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Post by superdan on Apr 29, 2016 13:19:22 GMT
Afternoon,
I have previously owned a mk1 1.6 and mk2 1.8 standard cars but have agreed to buy (jointly with a mate) a track day prepped* mk 1 1.6.
I've not got the car yet but am already thinking about brakes. The cars run a full day (not by me) and apparently the brakes did fade to almost nothing, though once cool were ok again afterwards.
I know the car is on 14 inch wheels though intend to get some 15's to run mostly likely Nankang Track Day NS-2R's. What I can't remember is whether there is any difference between mk1 and mk2(.5) disks and calipers and is there a cheap (oem) upgrade is on 15 inch wheels for stock mk1 hubs.
Any advice much appreciated!
Many thanks.
Dan
* Car bought from a friend who completed the 'build' of a mutual friends car who unfortunately passed away before it got put together / sorted. |
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Post by Horney on Apr 29, 2016 13:34:39 GMT
Standard 1.6 brakes are well up to the task. Fit new good quality discs, good fluid, braided lines and some decent after market pads and you'll have no problems.
Rodders on here sells his trackday pads for very reasonable prices.
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Post by myothercarsa2cv on Apr 29, 2016 13:35:25 GMT
As I understand it, the mk1 calipers and mk2 calipers are the same just on different carriers, the more 2.5 calipers are different.
Mk1 1.6 discs are the smallest, mk1 1.8 and mk2 discs a little bigger and mk2.5 bigger still.
The racers use standard mk1 1.6 brake setups and do fine. I have the mk1 1.8 setup and that's fine. Your options would be to get mk1 1.8 carriers or carriers from Freaky Parts for the mk2.5 discs and reuse your calipers. You'll probably need longer hoses.
Pads and cooling will probably make the biggest difference I would guess, the car isn't that heavy.
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pewe
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Post by pewe on Apr 30, 2016 9:43:19 GMT
On my 1.6 I upgraded the brakes by fitting 1.8 carriers and discs, having already fitted braided hoses. That means 1.8 pads/discs are possible which have a bigger surface area and is the cheapest/easiest way to improve braking. Wheels are 15" though I can't say if that works for 14" wheels - probably does but worth checking. Pads are Yellowstuff all round and fluid Castrol React Performance Dot4 giving more than adequate braking even double driven on track-days. I bought my second-hand carriers from AK Automotive up in the North East - all round good guys and helpful. Worth overhauling the calipers whilst you're at it. Ensure the slide pins work freely in their housing. The rubbers tend to become constricted by rust in their mounting hole. Tease the rubbers out and clean the hole using a hand-held twist drill and brake cleaner. Re-grease using either rubber grease or high temp brake grease but deffo not copaslip. HTH. Cheers, Pewe |
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Post by superdan on May 1, 2016 18:06:08 GMT
Thanks for the replies chaps. We've booked Blyton on 21st May (Javelin) as our first taster so will try current setup and take it from there. Good to know they are capable though, we'll upgrade when 'needed'. Am I right in saying I should have 235mm disks and the big ones are 255mm?
Knowing the brakes faded to nothing but then were OK, would that have any long term effect on the pads or the fluid?
Also ref the above, any comments on rear brakes, are they all the same?
Thanks again.
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Post by superdan on May 5, 2016 21:23:30 GMT
Am I right in saying I should have 235mm disks and the big ones are 255mm? Knowing the brakes faded to nothing but then were OK, would that have any long term effect on the pads or the fluid? Also ref the above, any comments on rear brakes, are they all the same? Thanks again. Any comments on the above? Cheers. |
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Post by Horney on May 6, 2016 7:39:34 GMT
The rears don't do a massive amount of braking on the standard car. Same as the front really, good quality pads and they'll be fine on a 1600cc NA car.
The mk1 race cars do 15 minute races where you push harder than a Trackday on standard mx5 1.6 brakes. They're more than man enough for a track car running standard power as long as they're in good condition.
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Post by mattk on May 6, 2016 16:23:20 GMT
Sounds to me like you definitely need new fluid and a good bleed to make sure no air is in the system. Blyton is HARD on brakes, so make sure you've done a bit of preventative maintenance beforehand.
My 1.8 has stock calipers, discs and cheap 'Apec' branded pads. The only thing I've done is put decent fluid in and put a master cylinder stopper to improve pedal feel. They last all day heavy braking on track with little fade.
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titch
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Post by titch on May 6, 2016 18:32:10 GMT
My 1.8 has stock calipers, discs and cheap 'Apec' branded pads. The only thing I've done is put decent fluid in and put a master cylinder stopper to improve pedal feel. They last all day heavy braking on track with little fade. Much the same as I. I had Apecs before - moved onto Blueprint, be jealous... Lol - and never had issues on track, decent fluid, and that's all I've updated, never had issues on track. |
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Post by mattk on May 6, 2016 18:35:41 GMT
Blueprints... Big spender!  |
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titch
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Post by titch on May 7, 2016 1:13:36 GMT
I even bought a spare set to take to trackdays, after having to cut my last day short when I killed my last set of pads. #baller
On that note, that's the only downside I can find to running cheap pads, track use can quite substantially shorten their life. But when you consider you can go through 3 sets before you match the price of most decent pads, it's a little more comforting.
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Tom
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Post by Tom on May 10, 2016 8:31:34 GMT
Sorry if this is a bit of a thread hijacking but rather than start a new one I also have a question on a rather similar topic.
I have however got a turbo on my 1.6, hopefully once mapped it will hit around 200bhp. The standard brakes are suprisingly not too terrifying at the moment with the base map but some more stopping would be gratefully recieved! My options are as follows:
Willwood 4 pots on the front with sport, or 1.8 rears and a bias valve
or
1.8 brakes all round with a decent EBC disk, braided lines and yellowstuffs on all corners, probably also with a bias valve because it does seem quite heavily front biased and I have always wondered if a little twist to the rear would leave it a little more balanced on turn in!
I am aware that the willwoods are a cut above the 1.8 brakes, but they are also a significant cut above in terms of price! Just wondering if anyone could advise as to how worth while it is? Car will be used for fast road, hopefully some track days, autosolo, sprints etc.
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Post by atlex on May 10, 2016 10:16:28 GMT
Having had a mk2.5 with the sports brakes the 1.6 defaults felt a bit weak and/or terrifying (probably not well serviced..)
Instead I've gone with mk2.5 sports on my white one and wilwood fronts on my blue one.
If I did this all again, knowing better I'd just max out everything around the 1.6s in terms of quality - lines, fluid, pads, disks. - the 1.6s allow far more wheel options too (13-14"), and now I'm stuck with 15"s +..
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Post by myothercarsa2cv on May 10, 2016 20:46:27 GMT
Don't forget the tyres too! I think the 1.8 setup would be more than enough for 200bhp, certainly works well enough for me!
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Tom
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Post by Tom on May 11, 2016 6:38:54 GMT
Having had a mk2.5 with the sports brakes the 1.6 defaults felt a bit weak and/or terrifying (probably not well serviced..) Instead I've gone with mk2.5 sports on my white one and wilwood fronts on my blue one. If I did this all again, knowing better I'd just max out everything around the 1.6s in terms of quality - lines, fluid, pads, disks. - the 1.6s allow far more wheel options too (13-14"), and now I'm stuck with 15"s +.. I'm fairly well set on 15" wheels, would potentially go to 14s but currently only have my eyes on 15s. Think I will get some 1.8 carriers, and then just max everything out with pads and lines etc. Don't forget the tyres too! I think the 1.8 setup would be more than enough for 200bhp, certainly works well enough for me! Indeed, went out in a friends car with wilwoods and his road tyres on. They were T1-rs and they were not up to the job, would lock up fairly easily! I currently have 595RS-Rs and think I will get the AR-1s or dmacks next so shouldn't find myself lacking in the tyre department hopefully! |
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le sigh