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dave2010GT
01-11-2013, 05:13 PM
Hi All

So I've been meaning to write this for about a month but haven't been able to find the time up until now.

So around February / March of 2012 I was approaching 80K+ on my car and I knew that my breaks were going to need replacing the closer I got to 90K. Now I ended replacing my OEM breaks at 93K so let me start this story off by saying I was very happy with my OEM brakes and their performance, I also changed my driving style as I've gotten older and not riding my breaks so hard, as the first set of breaks on my 04 when I got it only lasted 45K.

Any way back on point, so in February knowing my brakes had to be done I called Mazda. Now before I picked up the phone I knew $1000 in that ball park was what I needed to spend and I was comfortable with that. I spoke to Mazda and let me just begin by saying I was beyond floored when they told me the pricing to get all of my brakes replaced with OEM ones.

The total came in between $1300 & $1400 to get my brakes done!!!!! I politely said thank you to the tech and hung up the phone immediately releasing a very sarcastic WTF ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!!!!! I knew at that point that for a grand I should be able to get a very good if not excellent aftermarket brake package that's superior to OEM.

So my my trolling of the brakes and suspension forum section began and let me send a thank you shout out to the members and sponsors who helped me with all of my questions you know you who are thank you very much.

I ended up settling on DBA 4000 slotted rotors and HPS pads, I have also decided to get S/S brake lines with Dot 4 fluid in the spring. Went to street performance and them installed by Jimmy and everything was cery close the budgeted number I had in mind and I believe the system I now have is superior to that of OEM. Especially once the S/S lines are installed.

Now on to the actual breaking review, it's definetly a different feel from OEM. OEM brakes seemed to have that initial bite when you press the break but this system seems to have more of a gradual bite to it but when you apply more pressure to the brakes the car stops dead no questions asked!!!!! I can say it took a day or two to get used to it (Jimmy handled all the bedding and such so I was good to go) but just judging stopping distances and such took a day. I have used these breaks in the snow and rain and boy what an unbelievable feeling when these babies bite.

Overall I couldn't be happier, I'm very excited to see what improvements the S/S lines will do but for people who are looking at brake replacements upgrade this package for the price has been absolutely outstanding!

Jackal
01-11-2013, 05:29 PM
Thanks for the review Dave. I'll consider these rotors when I have to change the brakes. I do use the HPS pads and they're just as good as the OEM imo.

Punkrockjohn
01-11-2013, 07:24 PM
Thanks for the review Dave. I'll consider these rotors when I have to change the brakes. I do use the HPS pads and they're just as good as the OEM imo.

+1

Cab0oze
01-11-2013, 10:10 PM
I didn't want HPS pads again due to their lack of initial bite, but I got them for free when I bought my dba rotors from garage16 lol >.< Going on this spring...