I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: __ Replacement pads and disks.
My brake warning light has started to come on intermittently which could be a sign that the pads are wearing. I’ve owned the car for 3 years and about 12k miles now so it’s probably time for at least new pads.
As I’ve got an extended Mazda warranty, there’s a requirement to fit either OEM or OEM Quality replacements.
The dealer prices are out of question so it will be a trip to my local garage but does anyone know what OEM Quality replacements are available ? Does it mean branded such as Brembo, Pagid etc or a specific compound.
Ideally I’d like good performance coupled with low dust.
Just check your fluid level first and top up if required.
I am not sure that you have a facility on the pads to activate a ‘warning light’ for ‘pad wear’. A loud screech caused by a mechanical interference is more normal as a warning on the MX5.
I would also check out what the warranty says re brakes, you probably know that they won’t be covered, most don’t as it’s a wear and tear item.
My thoughts saying the above, so does it really matter what’s fitted there if they aren’t covered, ok if they cover discs and pads then fit the Mazda parts.
I can recommend Ferodo pads & discs also Pagid pads, very good, fitted on my last NC.
All road pads sold in Europe are “OE Quality”, aka Reg90. A garage will likely fit Apec. These are fine, Spanish made I believe.
I think Mazda sourced from Sumitomo. ADL/Blueprint rebox Sumitomos. Japan switched to ceramic compound pads (low/lower dusting) years ago.
Brake warning light, to me, is not a reminder to think about getting the pads changed, but getting an immediate check of your braking system because there is a fault. I’d hate to think of the insurance or other consequences if you continue to drive with this fault. If your pads were that low, at the last MOT you would have gotten an advisory about it. If the pads are that knackered, you’ll likely need discs as well.
On the NC I think the brake warning light serves two purposes, firstly to tell you that the handbrake is on, then if it comes on after that then it’s telling you the brake fluid sensor is registering low levels. This might be after lots of wear I suppose as the pistons take up more fluid capacity, but you can easily top up fluid and see if it goes away.
Regarding your original question, on NA & NB I’ve always found the OEM pads to be the best performing and come with all the shims & fitting brackets etc. But not bothered to buy OEM disks I usually get Brembo from ECP when they’re on offer for about half the OEM price. With NC I’d be inclined to try Brembo for both pads and disks as the NC is a much more modern car.
Brake fluid shouldn’t be dropping below low level with pads. Again, if the pads are that low, then it would have been noted at the last MOT or annual service.
Many years ago, I naively ignored the advice of the garage who said my front pads were a bit low, and had a few thousand miles left on them. And proceeded onto to a trackday, where I ended up running out of pad (metal on metal, car still kind of stopped), wheelnuts that seemed welded on (they needed a torch to loosen) and a wing/door peppered with bits of iron that started rusting (where I learnt the wonderful qualities of claybar). Brake light never came on. My fault entirely, but lesson learnt.
A warning light that comes on, even intermittantly, needs to be investigated. As the light is coming on, and this indicates to you that the braking system is faulty, there needs to be careful consideration of the implications of this before driving the car.
I would avoid EBC ultimax, they have no vibration dampening on the back of the pad and make a lot of squeal. Swapped them for basic Brembo pads and all is good.
Thanks for your input. The warning light is very intermittent but usually comes on at a standstill with foot brake on and clutch down. I’ve tested the handbrake switch operation and can rule that out.
The car is dealer serviced and they haven’t flagged brake wear, but then again they didn’t on my wife’s Mazda 6 and about 2k miles later she was £400 worse off as the rear disks and pads had worn.
Dealer changed the fluid in 2020 so it’s due again this year. Since they changed the fluid I’ve had hot weather problems with the clutch so it could be they didn’t top the reservoir up properly.
It’s not the Bilstein that make the shocks on the 5’s it"s Febi Bilstein.Not a fan of the discs/rotors have a tendency to heavy rust on the outer rim where they put their identifying codes.
Thanks for the reply, But Read my post again…
I didnt say they were Bilstein suspension
I said they were part of the Bilstein Group
As for rusting on the outer edge all discs that are not painted do but they have been coating there discs for years now and the ones on my daily driver are still not rusting 18 months later
I have been using them for years they are OEM quality hence my recommendation which i stand by 100%.
Bilstein and Febi-Bilstein might be part of the same company, but maybe as susidiaries, they are rather different. Bilstein make shocks, German made (though they also supply shock kits for local assembly in the Japanese market, might be something to do with non-Japanese companies gaining access to Japan). Febi Bilstein though is just like any other global OE parts supplier; they source from all over the world, and their suppliers include factories in India and China. Blue Print are also part of Bilstein. Probably the take away is, for brands sold in the UK, there isn’t a lot of difference. That’s not the case in the US, where there is less regulation, an a serious hierarchy in different parts.
In NI, one of the OC members was the local rep for Firstline. Really good for getting parts. They seemed to use the same suppliers in Japan as Mazda. Most of the major suppliers operate in the same way I think.
ADL have an outer ring which is forged on the disc rim so they can put their identity codes so they know where they purchased the disc from for quality control.This ring has a tendency to corrode and crumble away from the disc making an unpleasant sight.
Ref Bilstein fair enough you might know the difference but on a 5 forum where Bilstein is know has a quality manufacturing suspension company compared to Febi Bilstein which is generally a reboxing company these days can lead to confusion.
I think you will find that Bilstein Suspensions are part of the Thyssen Krupp Group which also includes Eibach if I remember correctly. Febi Bilstein are an independent Family owned and managed Group who specialise in aftermarket parts for cars and CV’s under a number of different brands, including Blue Print. That’s not to say that there is somewhere in the murky depths of interconnected Germany Companies from the distant past ownerships that there is a cross holding between TK and FB but it’s not obvious. Like many German firms they used to make everything in Germany but now seem to import stuff from all over including China and Korea.
