Got my new rotors today!

So, for the first time ever, I just bought rotors for my Miata. I figured: I killed the pads by tracking the car and the old rotors were pretty rusty, I might as well replace the rotors and the pads.

I got ATE rotors (the ones with the special coating and the rounded-off star slot pattern).

For pads (still in the mail) I ordered another set of Hawk HPSs. I liked them on there on the last go-around, so I might as well give them a try again. I'll put them on this weekend. Hopefully this time I won't forget to buy brake installation goos (lube, cleaner, etc.).

Opinions on this combo? I wanted Brembo OEM replacement blanks, but it was going to cost a lot of money to have them shipped from the only warehouse that Tire Rack had them in (in Nevada??!). I sort of expect these things to exploderate for some reason. Anyone have experience with them?

One more thing: how do you bed in brakes when you live in a city and NEVER see more than 15 miles per hour? I think I'll just do it on the way to NJ Motorsports park at the end of the month--that's the next time I think I'll be driving it.

confuZion3 wrote: One more thing: how do you bed in brakes when you live in a city and NEVER see more than 15 miles per hour?

So what you're saying is you own a Miata and you DON'T regularly take it out of the city for a spirited run just to keep from going crazy? Are you sure you're in the right part of the internet here?

Poor Miata .

I regularly take her to the track. I'm sure that counts for something.

confuZion3 wrote: One more thing: how do you bed in brakes when you live in a city and NEVER see more than 15 miles per hour?

You sir are in need of 3 things:

A warm clear night

A Valentine 1

A 2am wakeup call

Enjoy!

confuZion3 wrote: One more thing: how do you bed in brakes when you live in a city and NEVER see more than 15 miles per hour? I think I'll just do it on the way to NJ Motorsports park at the end of the month--that's the next time I think I'll be driving it.

Empty business park street or parking lot on a weekend? Just keep an eye out for the rent-a-cops.

I use HPS pads, Brembo OEM rotors, Corksport stainless steel braided lines, and ATE Blue fluid on my FC with the 4-piston front calipers. If there's one thing it does well, it stops. I've yet to experience any appreciable fade. I do hear a little squealing, but only if I've been in stop-and-go traffic for a while and it isn't teeth-gratingly obnoxious. Initial bite is fine for daily driving, but I'm going to try a more aggressive pad for autocross. I have set of slightly-used HP+ front pads I may try this weekend.

I use those same rotors on my Ti.. they are great for all things EXCEPT for that first touch of the brakes in the rain. I do not know what it is, but the first time I touch the brakes after a longish run in the ran it always takes a second (or seems to take that long) before the water that gets trapped in the rounded star grooves gets either vaporised or flung out.. during that time it seems like you have NO brakes at all.

Just something to keep in mind as you are running the exact set up I am (ATE starred discs and HPS pads)

RexSeven wrote: Initial bite is fine for daily driving, but I'm going to try a more aggressive pad for autocross. I have set of slightly-used HP+ front pads I may try this weekend.

Those pads like a little heat in them. I ran them on my daily driver Miata for a year year-round and the first stop on those winter days was scaaaaary. One good hard stop though and they are up to temp. I would do a couple warm up stops well away from the paddock immediately before heading to grid and they worked fine from the word go. Very good initial bite and overall stopping power.

tirerack.com has bedding instructions for the pads they sell. on the hawks, i believe it's also printed on the box.

I know that it's printed on the boxes of Hawk Ceramics that are waiting to go on the Jetta. From the Hawk website:

Burnishing Instructions

1. After installing new brake pads, make 6 to 10 stops from approximately 30-35 mph applying moderate pressure.
2. Make an additional 2 to 3 hard stops from approximately 40 to 45 mph.
3. DO NOT DRAG BRAKES!
4. Allow 15 minutes for brake system to cool down.
5. After step 4 your new pads are ready for use.

Looks like you'll need to find somewhere other than in town to take care of this.

My buddy had a '94 SHO and it had warped rotors. You could feel the wiggle, and he was getting pissed at it so we replaced the rotors and pads. We went out to 'test' the brakes and my buddy got a little excited and left some flat spots on his tires. Now the wiggle was all the time.