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Different brake systems on the Mazda6?

12K views 17 replies 9 participants last post by  kevinspann 
#1 ·
Hi Guys

I have been lurking in this forum for some while now. I have a 2005 Mazda6 Sport with the 2006 facelift. Love the car but it needs a few repairs from time to time.
The issue at hand is that I need a new front left brake caliper since the old one is worn and sticking.
But here comes the wierd thing why the many different brake systems?
On a page with spare brake calipers i have encountered at least these brands for the brake system: Akebono, Shin Tec, NBK, Nabteco?
What is the difference between these? And how do I figure out which one I need? Why so many available haven't seen that before?
I replaced the brake pads and rotors not long ago and I got Akebono pads then. They fit perfectly. But can I then assume that the caliper is also Akebono?

Regards
 
#2 ·
I don't think you need to worry about the brand vs the application. There are many brands for different parts but they should all be within Mazda specs. The 1st gen can be confusing when it comes to the brakes because they were still "figuring it out". When getting brake parts, as long as you get the right ones for your system, it could have whatever brand name it wants.

The main things to note are 03-05 or 06-08, ABS or non ABS, and Mazdaspeed or non Mazdaspeed.

The cool thing to also note is if you have the original 03-05 system, swapping to 06-08 from the hard lines down is a little upgrade because they are a little bigger. From what I've read, swapping from the 03-05 system to a Mazdaspeed system is an even bigger upgrade.
 
#4 ·
I don't think you need to worry about the brand vs the application. There are many brands for different parts but they should all be within Mazda specs. The 1st gen can be confusing when it comes to the brakes because they were still "figuring it out". When getting brake parts, as long as you get the right ones for your system, it could have whatever brand name it wants.

The main things to note are 03-05 or 06-08, ABS or non ABS, and Mazdaspeed or non Mazdaspeed.

The cool thing to also note is if you have the original 03-05 system, swapping to 06-08 from the hard lines down is a little upgrade because they are a little bigger. From what I've read, swapping from the 03-05 system to a Mazdaspeed system is an even bigger upgrade.

Below are the 2006 MPS brakes on the 2004 6 wagon. They are behind 18inch wheels.
If the brakes bolt on and clear all the moving bits then it will work. The above modification was the same as doing a brake job and the improvement was huge.
I would choose the part based on warranty and reviews. All will likely work well.
 

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#3 ·
Just to remind people looking at this thread - he's up in Denmark, which is most likely why the brands he has up there are different than what most of us in the U.S. see.

I would say, if you're not sure, then go with the brand that you already know fits the car.

Typically, there will be several manufacturers who develop sets of parts for many cars. It's common to find at least a few who make identical parts for the same car. For example, RockAuto alone has Power Stop, Centric, Raybestos, Nugeon, Beck/Arnley, ACDelco, and Cardone all listed as having calipers/parts for the 2006 Mazda 6.
 
#7 ·
It has nothing to do with pressure. You would not feel a difference in the pedal between the 2. The key difference is volume, the larger calipers require more volume, not more pressure.



I'm not saying it is dangerous, I am saying you are leaving some of the advantages of the larger brakes off the table as without the higher volume of fluid they simply will not push as hard as they could. If you think those brakes are great now you would very likely be quite surprised once the proper master cylinder is put in. Your choice, but you are leaving a fair bit of performance by not doing this.
 
#8 ·
It has nothing to do with pressure. You would not feel a difference in the pedal between the 2. The key difference is volume, the larger calipers require more volume, not more pressure.

Thanks for the comment. I disagree, as pressure is the only thing it is about. That is the very nature of hydraulic systems. Volume just ensures that as the pads wear down the system doesn't drop low and suck air. Volume does not push the piston out, pressure does. And for pedal feel, a 0.25 in increase in diameter will increase pedal force (to do the same work) by just over 75%

Thanks for letting us disagree.
Back to our previously scheduled thread. :smile2:
 
#9 ·
Doesn't matter if you post it twice, it does not make it right. Volume is just as important if not more important, especially for rear brakes. It was more obvious on 80's/90's trucks with 1/4 " rear lines to feed the massive 13"+ drum brake systems. They simply required more volume.


As for Speed6 brakes with a stock 6 master, you are not pushing the same amount of fluid with the stock master. You get the SAME pressure with MORE volume with the Speed master. If you cannot grasp that you are trying to fill up bigger calipers with an undersized pump (master) then it should make more sense. The Speed6 master is identical in every way except for bore. This in no way effects pressure. It only effects volume.


It is simple science, Google is your friend if it still doesn't add up.
 
#11 ·
C'mon now I wasn't trying to be snarky. I'm serious. It takes the same pressure to push more volume. You cannot make up for less volume with more pressure and vice versa. They are separate forces. All brake systems run at nearly the same pressure. They do not all deal with the same volume, that is why we have so many different sized master cylinders.


If you switch a car with drum brakes to discs you cannot use the same master cylinder because disk brakes require more volume of fluid to work.



It's the same by putting large brakes/calipers on any vehicle. You have to ensure it has the right volume or they do not work optimally.



If you had the right master on your car your brakes would not only have noticeably better initial bite, they would fade less as well as clamp harder under extreme braking. Every bit of your braking experience would improve with a proper master.
 
#14 ·
This sis my last attempt to explain it to you guys. I won't respond after this, not out of pettiness, it just won't make sense if I do.


So you are both telling me that a 1 1/18" pipe can flow the same volume of water at the same rate as a 7/8" pipe? Both pipes handle the same pressure as it is a different force. It should be painfully obvious now that the larger pipe will push MORE fluid at the SAME pressure.


Does not matter if the system is sealed. Again, I have never once discussed pressure as this has nothing to do with pressure. You need MORE volume to push on the larger surface area of the piston. It will take nearly the exact amount of pressure and force to push the larger piston.


IF that analogy does not make sense then think about cubic inches in engines. Take a 4.8L LSx and compare it to the 5.3L LSx engine. They use the identical block and cranckshaft. The only differnce is piston size and stroke. Piston size and stroke determine the VOLUME of the combustion chamber. The 4.8L and 5.3L have the same compression ratio so the PRESSURE is static. The only difference is VOLUME in the combustion chambers as the 5.3L has more VOLUME than the 4.8L which allows it to let more air/fuel in to make more power.


Anyhow, the one thing that stares out at me is that you were willing to spend at least twice as much on brakes for "performance" but changing the master is out of the question.


As for Corksport, they won't tell you to upgrade the master with their kit because it is not needed for safety reasons. Speed6 guys already have the proper master cylinder and regular 6 guys are likely to not care as they will feel a difference, but it will not be optimal. Besides that, the aftermarket for 1st/2nd gen 6's is DEAD. I' shocked when I see places still trying to price expensive simple mods for our cars, the 6 was never properly supported by Mazda as well as the aftermarket.


Anyhow, you can think any way you want, this is high school science.
 
#15 ·
I suppose I lied. I got sucked in by the Seiya effect.

So you are both telling me that a 1 1/18" pipe can flow the same volume of water at the same rate as a 7/8" pipe?
No, not at all. If they handle the same volume of water it would have to be at different rates.


Both pipes handle the same pressure as it is a different force. It should be painfully obvious now that the larger pipe will push MORE fluid at the SAME pressure.
Correct. P = F / A
Fluids are treated as a solid because they do not compress (much).

Does not matter if the system is sealed
Incorrect. If the system were not sealed you would never be able to generate the force (pressure in PSI) to move the caliper piston. Try opening your bleeder (any one of them) and see how you stop.

Again, I have never once discussed pressure as this has nothing to do with pressure.
Incorrect. Braking systems are all about pressure. If you cannot generate pressure against the caliper piston it will not move and squeeze the disk rotor to stop its rotation.

You need MORE volume to push on the larger surface area of the piston. It will take nearly the exact amount of pressure and force to push the larger piston.
Incorrect and correct. A contradiction to be accurate. Once the line is full of liquid it is essentially treated as a continuous solid.

Any force placed anywhere on the fluid column will be transmitted and shared throughout that column. The force placed at the head of the master cylinder plunger is the same as the force being placed outward on the brake lines which is the same as the force being placed against the entire surface of the caliper piston.



Notice in this diagram above how the volume is the same even though the diameter is different? Remember that the pressure throughout this will also be identical.
If the column to the right (the smaller one) were to increase in diameter (Speed6 master cylinder) it would mean that the distance the cylinder plunger (from the brake pedal) has to move would be reduced (to move the caliper piston the same distance). Pressure still does not change, only how far you have to push the pedal to do the same work [W = F × D × cos(Θ)].

Now, the moment the column on the left stops moving (pads make contact with the rotor) there is no need to move the column. The ability to move a volume of liquid is unnecessary because there is nothing left to move.

The only thing that will happen if you continue to press the brake (attempt to move the fluid column) is the pressure will increase. Remember P=F/A?
P= pressure
F= force
A= area.
The area cannot change because it is a fluid column (like a solid) and contained within steel (and some reinforced rubber brake lines)
That means as the force increases (from your brake foot through the master cylinder the pressure will also increase.

The pressure increase is the whole purpose of the system. More pressure against the caliper piston will force it against the pad and rotor harder. This will increase friction and you will stop the car.


IF that analogy does not make sense then think about cubic inches in engines. Take a 4.8L LSx and compare it to the 5.3L LSx engine. They use the identical block and cranckshaft. The only differnce is piston size and stroke. Piston size and stroke determine the VOLUME of the combustion chamber. The 4.8L and 5.3L have the same compression ratio so the PRESSURE is static. The only difference is VOLUME in the combustion chambers as the 5.3L has more VOLUME than the 4.8L which allows it to let more air/fuel in to make more power.
Unfortunately this analogy does not work. Excellent attempt as I really do appreciate analogies. Fuel is combustible and the rate of expansion within the combustion chamber is not linear for a number of reasons. This would be at the college level, not high school.


Anyhow, the one thing that stares out at me is that you were willing to spend at least twice as much on brakes for "performance" but changing the master is out of the question.
Not out of the question just unnecessary, and in my case diametrically opposed to what I want to accomplish, which is more braking force exerted on the wheels for the same amount of pedal effort.

As for Corksport, they won't tell you to upgrade the master with their kit because it is not needed for safety reasons. Speed6 guys already have the proper master cylinder and regular 6 guys are likely to not care as they will feel a difference, but it will not be optimal. Besides that, the aftermarket for 1st/2nd gen 6's is DEAD. I' shocked when I see places still trying to price expensive simple mods for our cars, the 6 was never properly supported by Mazda as well as the aftermarket.
Anyhow, you can think any way you want, this is high school science.
I think you will approve as I give credit to the Khan Academy where all the diagrams were taken from. It is a site for helping teacher explain concepts to students. Yes, it goes all the way to high school as well.


If it helps I can give examples of fluid dynamics as blood in cardiology, which is my training. It uses a multi-valve, 4 pump system but it is exactly the same principal and I have video and motion jpegs for those. It may be useful as it also shows how changes in artery elasticity affect pressure (think stainless steel brake lines here).
 
#17 ·
Great discussion you have there. If there's any chance, I'd like to be a student of yours.

One thing I like in this forum, all responses, or most of all, are done in a professional manner and no personal attack is done to the person.

If a person makes a mistake, he readily admits it and moves on. If there's a disagreement on opinion, respect is given. If something is needed to be corrected, it is done in a polite manner.

I am thankful that I am part of this forum. [emoji3]
 
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