# DIY Brake Upgrade w/ STILLEN Pads and Rotors **By Nathan Fette** · 2018-05-31 # **Project NA Miata Gets STILLEN Pads and Rotors** **![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0144/4275/8230/files/STILLEN_Project_Miata_Exedy_Clutch_STILLEN_BRakes-3-700x536.jpg?v=1782148663)** At [STILLEN](https://stillen.com), we are primarily known for Nissan and Infiniti performance parts -- but did you know we offer performance brake upgrades for virtually every make and model? That is right. Whether you are driving a 1985 Ford Escort, a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 with factory four-wheel discs, a 2017 Nissan 370Z, or a first-year NA6 Mazda Miata, STILLEN has performance brake solutions for your vehicle. That last example is our current project car: a street-friendly daily driver NA6 Miata that we wanted to improve without ruining its lightweight, fuel-efficient character. For as long as STILLEN has been around, we have been building high-performance brakes, and the STILLEN line of brake pads and rotors has developed a loyal following among performance enthusiasts who know what they are looking for. The goal here is always the same: improve the car without making it uncomfortable or impractical for everyday use. ![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0144/4275/8230/files/STILLEN_Project_Miata_Exedy_Clutch_STILLEN_BRakes-2-700x525.jpg?v=1782148663) ### **Why Upgrade the NA6 Miata Brakes?** Like most older cars, the NA6 Miata's factory brake setup is on the small side by modern standards. The replacement rotors and pads that were already on the car when we received it were adequate for basic street use, but left something to be desired in terms of bite, feel, and overall braking performance. While the Miata was already out of service for a clutch replacement, we took the opportunity to swap the brakes as well. ### **Choosing the Right Performance Brake Pads: STILLEN Metal Matrix** Since we are not making any significant power modifications to the Miata at this stage, we went with a set of [STILLEN Metal Matrix Brake Pads](https://stillen.com/collections/brake-pads). The Metal Matrix compound offers an excellent balance of improved stopping power, low brake dust output, and reasonable pricing, making them one of the best street performance brake pad options available. These are not race-specific pads -- they are more of an "OEM plus" upgrade, offering a meaningful improvement over the factory friction material in a pad that still works well in everyday street driving conditions.[](https://stillen.com/catalog/product/view/id/86956/s/stillen-1990-1993-mazda-miata-rear-cross-drilled-1-piece-sport-rotors-set-of-2-maz2001/category/1304/) ### **Choosing the Right Performance Rotors: STILLEN BrakePros** For the rotors on this daily-driven Miata, we went with blank [STILLEN brake rotors](https://stillen.com/collections/brake-rotors/stillen?t=1782148381266). These are not standard replacement rotors -- STILLEN BrakePros rotors use a higher carbon content and superior raw materials, which improves heat dissipation compared to budget replacement options. Better heat management means reduced brake fade, more consistent pedal feel, and longer service life. While cross-drilled, slotted, or combination-machined rotors offer an additional performance benefit through improved gas and heat venting, even the blank BrakePros rotors outperform the typical cheap replacement rotor due to their material composition and tighter machining tolerances. ![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0144/4275/8230/files/STILLEN_Project_Miata_Exedy_Clutch_STILLEN_BRakes-20-700x525.jpg?v=1782148663) ### **The Install: Front Brakes** The OEM heat shields on the NA6 Miata feature a clever divot that routes cool air directly into the center of the front rotors -- a nice design touch that we were careful to preserve. The front brake installation itself went quickly. Honestly, jacking the car up, setting it on stands, and removing the wheels took more time than the actual front brake swap did. ![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0144/4275/8230/files/STILLEN_Project_Miata_Exedy_Clutch_STILLEN_BRakes-18-700x510.jpg?v=1782148663) ### **The Install: Rear Brakes** The rear brakes required a bit more patience. The most important tip here: you need to remove the 10mm concealment plug adjacent to the park brake bracket bolt to allow the calipers to release and the old rear pads to come out cleanly. Additionally, the rear caliper pistons on the NA6 Miata must be rotated clockwise back into their bore during reinstall -- a common design on rear disc setups that require the caliper to also serve as the parking brake actuator. Do not try to push the rear pistons straight back as you would on front calipers, or you will be fighting the job unnecessarily. ![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0144/4275/8230/files/STILLEN_Project_Miata_Exedy_Clutch_STILLEN_BRakes-7-2-700x525.jpg?v=1782148663) ### **Results and First Impressions** After bedding in the new pads and rotors with several moderate stops and two or three harder stops, the improvement over the previous pads was immediately noticeable. Braking performance is smoother, stronger, and quieter -- the STILLEN pads and rotors delivered exactly what they were designed to do. STILLEN offers performance brake components for nearly every vehicle on the road, available in plain, cross-drilled, slotted, or combination drilled-and-slotted configurations. Whether you drive a classic sports car, a JDM import, a daily driver, or a track-focused build, odds are we have a brake solution for your application. Give us a call at (866) 250-5542, chat live at [STILLEN.com](https://stillen.com), or stop by the showroom during regular business hours. **Tags:** Brake Pads, Brake Rotors, Brakes, DIY --- > Source: [STILLEN](https://stillen.com/blogs/news/diy-brake-upgrade-w-stillen-pads-and-rotors)