Is any one running M2's or Precision Brakes Co. upgraded front brake kit for stock 16" wheels? How much of improvement did you see at the track or street? What did you do for the rear brakes to compensate for front brake bias? I've been thinking of upgrading the brakes, but don't want to invest again in a couple set of wheels and tires.

M2's brake kits

Precision Brake Kit

 

Another option is the Mandeville brake kit. You can read about Chris Regan's experience with it here:

http://reganrotaryracing.tripod.com/gcmande.htm (scroll halfway down the page) - a very, very good site about rx-7 upgrades by the way

I believe some people use a proportioning valve to adjust brake bias but I'm not sure how that works with the ABS.

 

Mandeville's brake kit requires 17" wheels.

 

sorry about that

 

N-Tech also sells an AP kit that uses 12.4" rotors that should fit inside the stock wheels.

I upgraded my rears to the RS/RZ rotors with Widefoot caliper brackets and Wilwood NDL calipers. But I don't think those will fit inside stock wheels.

For a moderate front upgrade, you probably don't need to do anything. Lots of people run big front brakes without doing anything to the rears. My car felt like the rears weren't doing anything, so I upgraded the rears. It feels really hunkered down under braking now, which feels good to me. You might be able to compensate with pads in the rear. Or swap the stock brake proportioning valve out for an aftermaket one and adjust it to reduce the pressure less than the stock one. Some people install brake proportioning valves on the front brake circuit, but that has never seemed like a good idea to me. I have heard from people that did it and say it works well, though.

Keeping the ride height high will transfer more weight to the front under braking and require less from the rear brakes. If you lower the car a lot, you have more to gain from improving the rear brakes.

-Max