Replaced my brake lines + brake master cylinder brace

[Steampunk]

A few forumites here have patiently endured my occassional whinge about how the least favourite thing about my car is the lack of brake feel.

I bought the car in late 2000, with 85,000km on the odometer (now has just over 144,000km) and from day one I have felt uncomfortable with the rather soft pedal.
I have dríven every model of MX-5, thus of varying mileage, and each one had better brake feel than mine.

In summary:
- changing brake fluid and rating only made a marginal difference
- changing rotors and more "aggressive" pads, made a definite improvement in bite, but not feel.

Still not happy, so I thought I may as well take the final step and change the brake lines themselves.

BINGO!

Even though my OEM lines looked OK, they were obviously "weak" (for lack of a better term).

So for anyone else out there who is unhappy with their brakes, invest in a set of good quality lines and

Thank you to Mr Starlet for helping me with the swap.

[edit 24th Sept]
upon advice for fellow forumites, and years of looking for a good one, I installed a brake master cylinder brace.
In short, yup ..... it works
You don't really feel it under normal/gentle/everyday braking, but if you give the pedal even a half-hearted stomp, you know it's doing it's job.
I assume the harder you brake, the more tangible the feeling.

[Juffa]

Glad you found a resolution to your issue. Can I ask if the new brake lines are OEM, or braided...or something else.

J

[Steampunk]

"If it's worth doing, it's worth over-doing"

Goodridge Braided Jeff

[MINX]

Good to hear you had a win Andrew

[NMX516]

A master cylinder brace makes a good improvement to brake feel too.

[tbro]

A master cylinder brace makes a good improvement to brake feel too.

What something flimsy like this




If this ever breaks I'm in deep sh*t

Andrew, good to hear your brake woes are fixed, and thank you mine are fitted too!!!

Terry

[Steampunk]

Thanks MINX, yeah, I'm actually comfortable driving her around now as she's a complete package.
Feels like a bit of an epiphany has hit me.
Now all I need is mo' powa

A master cylinder brace makes a good improvement to brake feel too.

Yup, that's next on the agenda.
Maybe even a brake bias adjuster if I get brave enough. Doubt it.

I wanted to quantify each change, so changed things one a time.

tbro, you don't waste time do ya?

Hope they will give you that extra edge in late-braking heroics

[Steampunk]

Brake bias adjuster is rather easy to install, dont need bravery, its hard to get wrong. And works amazingly on the track to adjust balance.

Hmm you maybe convinced me to get new lines.

Installation I'm not afraid of, it's fudging up the balance.

Get new lines Gerard, get them, get them get them

[wun911]

I've had the ss lines for a while, IMO its worthwhile. If I had my way again though I would have got them custom with ss fittings and the locator for the caliper so its easy to tighten the banjo bolt (only 70 bucks per line and ADR aproved).

I also want the break master cylinder stopper but the one that is attached to the strut brace like one of those aluminum carbing ones, mmm delicious...

Is there a way to make the ABS kick in a little bit later is that what this valve does? I want it to bite hold and lock the wheel for a little bit before the ABS kicks in if thats at all possible...

[SPy vs. SPy]

Is there a way to make the ABS kick in a little bit later?
Is that what this valve does?
I want it to bite, hold and lock the wheel for a little bit before the ABS kicks in if that's at all possible...

No

No

and No

and before you ask, No you can't disable the ABS easily (well not by a method I will recommend, nor describe)

and also No, there is not an ABS version of a bias valve.

[Fuzzlet]

Hmm sounds tempting. Even with my brakes properly bled its still a good 2 - 3 cms of pedal movement before they really start doing anything (and was like this when pads were new aswel)

[Fatty]

i replaced my old rubber lines with brand new rubber oem lines from mx5parts.co.uk and it made a massive improvement. a lot cheaper than braided, too.

[tbro]

[quote="wun911"]I've had the ss lines for a while, IMO its worthwhile. If I had my way again though I would have got them custom with ss fittings and the locator for the caliper so its easy to tighten the banjo bolt (only 70 bucks per line and ADR aproved).

"Goodridge is the only company certified to manufacture stainless steel brakelines for use on any highway, anywhere in the world.
Goodridge is both TUV and DOT compliant, and we are the OE Supplier to all of the major aftermarket brake manufactures; Alcon, AP, and Brembo"

Results for Burst/Working Pressure
Requirement as per FMVSS106 / SAE J1401
100 % PRESSURE TEST all hose assemblies.
3000 – 3600 PSI – Hose assembly shall show no signs of leakage/rupture.
BURST TEST – required for initial approval.
4000 PSI FOR 2 minutes. Pressure is then increased to 7000 PSI.
Hose assembly shall show no signs of leakage/rupture.
Result -
Stainless Braided PTFE Hose – Burst test result 12750 – 13500 PSI
Recommended Safe working pressure 4250 PSI
Rubber Hose –
Note – Hose data supplied by other rubber hose manufacturers may vary.
Burst test results – 8000 – 9000 PSI
Recommended Safe working pressure 3600 PSI



All of the above from Goodridge site.

Grazza, I personally think just fitting ss lines only, the difference would probably be minimal in brake feel, BUT, doing as Andrew has done,
basically the whole kit, then all added together you will definately feel an overall improvement. Its basically insurance for a street only car, as most only change their rubber lines when something goes wrong : a burst rubber line, bit late then!!!! for ANY car doing any sort of track work I think it's really should be compulsary, as you would never work your brakes on the road like you do on the track, just ask those I was out braking at Qldraceway on the club track day!!!

We all winge (me especially) when paying car insurance but still pay it, do the same with braided lines!!!winge but still fit em!!!

Terry

[Uncle Arthur]

So where in Brisbane would you recommend for SS lines?

[Steampunk]

Grazza, I personally think just fitting ss lines only, the difference would probably be minimal in brake feel, BUT, doing as Andrew has done,
basically the whole kit, then all added together you will definately feel an overall improvement. Its basically insurance for a street only car, as most only change their rubber lines when something goes wrong : a burst rubber line, bit late then!!!!

..... We all winge (me especially) when paying car insurance but still pay it, do the same with braided lines!!!winge but still fit em!!!

Terry

The better the condition of your lines, the less improvement you will feel, and this goes across the board with pretty much everything mechanical, hydraulic, electric etc etc.
My brakes never felt "right", so I thought, "what the heck" and changed every part that is easy to change.

The Goodridge lines actually worked out to be cheaper than genuine Mazda OEM rubber lines (for me anyways Fatty, as I didn't really shop around much for OEM lines), and that pushed me over the fence.
Plus I just simply wanted to find out first hand if SS braided lines DO make a difference or not.

Oh and yes.... late-braking heroics are greatly enhanced with them on Tez..... but I'm waaaay too much of a girl to stomp on the brakes like all you maniacs

Uncle Arthur, unfortunately I bought Terry's and mine from abroad.
eBay is a good place to start looking