Speed 3 front brake swap, Mazda 5 back brake swap, questions!

[MattisBrown]

So I'm looking to replace my brakes/ rotors and was interested in possibly getting better performance from my brakes, so I started searching around for options.

What I've seen for the most part is OEM rotors and Hawks HPS seems to be the way to go, but I'm looking for something more I think.

While lurking the mazda3forums, I noticed people doing MazdaSpeed3 front brake swaps. I think I'll be going with this for the front brakes.

As for the rear, I came across and interesting thread, someone swapped the Mazda 5 rotors and rear brakes onto a Mazda3. This offers bigger rear brakes and of course bigger rotors to fill the wheel (looks nicer :3).

My question is, what's the process for doing the front brake swap? Has anyone heard of the Mazda 5 brake swap, is it worth it? Also how much would either of these two options cost roughly? And finally, in the winter I run 15 inch steelies, how would the clearance be with either of these swaps?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Matt

[Cab0oze]

I've heard of both, not sure about how much is gained though.

Anything below 16" will not clear the speed3 calipers.

[Noisy Crow]

Yes, it's been done. I question whether it is a good idea though... you'd be altering the front-rear braking bias, very likely reducing overall grip during heavy braking.

[r4mi5awi]

Get yourself a corksport bbk and be done with it.

[silverstarmazda]

its been done, its been proven too. the rear brakes are only a couple (1-2) centimeters bigger iirc, and not a lot of braking power from the pedal is sent to the rear. if you had the money and really want to do it, then I stand right by you. but it can become a very expensive mod unless you go to the wreckers and by a miracle...find the two cars WITH the parts. this was actually on my mod list...but its hard to find the parts. i forgot the braking balance on the mazda 3...something like 70 in the front and 30 in the rear.

[RedRaptor]

Done it.

[gotak]

Question to MattisBrown: what do you mean by "better performance"?

Are you looking for:

1) Higher heat capacity for tracking?
2) Shorter stopping distances?
3) Something else?

For 1 maybe this mod will work but maybe ducting to cool the brakes or aftermarket race brake kit would be best (with the limitation that race pads can be like having no brakes when it's cold)

For 2, if you stomp on the brakes does your ABS activate? If so you already have about the shortest braking distance you can get with your current car. Adding bigger brakes will not increase performance as the stock brakes are already more than capable of locking up the wheels.


About ABS and distance.... Threshold braking is better than ABS. The point of ABS is that even top racing drivers can't threshold brake with any consistency. I can imagine if you screw up your brakes really badly the ABS can end up activating when it shouldn't which will increase your braking distances. My brother's old car had a bad ABS sensor so it kept going off. This made the simple task of stopping in stop and go traffic at times a scary thing as the ABS would keep going while the car just gets closer and closer to rear ending someone.

[gotak]

http://www.stoptech.com/technical-support/technical-white-papers/white-paper---brake-bias-and-performance-why-brake-balance-matters

[greyseason]

^^ awesome read

[Kiyomi]

i loled at this thread.

why not just up the rotors to db's in the front and get hawk hp+ on all four, rbf600/blue ford fluid and stainless steel brakelines. youll be able to outstop more than half the cars on the track and 90% of cars on the street.

as for the bbk from corksport, i would actually like to see the difference in measurements from oem. from reviews, ive heard they still need more rnd and that brake pedal feel is lessend until about half way.

[Mr Wilson]

i loled at this thread.

why not just up the rotors to db's in the front and get hawk hp+ on all four, rbf600/blue ford fluid and stainless steel brakelines. youll be able to outstop more than half the cars on the track and 90% of cars on the street.

as for the bbk from corksport, i would actually like to see the difference in measurements from oem. from reviews, ive heard they still need more rnd and that brake pedal feel is lessend until about half way.

For years places like MSF have raved about the quality of the stock MS3 brakes and then CS makes a set and everyone does the collective

http://www.gifsoup.com/view1/1304522/the-hangover-leslie-chow-o.gif

There are only a few on this site and even msf that would benefit from an upgrade and it's not even for power, but the consistant braking power lap after lap.

[gotak]

For years places like MSF have raved about the quality of the stock MS3 brakes and then CS makes a set and everyone does the collective

http://www.gifsoup.com/view1/1304522/the-hangover-leslie-chow-o.gif

There are only a few on this site and even msf that would benefit from an upgrade and it's not even for power, but the consistant braking power lap after lap.

I believe there was a interview post on MSF from a pro who races the MS3 in a touring car series. They use the stock brakes. So yes very few and you have to wonder if any heat issue could be resolved by adding cooling instead of brakes.

[Mr Wilson]

So redraptor, for the OP how did you source everything? install straightforward? how has it performed? helped with towing?

[RedRaptor]

So redraptor, for the OP how did you source everything? install straightforward? how has it performed? helped with towing?

MS3 Front Calipers (Autowreckers in US.)
Rear Mazda5 Calipers (Autowrecker on Ebay)

Everything is a straight bolt-on. Running strong since 2010 paired with DBA 4000xs rotors, Hawk HPS, SS Brake Lines and Motul RBF600.

Overall braking power has increased significantly compared to stock set up.

Not smart or academic enough to discuss brake bias and all the other BS. Don't care as this is my DD and its never been on a track or auto-x.