressive as are the front caliper design. Very very beefy.

I compared the rear RB rotors to my '99 RZ (Precision Brake 2 piece rotors) and found at least one thing that is better on the RB setup. Size!

RB rear rotors:
12.625"

'99 RZ (PB brakes) rear rotors:
12.3125"

Thickness between the two is about the same.

Will test fit them this weekend w/o brake lines.

 

So, will I be able to reuse my goodridge stainless lines if the RB ones are too short?

 

For the rears yes, I have them on now; the fronts, no, too short and the fitting to the caliper is wrong.

 

i just returned from a week away from the web.

first off, the front brake line length.

it is not a fault of RB. it is my fault.

that said, i am scratching my head on this one. perhaps Mazda re-situated the brakeline tabs from the rear of the shock to the front?

my brake tabs on my Tein coilovers are marked R and L and i do have my units on the proper side of my 93 FD. the brakeline tabs are to the rear of the shock body. i also have a set of OEM shocks from a 93 and they are also marked R & L and the tabs also situate to the rear of the shock body.

OTOH, i have a 94 Mazda Service Manual and it shows the tabs to the front. my wife's 94 also has the tabs to the front.

if the tabs are to the front the 16 inch brake line could very well be too short. if the tabs are to the rear the length is proper.

i did not think to look at a 94 or 95 when i did the measuring. nor did i look at my 94 FSM. i assumed that all FDs had the same configuration.

i did measure the tab height to the lower mounting bolt and the 93-94 are the same...

as to R & L, Mazda considers the Driver's side left based on lots of parts marked that way that only fit on the car one way.

since the tab offers a different portal size to the inside and outside of the brake fitting it cannot be switched from R to L. both my Teins and the OEM 93 are correct as they allow the indexed face to seat inboard and the clip outboard.

i apologise to all effected and am interested to find out the answer on this issue.

the other problem related to rotor clearance i believe. i did post an install tip piece and mentioned that you do need to file a minimal amount off the upper and lower knuckle so as to accomodate the large rotor. a real easy job that can be done in 5 minutes of filing.

i will be calling BHF for a track date today.

howard coleman