Mazda 6 Big Brake Upgrade How To

[funzie]

At the request of some users, here is a small how to/more info about the Mazda 6 brakes.

Now I will put this here in big bold letters to avoid anyone missing it and asking again.
THERE IS NO MODIFICATION REQUIRED, TAKE YOUR OLD CALIPERS/PADS/ROTORS AND PUT IN THE NEW CALIPERS/PADS/ROTORS AND DRIVE AWAY, COMPLETE BOLT ON.

The calipers come from a 2006-2007 regular Mazda 6. You can use any other Mazda 6 caliper/pad/rotor, as long as you maintain the same year/model.

Here are some spec for different year models.

Originally Posted by MetalPGT

Disc diameter:
03-05 Mazda 6 => 11.1" => Fits no problem with a 16" wheel
06-07 Mazda 6 => 11.8" => Fits no problem with a 16" wheel
06-07 MazdaSpeed 6 => 12.2" => Must have a 17" wheel minimum

Suffice it to say, big brake kits for the Mazda 6 will also fit. Now before you go out and buy Mazda 6 calipers remember that you need the caliper, and the caliper must include mounting bracket, they sell the caliper without the bracket, so pay attention when you go buy it.

Below is what the caliper looks like installed. You can clearly see the bracket of which I speak of.


Another picture of the bracket, this time comparing it to the stock one, it is easy to see the difference between both models.



In my install I purchased rebuilt(posibly even new) calipers from a 2006-2007 Mazda 6. Part numbers are as follow:
Front Left: Cardone 18-B5000 - $107.79
Front Right: Cardone 18-B5001 - $107.79
Brake Pads: Akebono ACT1164 - $61.79
Rotors: Raybestos 680404 - $41.99 X 2
Grand total was $361.35 (plus shipping).

Now the calipers can be found in these other vehicles:

2006-2008 Ford Fusion
2007-2008 Lincoln MKZ
2006-2006 Lincoln Zephyr
2006-2008 Mercury Milan

I haven't tried it, but the rear calipers/pads/rotors should also work, but the e-brake will not work since the cable doesn't reach the caliper.

Now on to the pictures:

Old ebay rotors and stock caliper.




Stock rotor vs. Mazda 6 rotor.


Stock rotor on top of Mazda 6 rotor.(Rotor anal sex)


New brakes installed.


Wheel installed.


New front brakes.


Old rear brakes(for comparison).


Installed caliper from the side:


Installed caliper from above:


Now the caliper itself(not including the bracket) is just about the same size as our stock caliper, just a tad bigger with bigger pads. I cannot say how much bigger the pads are, since I already threw away the old ones and forgot to take pictures.





Credit:
PGT97_Racer for his topic Bolt-on Big brake kit - ProbeTalk.com Forums
and MetalPGT for looking up the differences in years.

[the phranc]

Awesome work. Does this fit in stock rims?

[bmxfuel007]

Kick ass write up. stock rims are 15 inch. he states will fit 16 inch rims, so no

Originally Posted by the phranc

Awesome work. Does this fit in stock rims?

[funzie]

I might verify fitment on the stock rim this weekend.

[A Simple MX6]

Well, correct me if I'm wrong, but couldn't the 03-05's fit the stock rims? I dunno, I don't know what the biggest the stockers can hold, but I'd think it'd be close either way.

But, if the e-brake deal can be easily fixed, I might get those all the way around when I get new rims, cause I plan on getting 16's anyway.

Edit - Took too long to write this, I guess we'll know for sure this weekend. At least for the latter years.

[ls six]

Yeah the early ones will fit 15's. Same size as the 98+ 626 brakes and MS protege brakes.

This is popping up all over the mazda/probe forums and like I have posted on all those the next thing I want to know is if the CX7-CX9 2 pot calipers/brackets will fit. I believe just from visual comparisons on the vehicles that the 7 uses the same rotor as the MS6. So if the 2 piston calipers fit not only will that make for the ultimate OE brake system but it'll be a nice little upgrade for the MS6 as well.

[med_mx6]

thanks for making this process so clear... can't wait to upgrade!

(ibtstickie... lol)

[kylew4ever]

omg the 2 pot would be awsome. keep us updated. cause yes we all have good brakes but in comarison to 2pot they are nothing.

[ls six]

Originally Posted by kylew4ever

omg the 2 pot would be awsome. keep us updated. cause yes we all have good brakes but in comarison to 2pot they are nothing.

The CX7 and 9 rears are also vented and all the current options are solid.

[2old2zoomzoom]

CX-7 uses a 11.65" rotor and the CX-9 uses ...............................













wait here it comes.................



















...... a 17" rotor

Both use the same pads too.

Only bad thing I see with the CX-9 is that ABS is standard along with the Electronic Braking Distribution system. Don't know if that can be by-passed or not or if it will allow the calipers to be used on a non-ABS car. Both CX's are too new to have calipers available at parts stores. The only way to see if the calipers would work is to find a wrecked one in the junk yard or go to a dealer and see if they have one (with bracket) and one for a M6 to compare them.

[2old2zoomzoom]

One other thing I want to check into is the Mazda3 front brakes. The pads on them seem tall, taller than MX6 pads. Taller pads contact much more surface area on the rotor thus having more friction area and should have better clamping/stopping. That's the problem I have with the MX6 and M6 brakes, they only grab the outer edge of the rotor. Larger rotors are good, but actually using more of that extra surface area is better.

[Turk]

I was going to ask one thing regarding brake master, how does it go using the stocker. Can you feel any softness in brake response (even though it could brake hard, it might not brake quick enough under your foot).

I ask because I have a set of Mazda6 rear calipers ready to go on to the back. And am planning on keeping the handbrake cable. Planning something a little different for the front.

[bmxfuel007]

Anyone got the OEM mazda part numbers for the 06-07 front left and right calipers?
I found the Front brake rotors and pads:

06-07 Front brake pads: GPYB-33-23ZG
06-07 Front brake rotor: GP7Y-33-25XB
06-07 Front left caliper: GPZB-33-99ZD
06-07 Front right caliper: GPZB-33-98ZD

I want to make sure I'm ordering the right stuff, and I think I can new stuff really cheap from this one guy. want to make sure part numbers are correct

EDIT: my guy emailed me right after I posted this.... fixed with front and left caliper OEM part numbers

Not sure if it comes with the bracket or not

[ls six]

Originally Posted by 2old2zoomzoom

CX-7 uses a 11.65" rotor and the CX-9 uses .........wait here it comes...... a 17" rotor

Both use the same pads too.

Only bad thing I see with the CX-9 is that ABS is standard along with the Electronic Braking Distribution system. Don't know if that can be by-passed or not or if it will allow the calipers to be used on a non-ABS car.

ABS is external to the caliper so It dosnt matter.

I saw the same measurement for the MS6 rotors. The 9 comes with 18" wheels stock so I doubt the rotors are 17".

Heres the specs... CX9

320mm ventilated front discs. = 12.6"

325mm ventilated rear discs. = 12.8"

CX7

296mm ventilated front discs. 11.7"

302mm ventilated rear discs. 11.9"

Originally Posted by Turk

I was going to ask one thing regarding brake master, how does it go using the stocker. Can you feel any softness in brake response (even though it could brake hard, it might not brake quick enough under your foot).

Originally Posted by Turk

I ask because I have a set of MazdaSpeed6 rear calipers ready to go on to the back. And am planning on keeping the handbrake cable. Planning something a little different for the front.

My 626 caliper pistons are the same size as MX6 pistons so theres no MC issue. Compare the stock and MS6 pistons and post. People use multi piston calipers with no issue though.

You'll need to come up with somthing to make the cables reach as they are apparently to short.

[2old2zoomzoom]

Originally Posted by ls six

ABS is external to the caliper so It dosnt matter.

I saw the same measurement for the MS6 rotors. The 9 comes with 18" wheels stock so I doubt the rotors are 17".

(Comment deleted because I wasn't in the best of moods when I posted....)

Mazda's own site...

MazdaUSA - Wireless Tour




Braking system Diagonal Hydraulic

Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) Standard with Electronic Braking Distribution (EBD)

Front brakes 2 piston caliper / 17" front ventilated disc rotor

Rear brakes 1 piston caliper & drum in disc / 17" ventilated disc rotor

Wheels 18 x 7.5J (Sport, Touring) / 20 x 7.5J (Grand Touring)

Tires P245/60R18 (Sport, Touring) / P245/50R20 (Grand ouring)

Temporary spare tire T155/90R18

Total Curb Weight w/AC (lbs) 4546 (AWD) / 4312 (FWD)

Total Gross Vehicle Weight (lbs) 6025 (AWD) / 5805 (FWD)