Brake booster/master discussion
#1
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Brake booster/master discussion
So I have picked up some miata boosters and masters. Currently I have these (Stock 1.8 brakes):
Boosters:
NA/NB1 booster (lowest ratio)
NB2 non-sport (highest ratio)
Master:
7/8" NA/NB1
15/16" NB2 (didn't do anything with this, but I can try it on something if anyone is really interested)
1" Wilwood master
1" 929 master
After getting the 1" Wilwood and struggling with it on the NB1 booster(worked great on low grip tires, but got really difficult to threshold brake and do anything else with 205 NT-01s), I decided to pick up the others to try out new combinations:
-1" Wilwood is basically "plug & play" with the NB1 booster. The push rod is long enough to adjust into it just fine and the booster is sealed without the master, so there is no issues there. I have seen the 1" wilwood installed on some cars, but I have a hard time believing its using the NB1 booster without changing the pedal ratio or putting in larger calipers maybe...
-1" Wilwood was not so easy with NB2 booster. First the pushrod is much shorter on this booster, and I couldn't find pushrods anywhere online. I considered making one, but abandoned this due to a lack of properly sized acorn nuts (I may have found some on e-bay). Second problem is the NB2 booster is NOT sealed, so you have to figure that out. I think a gasket on the outside will work, but there is a stamped slit there that will need to be sealed independent of the gasket. The 1" wilwood's bore (on the outside, ie the part that fits into the booster) is too small to get an o-ring for it, but you maybe able to ghetto that... Has anyone gotten this combination to work?
-1" 929 master works for the most part on our car with the NB2 master. only issue I noticed is the front port is normally expecting a banjo bolt, but my brake line was a flare nut type. I didn't realize this wouldn't work well until I took a look in there and noticed the port is flared in the opposite direction (so the port looks like < and the flare nut looks like ">", but smaller). Tightening this down a lot seemed to stop any leak, but will that hold? is there a particular flare typethat works better (I think the ISO bubble might...) ? If so, did you buy the line or have to flare it yourself?
If anyone has suggestions/comments, please share. Also, share your experience with different combinations that worked well. I know a lot of people like the sport combo (middle booster + 15/16" master), but I figured that was due to simplicity more so than anything.
Boosters:
NA/NB1 booster (lowest ratio)
NB2 non-sport (highest ratio)
Master:
7/8" NA/NB1
15/16" NB2 (didn't do anything with this, but I can try it on something if anyone is really interested)
1" Wilwood master
1" 929 master
After getting the 1" Wilwood and struggling with it on the NB1 booster(worked great on low grip tires, but got really difficult to threshold brake and do anything else with 205 NT-01s), I decided to pick up the others to try out new combinations:
-1" Wilwood is basically "plug & play" with the NB1 booster. The push rod is long enough to adjust into it just fine and the booster is sealed without the master, so there is no issues there. I have seen the 1" wilwood installed on some cars, but I have a hard time believing its using the NB1 booster without changing the pedal ratio or putting in larger calipers maybe...
-1" Wilwood was not so easy with NB2 booster. First the pushrod is much shorter on this booster, and I couldn't find pushrods anywhere online. I considered making one, but abandoned this due to a lack of properly sized acorn nuts (I may have found some on e-bay). Second problem is the NB2 booster is NOT sealed, so you have to figure that out. I think a gasket on the outside will work, but there is a stamped slit there that will need to be sealed independent of the gasket. The 1" wilwood's bore (on the outside, ie the part that fits into the booster) is too small to get an o-ring for it, but you maybe able to ghetto that... Has anyone gotten this combination to work?
-1" 929 master works for the most part on our car with the NB2 master. only issue I noticed is the front port is normally expecting a banjo bolt, but my brake line was a flare nut type. I didn't realize this wouldn't work well until I took a look in there and noticed the port is flared in the opposite direction (so the port looks like < and the flare nut looks like ">", but smaller). Tightening this down a lot seemed to stop any leak, but will that hold? is there a particular flare typethat works better (I think the ISO bubble might...) ? If so, did you buy the line or have to flare it yourself?
If anyone has suggestions/comments, please share. Also, share your experience with different combinations that worked well. I know a lot of people like the sport combo (middle booster + 15/16" master), but I figured that was due to simplicity more so than anything.
#3
I'm going with the 929 master -- have one sitting on the bench.
Mazda sells the banjo adapter, part # towards the end of this thread:
Some interesting brake information (tech!) - Page 6 - MX-5 Miata Forum
It also shouldn't be too hard to get from a junkyard.
--Ian
Mazda sells the banjo adapter, part # towards the end of this thread:
Some interesting brake information (tech!) - Page 6 - MX-5 Miata Forum
It also shouldn't be too hard to get from a junkyard.
--Ian
#4
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Thanks for the help Codrus. I tested out the 929 master at CMP this weekend. It worked great, but as I suspected the larger booster maybe a bit too much for 205 NT-01s.
anyone have suggestions for sealing the NB2 booster with a 1" wilwood master cylinder?
anyone have suggestions for sealing the NB2 booster with a 1" wilwood master cylinder?
#5
#6
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no, not really. The bracket is only for mounting it on the booster. Sealing the booster is different. If you look at the 929 booster, it has an o-ring on the section that fits into the booster. That seals it so you don't have a vacuum leak:
The wilwood 1" can't do that, because the section that would have the o-ring is not large enough for the 01+ boosters. The NA/NB1 booster works fine because its sealed without the master. Look at these two pictures, you can see inside the NB2 booster, while the NB1 has some kind of crimped/stamped piece.
NA/NB1:
NB2:
The wilwood 1" can't do that, because the section that would have the o-ring is not large enough for the 01+ boosters. The NA/NB1 booster works fine because its sealed without the master. Look at these two pictures, you can see inside the NB2 booster, while the NB1 has some kind of crimped/stamped piece.
NA/NB1:
NB2:
#10
I run the 1" willwood master with the nb1 booster. I also run sport brake fronts and 1.8 rears. XP10 front / xp8 rears.
I like the pedal throw and feel quite a bit, very firm. Granted I don't run as sticky of tires as you do (rivals vs your nt01's) so I haven't noticed hte issues you site with the sticker rubber and grabbier pedal.
My guess is that the sort front brake piston surface area helps tame the nb1/1" master feel down a bit making modulation easier. Just a thought.
I like the pedal throw and feel quite a bit, very firm. Granted I don't run as sticky of tires as you do (rivals vs your nt01's) so I haven't noticed hte issues you site with the sticker rubber and grabbier pedal.
My guess is that the sort front brake piston surface area helps tame the nb1/1" master feel down a bit making modulation easier. Just a thought.
#11
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well there is two things different (I ran the 1" wilwood on my 205 AD08s and it worked great, so I second that):
1) I have the non-sport calipers, so my caliper area is smaller (making the pedal firmer)
2) I am currently running xp8s which are really out matched by the NT01s. Higher fricition coefficient will require less line pressure for the same stopping force.
I do agree though, I am planning around with less than ideal setups. I think the 1" wilwood with the NB1 booster will be what I finally stick with. I am shopping pads right now and forcing myself to try a new brand as I have been using carbotechs for a long time now. DTC-60s are on the list, possibly HT-10s or PFC01.
I do think its worth while to figure out if there is a clean way to mount the wilwood on the NB2 boosters. Its nicer overall and the bleed screws are easier to get at. The 929 has something there, but I am not sure how to use it. I may put something together, but probably not in the near future.
I found the 929 master w/ larger booster to be pretty amazing too. I will revisit that setup in the future when I move up to a gripper tire.
1) I have the non-sport calipers, so my caliper area is smaller (making the pedal firmer)
2) I am currently running xp8s which are really out matched by the NT01s. Higher fricition coefficient will require less line pressure for the same stopping force.
I do agree though, I am planning around with less than ideal setups. I think the 1" wilwood with the NB1 booster will be what I finally stick with. I am shopping pads right now and forcing myself to try a new brand as I have been using carbotechs for a long time now. DTC-60s are on the list, possibly HT-10s or PFC01.
I do think its worth while to figure out if there is a clean way to mount the wilwood on the NB2 boosters. Its nicer overall and the bleed screws are easier to get at. The 929 has something there, but I am not sure how to use it. I may put something together, but probably not in the near future.
I found the 929 master w/ larger booster to be pretty amazing too. I will revisit that setup in the future when I move up to a gripper tire.
#12
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Btw, forgot to respond to this. e-mailed emilio about it and his answer was "we did it". No details on how really.
In any case, I settled on the Wilwood with the NB1 booster. The ratio is VERY comfortable with DTC-60s on NT-01s. To add, the pedal is at the right height to be even with the gas pedal at/near threshold braking. I drove a buddies 94 miata with stock brakes and XP8s and wondered how I ever heel-toed with that.
In generally, I highly recommend moving to a 1" master cylinder for track driving.
In any case, I settled on the Wilwood with the NB1 booster. The ratio is VERY comfortable with DTC-60s on NT-01s. To add, the pedal is at the right height to be even with the gas pedal at/near threshold braking. I drove a buddies 94 miata with stock brakes and XP8s and wondered how I ever heel-toed with that.
In generally, I highly recommend moving to a 1" master cylinder for track driving.
#13
I went with the 929 master on MSM booster. The dual banjo "N069-43-800" is no longer available. I double stacked the stock Miata banjo fitting and used a longer banjo bolt that was made for doubles. This ended up working better for the brake lines anyway as I now had more options to set the line position.
#14
Are either of you using a non-ABS 929 master with 3 outlets? Raybestos/Dorman claim to have a non-ABS version, but says it still has 2 outlets, so I'm somewhat confused.
#15
Are either of you using a non-ABS 929 master with 3 outlets? Raybestos/Dorman claim to have a non-ABS version, but says it still has 2 outlets, so I'm somewhat confused.
If you want to run it with a non-ABS setup, probably the easiest approach is to put in a tee. FM sells them.
Flyin' Miata : Chassis : Brakes : Metric brake tee
--Ian