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Mazda6  (2003-2005)

Why Upgrade your Brakes?

Big brakes give your car greater resistance to fade by absorbing and shedding heat more efficiently.  Racers upgrade because stock brakes were designed for a single stop from high speed, not repeated slow-downs with little time in between to cool off.  For fade resistance, size really does matter.  On the street, fixed-mount, multi-piston calipers give a firmer pedal and quicker reaction time in panic stops.  As little as 0.2 second reduction in reaction time can translate into 21 feet of stopping distance at 70 mph.  Reaction time is not as important to racers who can compensate by braking earlier.  But on the street, in an unexpected stop, quicker reaction time can save your life.  You don't need to be a racer to benefit from brake upgrades.

If you track or autocross your car regularly, your stock brakes are probably not up to the task.  You can start off with better brake fluid, more aggressive brake pads, cooling ducts, and stainless braided brake lines.  But as you progress from novice to intermediate skill level and beyond, carrying more speed into the braking zones, your track events will become characterized by boiling brake fluid, sinking brake pedal, and pad fade.  Losing confidence in your brakes takes the fun out of a track event.  Big brake upgrades allow you to dive deeper into the braking zone and brake harder than you ever thought possible.

 

Big Brake Kits

StopTech big brake kits are designed to maintain optimum front to rear torque balance, resulting in the shortest possible stopping distance and total compatibility with ABS and modern electronic stability control systems.  The fixed-mount, multi-piston calipers give you a firmer pedal feel and a quicker reaction time in panic stops.  Every StopTech application is thoroughly track tested as part of the development process.  [Track testing write-up]

StopTech big brake kits are available with red or black calipers standard.  Silver, gold, blue or yellow calipers are available and add 30 days to the delivery date.  Silver is a no-cost upgrade.  Blue, yellow and gold add $200 per caliper pair.  Slotted rotors are standard.  Drilled rotors may be substituted for $100/pair.  Drilled rotors are for street use only and are not appropriate for the race track.

Coming soon!  We are an exclusive dealer for StopTech's exciting new Carbon Ceramic Brake System (CCBS).  Most StopTech 4-wheel brake kits may be optionally equipped with these exotic and lightweight carbon ceramic rotors.  Significantly lighter than cast iron, these rotors shave as much as 80 pounds of rotating weight from your brakes, dramatically improving your car's handling, acceleration and ride.  Better heat capacity, resistance to cracking and oxidation, and improved response in heavy rain than existing ceramic options, such as Porsche's PCCB system.  Not delicate and prone to chipping, like the 2009 Corvette ZR1 brakes.  Zeckhausen Racing has been conducting durability and usability testing for over a year, including track, street, and extreme winter conditions.  The system has performed beyond our expectations.  Carbon ceramic rotors will be available to the public by early 2009.  Call us for details.

Will your wheels clear a StopTech big brake kit?  Click here for a comprehensive set of wheel fitment templates and instructions for using them.

Replacement brake pads, rotors, and other hardware for your StopTech big brake kit.

To purchase a StopTech brake kit on-line, click here: and then enter the part number into the Product Finder box in the upper left corner of the page.  Or feel free to call us at (800)222-8893 for help selecting the proper kit for your needs.

Front 12.9" brake kit with ST-40 4-piston calipers, floating 328mm x 28mm AeroRotors, stainless steel braided brake lines, and Axxis ULT high performance street pads

$1995

83-549-4300

 

Premium Rotors

SportStop Rotors

Better than stock rotors!  Centric Premium rotors are identical in dimensions and internal vane design to the factory originals.  During assembly, rotors are straddle cut for the most accurate machining, then double disc ground for optimum parallelism, minimal runout, and near zero thickness variation.  A non-directional finish is applied for better initial pad bedding.  All surfaces, including the hat, are machined and non-swept surfaces are electrostatically coated with a durable, black finish (unless noted otherwise below) for corrosion protection and good looks.  Finally, all rotors are computer mill balanced to incredibly tight tolerances.  You won't find a better replacement rotor anywhere.  Click here for more details.  (Note: Centric is the parent company of StopTech and PowerSlot.  All StopTech SportStop and Power Slot rotors start as Centric Premium blanks and are machined in-house on computer controlled milling machines.)

StopTech SportStop rotors are available for many applications, offering all the advantages of Centric Premium rotors, with the addition of slotting and/or drilling.  Slotted rotors provide additional bite and maintain consistent friction level over the life of your pads.  These are ideal for aggressive street and even road racing applications.  Slotted and drilled rotors offer even more bite and stunning looks, but should be used on the street and not for racing.  If you prefer slotted or slotted and drilled rotors and there is no pricing listed below, send an inquiry to orders@zeckhausen.com and we can let you know if they are available.  Make sure you install them properly.  See: How to Properly Install Plain, Slotted or Drilled Rotors

To obtain more information about any rotor, you may click on the part number (if a link is present) to see more details, including rotor drawings, recommended replacement thickness, critical dimensions, and weight.  Note:  The term "floating" in the rotor description does not mean two-piece, floating rotor.  It is Centric's terminology for a rotor that can be removed without also removing the car's wheel bearings or hubs.

To order, click here: and then locate your vehicle along the left side of the on-line store page.  Or, feel free to call us at (800)222-8893 for help selecting the proper parts.

Front 282x25mm 1-piece vented rotors

Rear 280x10mm 1-piece solid rotors

$60 Each

$35 Each

120.45063

120.45064

Available slotted for $92 each (front) and $69 each (rear)

 

Stainless Steel Braided Brake Lines

Improve pedal feel by replacing stock rubber lines with stainless steel-braided Teflon® lines.  Stock lines expand under pressure, contributing to spongy pedal feel.  StopTech lines reduce pedal travel and firm up pedal feel, allowing precise brake modulation.  Useful for drivers who "heel-toe" downshift, providing a more stable platform from which to manipulate the throttle to match engine revs to transmission speed.

StopTech's lines are covered with stainless steel weave to provide support and protect from abrasion and impact.  The stainless braid is molded inside a layer of clear plastic to protect the lines from the environment and to protect your car's suspension and delicate sensor wires from the "hacksaw effect" possible with other steel-braided brake lines.  These lines are DOT compliant and may be legally used on the highway, unlike lines sold for "off-road use only."  StopTech lines have been tested and approved by the TÜV for sale in Germany.

100 percent tested!  Every StopTech line is tested at 4,500 psi before it is packed and shipped.  Most manufacturers perform no pressure testing.  Some test random samples from their assembly line or test to lower pressures.

When installing a front big brake kit, Zeckhausen Racing strongly recommends upgrading your rear brake lines.  4-wheel big brake kits come with front and rear steel braided lines, so no additional purchase is necessary.

Each brake line kit includes enough lines for both sides of your vehicle.  To order, click here: and then locate your vehicle along the left side of the on-line store page.  Or, feel free to call us at (800)222-8893 for help selecting the proper parts.

(Teflon® is a registered trademark of DuPont)

Stainless steel braided brake lines

F-$105

R-$73

950.45006

950.45504

 

Axxis High-Performance Brake Pads

If you want better brake pads for the street, consider Axxis.  Axxis pads are manufactured by Bendix Mintex (FMP Group Pty. Ltd.) in Australia.  Formerly marketed under the brand names PBR and Repco, they are now sold in the United States under the Axxis name.

Axxis Brake pad performance comparison charts

Instructions for bedding in new brake pads

To order, click here: and then locate your vehicle along the left side of the on-line store page.  Or, feel free to call us at (800)222-8893 for help selecting the proper parts.

Axxis Deluxe Advanced street pads (formerly called Deluxe Plus) are ideal if you are looking for a low dust pad that is quiet and rotor friendly, yet has enough fade resistance for performance cars.  These ceramic-enhanced organic pads work well up to 716 °F, similar to OEM pads.  Stop washing brake dust off your wheels every few days!  These are by far our most popular street pads.

F-$72

R-$41

63-213-0957

63-213-0332

Axxis ULT street pads pads (formerly called Axxis Ultimate) use a Kevlar® and ceramic formula for enhanced performance.  They produce maximum friction when cold, yet have tremendous fade resistance up to 932 °F. The coefficient of friction is high enough to produce a noticeable reduction in pedal effort. Fine for autocross or your first track event, assuming street tires and a low horsepower car.  This is Zeckhausen Racing's favorite high performance street pad.

Front pads not available

F-N/A

R-$50

 

63-223-0332

 

Performance, All-Season, and Winter Tires

Besides brakes, tires are the most important component in determining stopping distance.  It's literally where the rubber meets the road.  Selecting the right tire for your driving conditions can make a tremendous difference.  For example, if you live in Florida or southern California and are driving on all-season tires, you are leaving huge performance gains on the table!  A good set of summer-only performance tires can literally transform the handling and braking capabilities of your car.  In fact, if your goal is to minimize stopping distance, you're better off going to Tire Rack's web site and buying tires first, before spending any money here on better brakes!

For the best selection and prices, use the Tire Decision Guide by Tire Rack.  Select the appropriate model year, then click the Go button.  You'll be asked a couple of questions which will help narrow down your tire choices to the select few which most closely match your driving needs.  From Maximum Performance tires to All Season tires to Snow Tires, Tire Rack has it all.  The Tire Decision Guide takes the guesswork out of buying tires for your car.

The Tire Decision Guide

The Tire Rack- Driven by Performance

To order by phone or for technical assistance:

Call (800)222-8893 and press "1" for Sales

International customers may call: 973-761-5054

Hours of operation: Monday-Friday, 10AM - 5PM  (Eastern Time)

We are located in Fairfield, New Jersey

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Copyright © 2008 Zeckhausen Racing, LLC
Last modified: 09/28/08