Should I get genuine brake discs or cheaper alternatives...?

[ben@fareham]

As above really, going to do the 1.6 to 1.8 brake upgrade using EBC red/yellow stuff and standard 1.8 discs, but should I stick to genuine discs or a cheaper equivalent?

Thanks
Ben

[Red Firecracker]

Here ya go, a bit of reading;

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

OEM over 3rd part is a difference of approx 10 quid at MX5 Parts, so you pays ya money.

Personally I'd be re-considering the EBC pads, but that's just my opinion, I don't like them and don;t get on with them.

[MX-5 Lazza]

I would (and do) stick with the plain discs from MX-5 Parts.
I'd also use stock Mazda pads rather than any type of EBC pad. If you want better track-ability at a cost of a bit more dusting then go for Axiss Ultimates.

[ben@fareham]

By plain, do you mean genuine mazda or the 'el-cheapo' equiavalent? And just genuine pads too?

Sounds cheaper than I thought it would be!

Thanks
Ben

[GreenV8S]

ben@fareham said:

should I stick to genuine discs or a cheaper equivalent?

All conventional brake discs are plain cast iron and in terms of material there's really nothing to choose between them once you've taken them out of the wrapping. I assume you're sticking with plain discs not grooved, dimpled etc.

[MX-5 Lazza]

ben@fareham said:

By plain, do you mean genuine mazda or the 'el-cheapo' equiavalent? And just genuine pads too?

Sounds cheaper than I thought it would be!

Thanks
Ben

Stick with the cheapos. There is little difference between them & genuine Mazda discs so just save the cash for petrol

[speedtwelve]

My Mk1 Roadster ran £20 EBC road pads and the equally cheap non-OEM plain discs from MX5 Parts. It had no problem stopping consistently when I kicked the Schiesse out of it all day long at an Abingdon trackday.

[ben@fareham]

Thats good to hear, will stick with the cheapo's then. Some extra cash would be good, the bloody thing drinks fuel like its hot chocolate!

I might get the cheap discs from Autolink, both are near me but Autolink is even cheaper still and I am getting the goodrich hoses from them anyway.

Is it worth getting the axxis ultimates, or save them for track days? If it is just road driving I guess the standard pads would be good enough?

[MX-5 Lazza]

The Axiss pads are definitely better than Mazda pads on road and track. The downside is the dusting - they really do dust quite badly. For me, if it's only a road car and it will never see a track I'd stick with Mazda pads. For a road & track car I'd go with Axiss. On my own car I have both - Mazda pads for road use and swap with Axiss for track days. The only reason I do this is because of the unusual brake noise I get (not a noise I've ever heard anyone else suffer from but it's bloody annoying on my car as it's there all the time except when I'm braking!).

[ben@fareham]

I am planning on track days, but I think I would do the same as you and swap them although brake dust wont really make a difference as my rims are black anyway and there is only £10 difference in a full set.

Would be great to get it on the track but still getting used to it so maybe some time off yet!

[MX-5 Lazza]

Just get the axiss pads from P5 then. No point swapping pads if you don't need to, Axiss pads are superb on the road apart from the dusting.

[ben@fareham]

Nice one - will do. Thanks for your help.

Bring on the track days....!

[jazzybee]

I bought the 'cheapo' MX5parts rear Discs a few years back. Imagine my surprise when the 'Brembo' branded box arrived! And no, it was not some sick joke - there were Brembo Discs inside.

The pads are a different matter. I have used EBC Greenstuffs and some of the others and the OEM Mazda ones work best.