Mixmasta

i went on a drive the other day with some buddies. we took country roads so we could go fast and hit the turns. I didnt even think i was riding the brakes all that much, for the most part i would down shift to slow down.

then around one corner i could have the brake peddle all the way to the floor and still not slowing down enough.

i have brembo rotors with stock calipers and napa high performance pads..

is there anything i can do to help?

bubblebrain

pads are probably glazed...

Mixmasta

so should i get new pads?

id say these ones have about 7mm left on them, they're fairly new.

DCSportEJ1Civic

if the rotors are drilled or slotted it can allow hot air to get between the pad and rotor and not let them make contact.

JDM Lyfestyle

Does it still do that or has it stopped now?
Pull the pads if theyre glazed you could try scuffing the surface of them with some rough sandpaper to take it off..

DCSportEJ1Civic

search for a user named brakeexpert or something like that. i forget exactly. but he could tell you exactly why this is happening. he is pretty much a brake expert.

TheJGB3

Sounds like brake fade to me.

ejprimo

you probably boiled your brake fluid thats why the pedal was almost to the floor. have you ever changed your brake fluid?

i would keep the pads and change your brake fluid to something like ATE superblue.

Mixmasta

it only does it under really harsh driving. So i think i need to flush my brake fluid.

TheJGB3, what exactly is brake fade.. we learned about it some in class but not much since its not a performance class haha, cause normal people dont drive like i was.

1992Si

Brake fade is when the brakes get real hot they don't work as well.

That's why the after market has so many choices for brakes.

Read up and then ask questions.

Mixmasta

where can i get that ATE Superblue fluid?

edit:

let me rephrase.. i know i can buy it online, but what local stores would carry it?


Modified by Mixmasta at 6:15 PM 4/18/2008

EcivicG

yea get better brake fluid and bleed the brakes.

ejprimo

i dont where to buy it locally as i usually buy it online.

its on sale for $10/L here:
http://www.turnermotorsport.co...ATESB

blk92_d16

If your "newer" brake pads are glazed over...rough them up with 120 grit sandpaper.

hoo my gosh

when you bleed your brakes, guess what, your pedal sinks too. pedal sinking means brake fluid.

i'd invest in some motul rbf 600 or ate super blue brake fluid and some steel braided lines.

so why's everyone saying glazed pads?

B serious

iTrader: (1)

could be a number of things. Glazed pads, bad (old ***) fluid, or just over worked brakes.

The brembo drilled/slotted rotors probably dont do much for your braking performance. They have very little surface area. Significantly less than stock since they are slotted and drilled. You dont need all that. I bought those rotors a long time ago just because they were cheap. I set them on fire the same night....and it wasn't even on a track. I've set a lot of brakes on fire, however. On track and off.

What year is your civic? What model? Pads make a huge difference. Fluid makes a good amount of difference. The right brake package all put together makes the biggest difference (obviously).

mechanix619

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mixmasta &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i went on a drive the other day with some buddies. we took country roads so we could go fast and hit the turns. I didnt even think i was riding the brakes all that much, for the most part i would down shift to slow down.

then around one corner i could have the brake peddle all the way to the floor and still not slowing down enough.

i have brembo rotors with stock calipers and napa high performance pads..

is there anything i can do to help?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Just because you upgraded the rotors and have better than stock pads doesn't mean you can stop on a dime. Did you upgrade to steel brake lines? That right there will make a huge improvement.

Mixmasta

i didnt think the brembo rotors would make a big difference, i just figured the drilled and slotted design would help to disperse the heat a little better.

to be honest i think its my break fluid mostly, it wouldnt surprise me if its a few years old cause the guy i bought the car from didnt seem to mechanically inclined.. haha.

so what pads do you guys recommend?


<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by B serious &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
What year is your civic? What model? Pads make a huge difference. Fluid makes a good amount of difference. The right brake package all put together makes the biggest difference (obviously).

</TD></TR></TABLE>


I have a 93 civic CX hatch.

B serious

iTrader: (1)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mixmasta &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i didnt think the brembo rotors would make a big difference, i just figured the drilled and slotted design would help to disperse the heat a little better.

to be honest i think its my break fluid mostly, it wouldnt surprise me if its a few years old cause the guy i bought the car from didnt seem to mechanically inclined.. haha.

so what pads do you guys recommend?

I have a 93 civic CX hatch.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

Ditch the CX brakes. Go to the junkyard, find a 94-01 integra or 94 EX with ABS (I think only the 94s came with the ABS option). Get the brakes, get the right proportioning valve that will fit your car, get the lines, E-brake cables, everything. That whole setup may cost you a little over the cost of your brembo rotors. I've gotten the whole thing for $50....but a realistic price is around $150ish.

You can use fairly mild pads with that setup....if you still have the stock CX motor. Mild pads mean less dust and less rotor wear. EBC greenstuffs are nice. I would recommend Hawk SP...they're great brakes..but WAAAAY too much dust for my taste.

Go to a track. Dont do too much of this stuff on the streets...it doesn't even compare with going to a track. Plus it's dangerous, and there's a slower learning curve than on a track.

GO TO A TRACK.