Mazda 5 rear brake conversion

[Tomas]

Did this after reading someone on Mazda3forums do it.
Nothing really difficult about the install. Just replace the bracket holding the caliper. The following is worth noting:

* Mazda 5 rear brake discs are larger in diameter than MS3 but same width and offset.
* Mazda 5 rear calipers have the same piston diameter as the MS3. I read they weren't but I measured and they are exactly the same. The only difference to the MS3 calipers is the bracket which extends a little longer as the pics show to accommodate the larger disc.
* Mazda 5 pads are shorter than the MS3s but will fit.

******************* you need caliper brackets of a Mazda5 2008.5 or earlier******************************************* **









Impressions: Don't feel anything different than stock. It looks better due to the larger rotor but that's about it.

[gtlaw]

where did you get the brackets? might be worthwhile if you need to replace the rotors anyway

[xcoldricex]

forgive me for asking - it's implied but not absolutely clear - so you can reuse the ms3 calipers with the mz5 brackets correct? all you replaced were the rotors and the bracket?

what's the rotor diameter of the ms3 vs. the mz5? larger rotor will net you better cooling for the track i suppose, probably no difference on the street.

[Tomas]

Originally Posted by gtlaw where did you get the brackets? might be worthwhile if you need to replace the rotors anyway

had to buy complete calipers at junk yard. $150

Originally Posted by xcoldricex forgive me for asking - it's implied but not absolutely clear - so you can reuse the ms3 calipers with the mz5 brackets correct? all you replaced were the rotors and the bracket? what's the rotor diameter of the ms3 vs. the mz5? larger rotor will net you better cooling for the track i suppose, probably no difference on the street.

correct. you can re-use stock calipers. Just change bracket.

hold on re rotor size.
ok, here it is. stock is 280mm. Maxda 5 is 302mm

[wootms3woot]

this is a cool find...might be doing this at my first brake change!

[ak_spray]

What year did you take them off of?

[Lex]

How much larger is the surface area of the Mazda5 pad?

[06Speed6]

I wonder if there is a similar swap for the ms6, I need to change my rear brakes pretty soon.

[gtlaw]

Originally Posted by Lex How much larger is the surface area of the Mazda5 pad?

it should be exactly the same. this will just give it more leverage moving it farther out from the center of the rotor

[SSinstaller]

Originally Posted by 06Speed6 I wonder if there is a similar swap for the ms6, I need to change my rear brakes pretty soon.

IIRC Our rear rotors are already larger than the CX-7 Parts.. The only mazda vehicle with larger rear brakes is the CX-9..

[Hectik1]

Someone needs to make a bracket! I've looked and haven't found too man 5s in the junkyards. I wanted to do this too when I changed my brakes!

[06Speed6]

I got some cx-9 rear brake specs off of ebay (lol) and they do seem pretty large. I wonder if they swap to either the ms3 or ms6.

Sorry for the slight thread jack, but I figure you might as well get the biggest ones you can find.

[06Speed6]

Mazdaspeed 3 rear brakes, Mazdaspeed 6 rear brakes, Mazda 5 rear brakes...

[ak_spray]

Parts.com has these brackets for $72. That's not too bad considering the list from the dealer is $104.

[Tomas]

Originally Posted by 06Speed6 I got some cx-9 rear brake specs off of ebay (lol) and they do seem pretty large. I wonder if they swap to either the ms3 or ms6. Sorry for the slight thread jack, but I figure you might as well get the biggest ones you can find.

These are pretty massive.
Not sure if this big would be really needed on an MS3. May be on a MS6 due to more rear weight but for an MS3 is prob a little too big. The rears don't get that much action on the MS3. The rotor is also 6 lbs heavier.
Great find. Hope someone tries it out.

Originally Posted by Lex How much larger is the surface area of the Mazda5 pad?

The Mazda5 pad is smaller than the MS3. If you look at the pic above the shorter pad is the MAzda5 pad.

Originally Posted by gtlaw it should be exactly the same. this will just give it more leverage moving it farther out from the center of the rotor

Correct about the leverage.
Incorrect about the pad.
See above brake pad surface to brake pad surface pic.

[Hectik1]

Seems like there is a lot of weight lost by having smaller rotors. Less rotor weight is less rotational weight.

[Tomas]

Originally Posted by ak_spray What year did you take them off of?

Fuck. Great question. Forgot to add that you need 2008.5 or earlier brackets.
OP updated.

[Lex]

Originally Posted by 06Speed6 Mazdaspeed 3 rear brakes, Mazdaspeed 6 rear brakes, Mazda 5 rear brakes...

You have the same pad for the Mazda5 and Speed3 in the diagrams.

Originally Posted by Tomas These are pretty massive. Not sure if this big would be really needed on an MS3. May be on a MS6 due to more rear weight but for an MS3 is prob a little too big. The rears don't get that much action on the MS3. The rotor is also 6 lbs heavier. Great find. Hope someone tries it out. May be I didn't explain it right. The Mazda5 pad is smaller than the MS3. If you look at the pic above the shorter pad is the MAzda5 pad. Incorrect. See above break pad surface to brake pad surface pic.

So did you use speed3 pads or Mazda5 pads? Would speed3 pads fit?

[Tomas]

Originally Posted by Lex You have the same pad for the Mazda5 and Speed3 in the diagrams. the diagram is only for the thickness of the pad and height of the backing plate. Not the surface area of the pad. So did you use speed3 pads or Mazda5 pads? Would speed3 pads fit?

speed3 pads.
I didn't change the caliper. Just the bracket. Pic #2. I am using the MS3 caliper with the MAzda5 bracket holding the caliper.
Wakarimaska?

[nosaccordh22]

I understand the reason for larger rotors etc. but larger rotors don't always add up to better performance. if you're using the same caliper and pad size, you're not gaining any more friction surface area, so if anything you just added weight and more rotational mass...

for those considering this upgrade, why not just invest in a better performance rotor and pad?

[Tomas]

Originally Posted by nosaccordh22 I understand the reason for larger rotors etc. but larger rotors don't always add up to better performance. if you're using the same caliper and pad size, you're not gaining any more friction surface area, so if anything you just added weight and more rotational mass... for those considering this upgrade, why not just invest in a better performance rotor and pad?

It depends how you look at it.
A brake rotor is really just a heat sink. Any BBK you buy will get you a larger and/or thicker rotor. If you follow your logic than a BBK would really not be of any benefit.

The reason for using a larger rotor is to increase the ability of the brake system to increase its heat absorption capability where the brakes do not get so hot you start getting brake fade or other symptoms associated with overheating of the brake system. For DD this is certainly not needed. But when you do track work it is quite possible your rotors will get so hot the heat seeps into the caliper and your fluid starts boiling = brake fade or worse no brakes at all. A high heat pad is obviously the first thing you should do before upping up rotor size, but if the pad gets too hot because the rotor is too hot, the pad will start to lose its ability to bite into the rotor to slow it down.

[super_pablo_]

old thread is old... but I just wanted to follow up on something, as well as comment on your last post @Tomas

... I feel that, while your statement is true (about larger size, heat absorption and shit)... thats really irrelevant for the rear rotors, at least in our platform...

so really, it comes down to, is the increase in torque worth the 70-100 buck bracket?

Did anyone else did any more testing on track?
Im changing my rear pads for more rear bias, but also was considering this... whats the concluding point on it? Worth it or not?

[breakfasteatre]

also interested in hearing. @tomas im assuming you have tracked the car since, was the shift in bias due to the greater torque noticable?

[Tomas]

Was the rear brake torque on the rotors higher with the bigger rotors / sort of more rear bias? Yes.
Was the difference eye popping huge? No
Could it be placebo effect? May be.

I would only recommend the upgrade if your rear rotors need to be replaced. Then, you might as well get the Mazda 5 ones and the bracket. IMO there is nothing like simple bolt on OEM upgrades such as this one. Much simpler and cheaper than multi piston calipers and hydraulic e brakes. There is actually a name for this type of upgrade I just don't remember what it is.

[Nliiitend1]

Originally Posted by Tomas Was the rear brake torque on the rotors higher with the bigger rotors / sort of more rear bias? Yes. Was the difference eye popping huge? No Could it be placebo effect? May be. I would only recommend the upgrade if your rear rotors need to be replaced. Then, you might as well get the Mazda 5 ones and the bracket. IMO there is nothing like simple bolt on OEM upgrades such as this one. Much simpler and cheaper than multi piston calipers and hydraulic e brakes. There is actually a name for this type of upgrade I just don't remember what it is.

OEM+?

[Tomas]

I remember talking to a KNS brakes dude over the phone when I ordered pads once telling him about the conversion and he mentioned they offered the same thing for Subarus. He called it some fucking name but I am senile. Or may be the dude was on crack. Either option is viable.

[fredricktsang]

a lot of guys with the earlier 1.6 miatas do this and swap the bracket with the later 1.8 rear brakes. I've heard the term "brake conversion" used all the time. But regardless, it works, I might try this when it comes time to do my brakes. First probably get myself a pyrometer to see brake temps after hard driving/tracking to see where temps are at and do a before and after comparison.

[Celestspeed3]

When I go my stoptechs I got the mazda5 rear kit as well to keep the balance the same. Even so I think the car has ebfd so I'm not sure how much of a difference it will make.

[Nliiitend1]

Originally Posted by Celestspeed3 When I go my stoptechs I got the mazda5 rear kit as well to keep the balance the same. Even so I think the car has ebfd so I'm not sure how much of a difference it will make.

Indeed it does.

[silvapain]

Hydraulic e-brake FTMFW. I want one so I can do rally-style handbrake turns.





I'm such a fucking ricer.


Tapadatass

[BAT-man]

sorry to bring back from the dead...

has anyone measured whether the ms6 rear bracket can be used with the ms3 rear calipers? Might as well go with the bigger rear ms6 rotors...

sil80

[Tomas]

^ No. But post 13 has some info on the MS6 rear brakes.

[BAT-man]

I saw that but can't really get the bolt offset from it... might have to just order a bracket and see if it fits....

[DuoofDeath1]

I may have missed this but does anybody know the part number for the Mz5 bracket I need?

[Mr Wilson]

^^^That.

I've recently tried dealing with some of the local forum's Mazda dealers as we get a discount and have been met with nothing but grief. They want the VIN to make sure the part is correct......apparently without that they cannot confirm it is the correct part. It's the f*cking rear caliper bracket!!! how hard is that. Even when I explain I do not have an Mz5 they still ask for the VIN.

@Celestspeed3; do you remember?

[Crarrs]

Originally Posted by Mr Wilson ^^^That. I've recently tried dealing with some of the local forum's Mazda dealers as we get a discount and have been met with nothing but grief. They want the VIN to make sure the part is correct......apparently without that they cannot confirm it is the correct part. It's the f*cking rear caliper bracket!!! how hard is that. Even when I explain I do not have an Mz5 they still ask for the VIN.

Where's the ingenuity?

Here's a couple VINs I just got off cars.com by searching for a pre-2009 MZ5.

JM1CR293170144730
JM1CR293270154196

[Mr Wilson]

Hahaha thanks @Crarrs;

Ended up finding a Parts Manager that just understood what I was looking for. It wasn't so much finding a VIN (+ not sure if it would throw them off even more with a US VIN), more of the fact I don't get how that would confirm anything for them.

He said they have them in stock, so I'll pick them up tomorrow and post some numbers.

[Mr Wilson]

Part # C2Y6-26-28XA they were just over $60 CAN each.

Now mine does not have the sliders in the OP's picture. Assuming I can carryover the stock ones, or should I just get new?

[speed3 britz]

Originally Posted by Mr Wilson Part # C2Y6-26-28XA they were just over $60 CAN each. Now mine does not have the sliders in the OP's picture. Assuming I can carryover the stock ones, or should I just get new?

They unthread from the old brackets and install on the new ones. Ive been running this swap conversion for awhile now

[bhigdon101]

Originally Posted by speed3 britz They unthread from the old brackets and install on the new ones. Ive been running this swap conversion for awhile now

Part # C2Y6-26-28XA is for the right side only and dont fit the mz5 pre 08...
doing my brakes soon and would like to add this to the list..
wanted to make sure its the right part number.. looks like it for the 13 touring m3...
any help would be great....or link..