VR4 Galant brake Upgrade For BF 323

xtech

Found this on a website think some fellas here would be interested.

Introduction

The Mazda 323GTX came with four wheel disk brakes from the factory, but even these can be improved. Many car owners have noticed brake fade or warped rotors after repeated high speed stops. This is do to the small size of the stock rotor and it's inability to dissipate heat. Another problem area that can be corrected with this brake upgrade is the the rotor placement. The stock location puts the rotor behind the hub, making replacing stock rotors an all day event.

A common, and well documented, upgrade for the GTX is to replace the stock rotors with factory rotors from the 1989 Mitsubishi Gallant VR4. This is commonly known as the VR4 Brake Upgrade. This is a simple bolt on upgrade with minor grinding work needed and some unconventional uses of the press. The rotors needed are the 266mm diameter versions. The Gallant also used a 256mm and a 276mm rotor, make sure you get the right rotor.

In order to mount the rotors on the outside of the hubs, the wheel studs also need to be replaced. I am using longer RX-7 wheel studs. The rear wheel studs from the 87-93 Mazda B2200 can also be used.

IMPORTANT! I am told the RX-7 studs do not work on stock wheels, the shoulder is too long, and you will run out of thread when you tighten your lugs.

You will also need to replace the calipers. The swap was first done using front calipers from the 90-94 Familia GTX, sourced from overseas. Since these are not easy to come by, we have determined that the US Protege/Escort GT/MX3 use the same calipers. As it turns out, any bone stock '95+ Ford Escort Wagon or Coupe calipers may be used. Just look for the numbers 22V / 14 stamped on the caliper body. I am using calipers removed from a Ford Escort wagon. Some calipers I was looking to grab were actually stamped 22V / 13. Be sure to look. Your stock brake lines can be modified to work, or you can replace them with Ford units.

The way Mazda should have done it, and the way it should look when you complete the 'VR-4 Brake Upgrade'.

It's easy to see the difference with a side by side comparison. There is a lot more material (and weight) on the VR-4 rotor.

The junkyard calipers after some cleaning and a coat of laquer. The rebuild kits can take some time to order.

The only part that is not a direct bolt on is the rotor. You will need to grind about a 1/4" off the ends of the hub ears. This modification is required to allow the rotor to sit flat on the hub surface. There is a lip on the inside surface of the rotor that you may not notice this if you simply slide the rotor over the hub.

The 'ears' on the stock GTX hubs need to be ground down to fit inside the rotor. A 1/4" is removed from each 'ear'.

xtech · Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 5:51 pm Post subject:

Results

Coming Soon, I hope

xtech · Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 12:11 pm Post subject:

anybody tried this?

Big Z · Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 12:37 pm Post subject:

Was almost there... had the calipers in hand..
Sold me car Sad

xtech · Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 7:27 am Post subject:

ok i got calipers an rotors in d bamboo Saturday after 30 mins of searching................. now to the grinder

Big Z · Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 8:48 am Post subject:

http://forums.trinituner.co...&postorder=asc&&start=940

Good stuff dude. Hope all goes well.

xtech · Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 10:08 am Post subject:

u guys tried before..............so did it work?

Big Z · Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 12:11 pm Post subject:

Didnt try it bro.. had some spare BF hubs (normal hubs eh.. not the turbo GTX hubs which are bigger) and the BG calipers.
Like I said before, the normal hubs do not allow as large a diameter rotor as the GTX hubs.
Didnt have the VR4 rotors nor the RX7 studs.

xtech · Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 1:01 pm Post subject:

well I got the gtx hubs long time now think I got to install gtx power steering rack as well don't know how true but I will soon find out

xtech · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 12:10 pm Post subject:

hey i did it.............

but i did not re-use the laser hubs............
i used 323f hubs an had to change the lower ball joint an widen the one hole to fit laser shocks.

wuks good plenty brakes no fade at all

oh i did not use the VR-4 rotors it has been confirmed that the website stated the wrong rotors. These calipers can only be used on the rotors of the same generation galant not the VR-4

ghostbusters · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 5:15 pm Post subject:

congrats man, u should start a thread on the mazda forum and document the procedure

MAZTUNE · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 6:48 pm Post subject:

yea this upgrade decent but it brings out d offset of the wheel so you need to change the offset of the rims u are running now. also 10.2 GTX 4WD hubs cannot work FWD you need to get FWD hubs. the reason is the 4WD steering rack is higher to clear the transfer case. so the angle of the hubs are high. so try to put it on FWD when the car goes over a bump the whole front sways like bad steering ends and ball joints. its drive off d road business. you have to get your hands onBF 323GT hubs FWD. they are 10.2 but the correct angle. and very hard to find. soo back to the VR-4 upgrade lol.

TurboDrive · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 8:16 pm Post subject:

^^^ True. I can attest to that Mad

.

MAZTUNE · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 8:18 pm Post subject:

yea boy and d laser hatch too lol

xtech · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 9:46 pm Post subject:

The swap was done using front rotors and spindles from the 94 BH Familia V6 found these at Mahadeos in bamboo...........only pair .
An it was there because the axle was stuck in the left side hub an nobody could get it out....so nobody wanted it.

I just wanted the calipers but ended up taking everything but only paid for one since d other was "hopelessly lost" cause d axle stick an not coming out

...machine shop saw to that.... Laughing

I do get that bad steer you talking bout felt it over bumps but the alinement guy said need longer tie rods to fix that an new bushings...really starting to show. Feeling the cradle going back an forth now