Miata Mailing List: October 1995, Message #145
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   From: MikeLowe93@aol.com
Subject: Miata Brake Pads and Mufflers
   Date: Wed, 4 Oct 1995 21:13:04 -0400

     At least 20 people have asked me to summarize the info I've received
about these items.  So, if you're a team.netter reading this and don't give a
rat's a$$ about Miatas, skip to the next message.  My crude AOL software
won't let me save messages to forward to those inquiring people, so I have to
do it this way.

OK...

Mufflers:  First of all, to all of you who (mostly) politely told me that
Alan Dahl drives Joe Goeke's Miata, well I he DOES have his own '90 Miata, so
thhtthhbbt  (Bill the Cat Raspberry).  :-)
I've heard about Jackson Racing, Leistritz, Borla, Genie, and Supertrapp.
 I'm leaning towards the Borla but I still need info about the Jackson Racing
one.  I won't be buying for a while anyway since I REALLY need to pay off my
credit card after Topeka.  The Genie costs well over $400.  No Way!  I'm
so-so towards the Supertrapp since I've never liked the sound they make with
small motors.  They also need to be custom-mounted by muffler shop people.
 The Borla is bolt-in and made of good alloy stainless steel.  Enough
rambling about this...

Brakes:  I had to make a decision quickly about this since I KNOW the next
race at Texas A&M this Sunday!, Sunday!!, Sunday!!! will be a high speed and
heavy braking event.  We have a quarter mile strait and then a left turn at
A&M where I go from 80 to 30.  I really think the event master will use it.
 Hard on brakes.  
     I won't consider OEM pads since they are NOT OK for my driving.  My
first set was glazed hard with half the material left.  That was even before
I did track events.  I've done my hardest driving trying to catch up in TSD
rallies after getting lost.  I mean 120 to 0 mph stops folks.  Scary pad feel
after a few of those.  They didn't hold up well to several fun runs in >100
degree heat either.  The Rod Millen Pads I have now work OK but they could be
better.  They were expensive too, so they're out of the picture.  
  Quite a few people said that Repcos and Performance friction pads are
great.  An equal number said they suck.  Hmmmph.  I was advised to avoid Hawk
pads (rotor munching).  That left the Porterfield pads sold by Dealer
Alternative.  The owner of the place sent me email.  We also spoke over the
phone.  I was a bit wary at first since it's his livelihood to sell stuff
like the pads.  Then I realized that he and I both know that if the pads
suck, two mailing lists will find out about it.  I decided to try out the
pads.  I got the front pads for $65 plus shipping.  I'll get the rears later
this year after paying off Nationals.  We'll see what happens.  You can call
Bill Cardell at 1-800-FLY-MX5s.  By the way, my local dealer here in Tyler
wanted $97 for OEM front pads.  Dude, pass that doobie around!  ;-)

If you have any other questions, drop me a message.  Don't expect a quick
response though since I'll be doing a LOT of AutoCAD work soon.  Release 13
of ACAD is cool, but not after 8 hours straight.  :-[


Later...


Mike Lowe
'90 Miata