Quote:
Originally Posted by Spade
Edit, question since the last RWD Autocross car I've had is a NB Miata. Why is it that we don't want the rear brakes doing much on the FRS/BRZ?
From previous owners, it has AP Racing BBK in front with good Ferodo pads but only the Hawk HPS mickey mouse pads in rear.
On a NA/NB Miata we purposely put more aggressive pads in rear. It has HP+ rear and Stop tech sport front on sport package brakes.
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The AP Racing brake kit doesn't change the bias, it's there to increase thermal capacity, reduce brake cost and drop ~20# off the front end. Not much weight to lose off the rear nor any change in bias is necessary so not having a rear brake kit is pretty common imho.
Staggered pads is unusual though, the factory brake system likes to add rear brake pressure to reduce rotation under braking, I could see that being an issue in Street class that a prior owner liked the staggered pads instead of the pedal dance and just didn't revisit after building STX. I've found when the suspension is happy I get all the rotation I need under braking with same pad compound front and rear and that seems to be the common consensus.
https://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25494
Unhooked rear bar isn't super common, but it's pretty weaksauce to begin with. I'd like to try disconnecting it as a rain setup and softening the front. The car likes a stiffer than factory front bar, I've heard 20mm to 25mm, 22mm solid adjustable seems most common.
The car is sensitive to alignment, some choices with toe and camber can drive the owner to compensate in other areas such as spring rates, damping, and sway bars, it might have been a factor in the brake choice too.