Mk1 1.6 brake upgrade recommendations
Discussion
Folks, looking for recommendations on a brake upgrade for my 1.6 vspec eunos.
I always thought the brakes, whilst not great, were ok.
My old man and brother mostly drive it nowadays and they have never got on with the brakes.
Mx5 specialist last year put some EBC pads on which helped sharpen the brakes up at first, but now they're proper dead until warmed up.
I'm looking for recommendations for brake upgrades solely for road use, no track. Objective is to improve the braking performance and feel, to improve confidence.
One place suggested the MK2.5 sport big brake upgrade. I wonder if that's overkill. Would like to avoid any major maintenance headaches or brakes unsuited to boring road use.
Look forward to your suggestions and for companies to fit the upgrades - we won't be doing any DIY
I always thought the brakes, whilst not great, were ok.
My old man and brother mostly drive it nowadays and they have never got on with the brakes.
Mx5 specialist last year put some EBC pads on which helped sharpen the brakes up at first, but now they're proper dead until warmed up.
I'm looking for recommendations for brake upgrades solely for road use, no track. Objective is to improve the braking performance and feel, to improve confidence.
One place suggested the MK2.5 sport big brake upgrade. I wonder if that's overkill. Would like to avoid any major maintenance headaches or brakes unsuited to boring road use.
Look forward to your suggestions and for companies to fit the upgrades - we won't be doing any DIY
benz0 said:
One place suggested the MK2.5 sport big brake upgrade. I wonder if that's overkill. Would like to avoid any major maintenance headaches or brakes unsuited to boring road use.
Any better braking is good braking !I don't think that this is overkill and why the maintenance issues?
The NBFLs don't have any major problems.
Go for it.
If your intention is solely to use your car on the road but you feel that the 1600 brakes are inadequate I would suggest that you upgrade to the standard 1800 disc set up rather than the NBFL big brakes.
If you source front and rear calliper brackets and 1800 front and rear discs you can use your existing 1600 callipers.You will have to swap the front callipers left to right though.
The NBFL set up is powerful but you also need to swap the servo and master cylinder from the MK2.5 otherwise you end up with poor pedal feel due to the later car having a 15/16 master cylinder as opposed to the 7/8 cylinder on 1600/1800 cars.
The servo swap means new brake pipes and a T piece due to 2 port ABS set up.
They’re also much heavier and unsprung weight is your enemy on a mighty 115bhp 1600!
The stock 1800 set up with good fluid and decent pads can happily stand up to repeated track day use with no fade so will be more than enough for a road car.
If you source front and rear calliper brackets and 1800 front and rear discs you can use your existing 1600 callipers.You will have to swap the front callipers left to right though.
The NBFL set up is powerful but you also need to swap the servo and master cylinder from the MK2.5 otherwise you end up with poor pedal feel due to the later car having a 15/16 master cylinder as opposed to the 7/8 cylinder on 1600/1800 cars.
The servo swap means new brake pipes and a T piece due to 2 port ABS set up.
They’re also much heavier and unsprung weight is your enemy on a mighty 115bhp 1600!
The stock 1800 set up with good fluid and decent pads can happily stand up to repeated track day use with no fade so will be more than enough for a road car.
Edited by Cardo on Thursday 5th August 14:50
Cardo said:
They’re also much heavier and unsprung weight is your enemy
^^ This.I sold a set of front 'Sport' / mk2.5 big brakes (calipers / carriers / discs & pads a few months ago & the parcel was 31kg
thats a lot more than the earlier 1.6 setup & on the subject of the 1.6 setup if it's in good condition can give a very good brake effort - just not a modern abs feel though
Rich.
Cardo said:
If you source front and rear calliper brackets and 1800 front and rear discs you can use your existing 1600 callipers.You will have to swap the front callipers left to right though.
Does that not put the bleed nipples on the bottom.Edited by Cardo on Thursday 5th August 14:50
I did this exact upgrade with a kit from Autolink and you fit the left carrier bracket on the right and vice versa. Larger disc then fits and calipers remain on the correct sides.
Thanks all.
Old man really wants the 2.5 sport brake upgrade but I think a full brake service/bleed and check with either new OEM pads or mintex ones would do the trick, perhaps with the 1.8 upgrade.
It's at the local garage having a service today and will see if there's anything wrong with them..have read plenty of reports that the ebc green stuff pads that are fitted are terrible so that might explain it. It's scary in low speed traffic have to stamp your foot through the pedal!
Old man really wants the 2.5 sport brake upgrade but I think a full brake service/bleed and check with either new OEM pads or mintex ones would do the trick, perhaps with the 1.8 upgrade.
It's at the local garage having a service today and will see if there's anything wrong with them..have read plenty of reports that the ebc green stuff pads that are fitted are terrible so that might explain it. It's scary in low speed traffic have to stamp your foot through the pedal!
Just ordered from autolink:
Front 1.8 brake upgrade kit with new calipers and discs
Rear 1.8 carriers and pad fitting kit
Brake master cylinder stopper
From elsewhere:
New rear discs (generic)
Mintex premium pads front and rear
Should hopefully get it all fitted by my local garage next week, else I'll take it to a local mx5 specialist. Will get the fluid flushed and replaced as well.
Autolink were very knowledgeable and helpful on the phone!
Front 1.8 brake upgrade kit with new calipers and discs
Rear 1.8 carriers and pad fitting kit
Brake master cylinder stopper
From elsewhere:
New rear discs (generic)
Mintex premium pads front and rear
Should hopefully get it all fitted by my local garage next week, else I'll take it to a local mx5 specialist. Will get the fluid flushed and replaced as well.
Autolink were very knowledgeable and helpful on the phone!
Oldandslow said:
Cardo said:
If you source front and rear calliper brackets and 1800 front and rear discs you can use your existing 1600 callipers.You will have to swap the front callipers left to right though.
Does that not put the bleed nipples on the bottom.Edited by Cardo on Thursday 5th August 14:50
I did this exact upgrade with a kit from Autolink and you fit the left carrier bracket on the right and vice versa. Larger disc then fits and calipers remain on the correct sides.
Thanks all for your input.
The autolink 1.8 big brake upgrade with new calipers has gone on the front, and also 1.8 discs on the rear, mintex pads all round and a brake stopper/master cylinder brace fitted.
Brakes weren't working right at all before the upgrade, so it's comparing apples with oranges, but I'm very happy with the brakes now. It stops well but still has excellent modulation and feel.
The autolink 1.8 big brake upgrade with new calipers has gone on the front, and also 1.8 discs on the rear, mintex pads all round and a brake stopper/master cylinder brace fitted.
Brakes weren't working right at all before the upgrade, so it's comparing apples with oranges, but I'm very happy with the brakes now. It stops well but still has excellent modulation and feel.
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