Brake upgrade

[Mathew]

Does anyone know how much work is required to retrofit the larger front brakes from a 1800cc mx5 onto a 1990 1600cc car. I was considering purchasing some Aussie made vented & crossdrilled front rotors for my car but they only make them for the 1800cc model. It made me wonder how easy would it be to do the swap. Could I just bolt on the 1800 rotors and then get some second hand 1800 calipers (I'm only assuming that they're different from the 1600 ones). Is there anything else that needs to be swapped??
Or is this just a waste of time - should I just use a different brand of rotor that will fit my 1600.

[Fletcher Blades]

Yes, its not too difficult to fit 1.8 front brakes to a 1.6

I've forgotten the details (I read about it years ago) but I'm pretty
sure there's a write-up in the "Garage" section at www.miata.net

I seem to recall either the brackets or the callipers get transferred
from left to right to make them fit? Sorry, cant remember...

I've actually been meaning to check it out myself again. I've been
making a few power-mods and better brakes is probably a good idea.

Fletch.

[Fletcher Blades]

Found it...

http://www.bigllama.com/miata/brake/bigbrake.htm

Fletch.

[SG & NA Fisk]

Re brakes - My handbrake doesn't work very well - is there a way to adjust
it - I see some threaded cable ends as they go into the callipers but there
doesn't seem to be much thread to play with. Any advice welcome
Steve

[Fletcher Blades]

For all basic technical advise, I firstly advise you to get an Manual.
There is a Haines and one from Veloce Publishing called Rod's Miata
Enthusiast Workshop Manual. They are available from Online
book-stores through the club web-page, or from various automotive book
specialists around the country. (Ecurie Lierve and TechBooks in Auck,
Fazzaz in Ch-Ch). The books cost around $70... You will save this much
the first time you use it.

Alternatively, go to www.miata.net and click on the Garage section.

Both these sources have a full write-up on the procedures of adjusting
the hand-brake.

I wrote one some time ago for the club magazine... it may be at the
club's web-site?

Fletch.

[simple]

Big Fletch said:

For all basic technical advise, I firstly advise you to get
an Manual. There is a Haines and one from Veloce Publishing
called Rod's Miata Enthusiast Workshop Manual.

I'd suggest spending on the Enthusiast manual before the Haynes - the
Haynes is inferior, in my opinion. What you really want to do though, is
look at both of them before parting with your money.


Karl.