Best Brake Upgrade Option

Kris H · 4-10-07, 4:38

G'day,

I'm just about to need to replace the pads in my 2G, however I've been less than thrilled with the performance of the standard brakes so I'm looking for a bit of an upgrade. Theres been a few different ones posted on here, however all the cars seem to have aftermarket rims but I'm stuck with standard.

I'm operating off a students budget which will more or less rule out brand new aftermarket parts for me. Also my car is stock standard, meaning the 15in wheels may well limit what I can do. I'm in Aus by the way.

What options exist to upgrade the brakes (looking at calipers and rotors) with the standard rims still on?

Which brakes would be best to go for (i.e. what model & year of car should be hunting through the wreckers for)?

Would aftermarket really be that much better?

Any thoughts and experience people have would be much appreciated.

Cheers

**Malicious** · 4-10-07, 8:07

Forget about the calipers and larger rotors. There are no good junkyard solutions and anything aftermarket fails the budget portion of your requirements.

Service your calipers and replace them if they are seized up. Lube the pins and check the condition of the rubber boots. Hit them with a wire brush and some brake cleaner then give them a coat of high-temp paint.

Buy a new set of good name blank rotors (Brembo). Forget the cross-drilled and slotted BS. Get a good set of street pads (Hawk HPS) to go with these. Replace your stock rubber lines with a set of stainless steel braided lines. Buy a good DOT4 fluid and flush the whole system out. Bleed your brakes and enjoy.

**ragincanadian4** · 4-10-07, 8:29

In your case, I agree with Malicious.

**Car-InsanE** · 4-10-07, 8:47

Well actually, on Probetalk, a guy made Honda S2000 Disk Brakes work. Almost basically direct fit, he just did a small grind on the caliper, no big deal. After that, just put on Hawk performace pads.

Hoped i helped.

**josey_gt** · 4-10-07, 9:09

how would steel brake lines help? out of curiosity...

**Malicious** · 4-10-07, 9:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by josey_gt

how would steel brake lines help? out of curiosity...

Rubber lines flex, steel doesn't = better pedal feel

**josey_gt** · 4-10-07, 9:38

ohh.. makes sense.. thanks `=D

Kris H · 4-10-07, 16:40

Cheers, that sounds like good advice. I'll have look into the S2000 possibility but otherwise I'll just try and sort out what I've got.

I've seen the Protege5 modification for the rear calipers, to prevent seizing, but is that the best option, or should I try and find series 2 calipers which supposedly fix the problem?

Thanks

**Turk** · 4-10-07, 18:23

Dont fix the problem unless it occurs, for all you know it might of already been fixed. For brakes I got DBA slotted and EBC greenstuff pads and love em, (wish I had gotten EBC's for the rears aswell though). Ild recomend for you as well.

Seeing as your in Sydney, Welcome to Race Brakes Sydney . By far the cheapest you can get disks and pads. While your there go one up from the EBC's and get the yellowstuffs. Dont worry about braided hoses, more money than what there worth on stock calipers. And you will find that the brake hoses available to the US guys are not street legal here. I found someone who does them here but $$$$$$.

Kris H · 4-10-07, 18:46

Cheers Turk, I'll look into that as well.

**I4MX6** · 4-10-07, 19:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malicious

Buy a new set of good name blank rotors (Brembo). Forget the cross-drilled and slotted BS. Get a good set of street pads (Hawk HPS) to go with these. Replace your stock rubber lines with a set of stainless steel braided lines. Buy a good DOT4 fluid and flush the whole system out. Bleed your brakes and enjoy.

This is exactly what I'm running.

- Brembo Blank Rotors
- Hawk HPS Pads
- Goodridge Stainless Lines
- Motul RBF600 DOT4 Racing Brake Fluid.

Didn't break the bank to do it and it looks and feels great.

The Protege calipers do help a lot, but will seize if under heavy stress and are not looked after. One of mine seized this year because of heavy braking at the track last year. If you get them lubed up every few months you'll never have that problem.

**Turk** · 4-10-07, 19:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kris H

Cheers Turk, I'll look into that as well.

Sweet as man. Like the other guys were saying, the Hawk pads are very good as well, but the EBC's are just easier to find in Sydney, and they are bright green and look frieken ausome.