NA6 - bigger brakes, wheels, and tyres

Batdog · Postby **Batdog** » Mon Sep 14, 2015 3:05 am

I'm a newbie to the forum. I have owned my NA6 for over 10 years. I have been living in Flinders View Qld for the last 5 years but have now moved to Sydney for a few years. I ran at a number of club days with the MX5 Club in Qld.
Currently my Little Red Rocket has a Mania CAI, Koni shocks with King Springs, Hawk pads and Whiteline anti-sway bars. As I now have a DD, the MX5 does not see much of the public roads and I have decided to do it up for more use on the track but still want to use it on the street - so not a track only car!
The first thing I would like to do is upgrade the brakes to NA8, NB8A, or NB8B. I feel that a new set of rotors with good pads (Hawk?), rebuilt callipers, and braided lines should be a good start but would welcome your thoughts. As such, before I go quicker I want to be able to stop better.
Next new wheels and tyres. I currently have the original 14x5.5 wheels (daisy?) with yokos on them. From what I have read, I don't think they will go over the bigger brakes. I would like to go up to 15x7 with 195/50 or 205/50 tyres. If I go to NB8B brakes, I know that not all of the 15" wheels will fit. I have been offered Buddy Club which will fit but they are over 14lb whereas I would prefer the lighter Storm S1 or S2, Konig Dial In, or 949 6UL. Now, I know (from this forum) that the Storm S1 will fit but not certain about the rest. Again, what are your thoughts?
As for tyres, there seems to be a multitude, all of whom have their fans. I don't want a full R spec but would not mind a semi R spec. However, I do wish to be able to drive this car on the street. What do you think?
Cheers,
Batdog

StillIC · Postby **StillIC** » Mon Sep 14, 2015 6:49 pm

Why do you want bigger brakes? I removed the NB8B late model brakes installed by the previous owner, from my NA6 after I bought it and put on the standard NA6 calipers, high quality brake pads and slotted rotors. It stops at least as well as the standard big brakes, accelerates a bit faster and has less unsprung weight. I would suggest avoiding the late model NB8B, and simply install the NA8 or early NB brakes if you really desire bigger rotors. But your call.

If you do get bigger brakes, the NA8/NB8A brakes should fit in the 14 inch daisies (someone will correct me if this is wrong) as they certainly fit inside plenty of other 14 inch wheels. The NB8B late model brakes (or sport or SE) won't. Another good reason not to go for the biggest of bolt on brakes.

I'll leave it for others to comment on wheels and tyres, but get light weight wheels if you can.

Batdog · Postby **Batdog** » Mon Sep 14, 2015 7:19 pm

Yes, Magpie said somewhat the same about the brakes and now I am thinking about not getting bigger brakes, just making the original brakes work better! Probably save a few dollars too to spend on other fun stuff. And a set of braided lines!
Also, keeping original brakes allows me to keep the Daisies as road wheels with the bigger lightweight wheels and tyres for the track. Best of both worlds really. Plus the original daisies will not attract attention from the constabulary.

Thank you for the good advice - appreciated!

PeterB · Postby **PeterB** » Mon Sep 14, 2015 9:27 pm

I ran NA6 brakes for several years of track days/supersprints using slotted rotors and hawk HP plus pads for track work with 15x6.5 or 15x7 rims with semi-slicks, for a mid 1.13 at Wakefield, in Britney.

Braking was good, however I decided to upgrade to NB8A brakes (HP plus or Carbotech HP10 pads) as I cracked and/or glazed several NA6 rotors/pads due to overheating. I did not have any brake ducting, but did have a front lip to try to feed in some extra air in the direction of the brakes.

If you are going to spend some money I would go NB8A with braided lines and pads to suit, just to get better life and better feel (i suspect just NB8A on the front would work to save costs, but haven't tried it). I am pretty sure the 14" daisies fitted over this set-up, but may be wise to check. I used NB8A 15" rims on the street as they allowed a better tyre size, but looked very close to standard so did not attract attention.

Venuci · Postby **Venuci** » Tue Sep 15, 2015 9:31 am

Hi Everyone

This thread caught my attention because I am thinking about the same thing - I am fairly new to the wonderful world of the MX-5 and wanting to just explore a few little improvements that can be done simply but that add a bit better feel and/or performance to a component.

I've only had my NA6 for about a year and while it's in almost original condition it was previously owned by the sort of person that loved the idea of a small sports car rather than the reality and I suspect considered things like oils, tyres, brake pads etc to be just things that needed to be replaced from time to time and a bit of a pest that you just need to get done as cheaply as possible. I have slowly improved bits and pieces on the car with a small improvement in how the car drives each time..... which is great!

I'm now looking at the brakes and considering the same thing but lots of people around the web seem to think that upgrading the NA6 brakes hardware to anything at all is a bit of a waste of time and that cleaning them up with new fluid, a good flush, good pads (I'm thinking TRW D-Tec) etc will make them more than adequate - especially for a car that is completely stock and only used as a DD on the streets.

Would this be a fair assessment of the situation and is that pad choice a good one?

Cheers

slomo · Postby **slomo** » Tue Sep 15, 2015 5:38 pm

I have owned three na6's over three years; I still have two and would recommend the na8/nb8a upgrade as the first modification for any na6. For street driving the na6 brakes are significantly underbraked especially for unplanned braking. The upgrade was an easy and fairly cheap mod to carry out with significant improvement in stopping power. (Noting that I had slotted rotors on one na6)
You can use your na6 calipers with the na8/nb8a mounting brackets or replace caliper and bracket.
The cheapest off the shelf pads with this upgrade have given the above improvement. Top quality pads would, i'm sure further improve braking.

Venuci · Postby **Venuci** » Tue Sep 15, 2015 6:42 pm

G'day slomo

Thanks for your comment.

Do you mean something like the package available here - http://www.mx5mart.co.nz/db.cgi?db=mart ... records2=1 ?

If so, do you think it's most worthwhile doing fronts, rears, or both?

Cheers

slomo · Postby **slomo** » Tue Sep 15, 2015 9:21 pm

Yes. That offered in the add shown will do the job. The upgrade of caliper brackets, rotors and pads for the fronts only. Reuse existing NA6 caliper. The rear brakes left standard.
There may be other opinions but for general street driving this is probably the best upgrade.
I note that others believe using slotted rotors and high quality pads give similar results.
I know that slotted 235mm rotors by themselves are not as effective as 255mm unslotted rotors.
The difference due to pads, I cannot comment on as I have no practical experience.
The other option is to wait for an NA8 or NB8A to be wrecked and buy the front brakes, market appears to be $150 to $200 for useable pads, calipers and rotors (that may need machining add $60).

Batdog · Postby **Batdog** » Wed Sep 16, 2015 2:15 am

Welcome Venuci.

Thanks to all for the advice. I really have something to think about but now think I know which way I will be going. Probably change my mind again tomorrow.

Cheers,
Batdog (aaarroooo!)

Batdog · Postby **Batdog** » Wed Sep 16, 2015 3:23 am

Well, it didn't take me long to come back to this thread.
Let's see if I understand this. I could simply upgrade the front rotors, caliper brackets and pads to NA8/NB8 specification but still use the NA6 calipers is that right? Forgive me if I'm being thick here but wouldn't I need to upgrade the rotors as well for greater pads size? Or do the NA6 calipers take the larger NA8/NB8 pads? I suspect I am starting to confuse myself!
I like the idea as it is taking baby steps with the upgrade to see how it feels. If I'm happy, I stop there. If I want more, then I can go further with complete upgrades.

Cheers,
Batdog

Batdog · Postby **Batdog** » Wed Sep 16, 2015 5:44 am

Batdog wrote:Well, it didn't take me long to come back to this thread.
Let's see if I understand this. I could simply upgrade the front rotors, caliper brackets and pads to NA8/NB8 specification but still use the NA6 calipers is that right? Forgive me if I'm being thick here but wouldn't I need to upgrade the rotors as well for greater pads size? Or do the NA6 calipers take the larger NA8/NB8 pads? I suspect I am starting to confuse myself!
I like the idea as it is taking baby steps with the upgrade to see how it feels. If I'm happy, I stop there. If I want more, then I can go further with complete upgrades.

Cheers,
Batdog

Sorry 'upgrade the rotors' should be 'upgrade the calipers'.