43MA

i'll just give you a little run down on my current setup on EG SI hatch
-00 si 10.3 brake swap
-stock si rear disc
-Hawk HP+ pads up front, stock in the rear

when i performed the 10.3 swap up front i immediately noticed more brake pedal travel. it was quite obvious that the stock 13/16th mc was too small and could not produce enough capacity for the upgraded calipers. i would say there would be about 2in of free play before the brakes would actually grab. once the brakes would grab the pedal feel was still spongee. it basically felt like i had two clutch pedals. the car would still stop but didn't inspire confidence to say the least. on a side note the brakes were properly bled to ensure no air in the system.

Ordered a 1991 HONDA CIVIC EX FOUR DOOR 15/16th MC that was posted here earlier.

Install was a straight up RE/RE. took about 30-45 min including bleeding.

upon test drive, first thing i noticed was the 2in of freeplay before intial bite was gone. pedal feel had firmed up tremendously. it felt like stock again.

several things i noticed were i did loose braking force. it now takes more PRESSURE for the same amount of braking force then before. Modulation is a lot easier now because there is less pedal travel.

OVERALL i feel there was a trade off between less pedal TRAVEL for more pedal PRESSURE for the same amount of braking force. i don't know if that makes sense to you guys or not

I wouldn't recommed this mc swap if your running stock 9.5 brakes. it will be more of a deperformance then anything else. in this case bigger is NOT better.

CXHatchback

Not sure if that's good news or not. Maybe the RS combo is better? larger booster..

B18C5-EH2

I run the RS booster m/c combo but I did post about the EX 4-door m/c as mentioned already.

I have not been able to compare the two set-ups in an A/B situation yet.

Dr. EKology

Did you also use the EX booster? Or stock?

CXHatchback

Tom, did you ever run the larger front brakes w/o the MC upgraded? You know how the pedal goes to the floor, just wondering if you noticed an increase in pedal pressure to get the same effects or not, like he did. That should basically tell us which one is better.

B18C5-EH2

No.

When I put the car together I added all-new suspension and brakes at the same time before I ever drove the car.

I've also got the Earl's stainless lines too, so I'm sure I'm getting better pedal pressure than normal for that to.

I did run my 1992 Si with GS-R fronts on the stock 13/16ths m/c - the pedal definately had more dead play up top before the brakes began to engage.

The brakes still stopped fine, but they required pushing the pedal farther in towards the floor much more so than my current set-up.

Someone asked if the booster was changed, right?

The whole point of the 1991 EX m/c is so that you don't have to change boosters. I cannot say for sure, but I'd guess that the 1991 EX booster is the same size as the 1992-1995 Civic ones. If it turns out that it NEEDS a bigger booster to optimize the effects, then I'll say that the 1994-1995 Integra RS booster m/c combo is the only way to go still.

The Integra one is definately bigger than the 1992-1995 Civic ones, so it may help out more than one might think.

I still think the 1991 EX m/c would be a great upgrade over stock even with the stock booster.

Where's our resident brake genius, shawnhayes?

CXHatchback

What I think I'm gonna do, is buy an EX MC and use it for a while, then buy the rs setup and switch it over when I finish my suspension so I can feel if there's a difference.

43MA

I'm still using the stock 13/16th booster that came stock on the car. i'm ASSUMING that the increase in pedal pressure is due to retaining the same booster.

i'm going to drive a stock gsr with hp+ to compare the two and report back.

Don't get me wrong though. i still think doing the mc upgrade is worlds better then leaving in the stock 13/16th but just letting you guys know that there is a trade off and will know what to expect. i always hate surprises.

NonovUrbizniz

I've got a 93 ex with front disk and I'm soon going to swap in an integra mc and booster I'll let you know the dif. for me....

And as far as the braided lines adding pedal pressure that's exactly what they do... I knew a kid with a vw that upgraded to cross drilled metal pads and stainless lines and his pedal felt like a rock... he ended up taking out the stainless lines and the pedal feel was back to normal... the stiffen up the pedal considerably.

43MA

interesting
but i'm running stock lines so that would not be applicable in my situation

TommyV

Alright, I'm purchasing the 91 Civic EX four door Master cylinder and I'll give my thoughts when it's installed.....
Seems to be both positive and negative comments, so I gotta try this one myself.