Miata Mailing List: March 1998, Message #121

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Feeling rushed to install pads for yesterday's Malibu Part Deux, I
installed Bendix Semi-Metallic pads in the front of Satori on friday.
The install took a lot longer than it should have because I was reading
the directions.  The toughest part is busting the lug nuts loose, but
that's nothing a 3' breaker bar can't handle with ease.

As far as the pads go, I guess I can't complain. They were $18 bucks and
change. :-)
I led the 'aggressive/twisty addict' group, and I think EVERYONE could
smell the brakes!  I had broken them in with about 50 quick near-stops,
and normal driving for 140 miles, city, freeway, and stop and go
traffic.

 They stop fine, I never locked a tire all day saturday while walking
away from the group following me. What I don't like is that there is a
lot of pedal travel before they really grab. They don't pull, and to
stop myself from rolling while at an intersection, I have push the pedal
down say 1/2". Under extreme conditions the travel is at least twice as
far. This phenomenon happened with the stock pads too.  I let my brother
drive the car to the store a month or two back and the first thing he
said was, "You're brakes used to be right on top of the pedal, you must
drive the hell out of your car!"  Well I guess sometimes I do, but don't
we all? What can I do to get the brakes to engage quicker?  I've flushed
my fluid recently as well, and still have OEM rear pads.  As far as I
know, the rear brakes have never been adjusted, and the car fails the
e-brake test...its about 8-9 clicks before the brakes grab.  If so is it
a 4 mm hex wrench? Is that the same size as one of the RB front braces?
(I hope)

So far overall for the pads I have to say getting Semi Metallics for $18
makes it hard to say anything bad, lifetime warranty too, so if you're a
mellow driver that wants the benefits of Semi-M pads, give them a
try....they have to be as good as Raybestos or Napa.  For you lunatics
out there (You know who you are!) I can't recommend them, yet.  They do
fade. Yesterday was beautiful, but the roads were still dirty in some
places, and a gushing spring in others....not the best conditions for
maximum braking, and after rotating my tires as well, I felt the rear
end wanting to become unhinged often under braking...not unusual with
patchy asphalt and banked 2nd gear turns.

Jason and Satori
Riverside, Ca