MR2 mk3 trackday mods
MR2 mk3 trackday mods
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200Plus Club

Original Poster:

12,827 posts

300 months

Monday 26th October 2015
quotequote all
Ok so after a bit of searching i got a 2003 mr2 roadster with hardtop.
Oe discs look fine but its on std pads. Heard yellowstuff pads are ok in these cars, anything else worth looking at? Bit of fast road use also so need something that works from cold.

I suspect its not had the pre cat mod done so i need to find out more and do that i guess. Car has fsh but 102k on clock.

Feels fine to drive, very impressed with agility on road and how quick and direct the steering feels and how responsive it is. Having recently driven a few tired and rusty mx5s I'm at present pleased i went for something different for once.

Plan isnt to chuck money at it as such but to just get out on track with better pads and fresh fluid. Uprated pads all round or just front (or back?)

Good source for parts would be helpful too. I've used fensport in the past for celica st205 stuff.
Cheers

Glyn84

667 posts

202 months

Monday 26th October 2015
quotequote all
Definitely do the pads front and rear. There is a lot of weight at the back of the car with the engine there so the rear brakes will take some abuse too. I use EBC Yellowstuff on my Mk1 MR2 on track, and also my road car, and can't say I have any issues with them. They work well on track and also when cold on the road. You will need to flush the brake system with a decent fluid though to take the temps on track.

james_gt3rs

4,816 posts

213 months

Monday 26th October 2015
quotequote all
Best off looking on the mr2roc forum... When I had mine it was 100% standard, including OEM brake pads with DOT5.1 fluid. I never had brake fade, just a soft pedal after a track day (probably didn't change the fluid enough). It has excellent brakes as standard.

Craikeybaby

11,762 posts

247 months

Monday 26th October 2015
quotequote all
Congratulations.

I'm following with interest as my roadster is stock. As James says, standard brakes seem fine, just the pedal gets softer.

200Plus Club

Original Poster:

12,827 posts

300 months

Monday 26th October 2015
quotequote all
I've lucked upon an exhaust manifold as it happens without the pre-cats as i understand they can be an issue (falling to bits and being ingested) for 80 quid (unused and new).
that will be my first mod! :-)
i'll maybe do a trackday then on the oe pads, i'll change the fluid for now.

tonights first job is polishing the cloudy headlights to see if they clean up.

cracking cars!

rallycross

13,675 posts

259 months

Monday 26th October 2015
quotequote all
They are great little cars - the handling is superb.
I've had a couple of these roadsters both 5 speed and later 6 speed models and I used the early car on some track days (140k miles, original engine). They are a bit under powered but you don't really notice the lack of power on a nice fast flowing circuit like Castle Coombe or Donnington the handling more than makes up for it (I used to race a mk2 MR2 in the 750mc MR2 series and although faster the handling is a bit rubbish compared to the mk3 model).

The brakes do overheat surprisingly easy on standard pads and fluid but I never bothered to change them.
On my mk2 racing car I used Carbotec and they were excellent, not sure if you can get these for a mk3 but worth it if you can.
http://carbotechperformance.com/

Tyres is the key thing to get these to handle well on track you need good tyres with stiff sidewalls (especially on the rear) - similar to the original Yokohamas (no longer available) something like Bridgestone R002 or Dunlop Sport max, cheap tyres with soft sidewalls ruins the handling.


200Plus Club

Original Poster:

12,827 posts

300 months

Monday 26th October 2015
quotequote all
Cheers for that. Its on dunlops at the mo but only road tyres.
I'll probably flush the fluid and do a day at blyton as it is then see what the brakes do.
Exhaust manifold to do at the weekend if weather is good