well first off, I have stock brakes, so disks in the front and drums in the back.

I bought this car this summer and I have NO clue how old the brakes are. they do feel like they could be replaced, but I've been holding it off because I was planning on upgrading to some GSR brakes.

today, I install my new strut bar. and on the way home i felt like testing out my brakes.

so lets say I'm going 60km/h (35mph) I can slam on my brakes,I can hear my tires squeal, but I'm not really stopping, I'm still stopping about 5 feet further. and I tested it at 80km/h (50 mph) it's it's horrible I'm like 8-10 feet too far from the stop line. this is horrible. I want to stop on a dime.

so it's either
a) my tires
or
b) my brakes don't work

my tires are not the best, but they're brand new, about a month old. Miranda 205/50/15

so what should I do ? is it really my brakes ? or do I have cheap tires and I get what I paid for ?, even though they were 100$cnd each.

winter is coming up and I know I'm going to hit something in front of me

I'm thinking it might also be my useless drums I have in the back, because now that I think of it, my tires only squeal in front.. I think.....

please help

thanks

 

how can we help when you havnt even looked at the brakes or gave a good explanation?
id start off by checking the brake fluid resorvoir

 

have to ask...but isnt your thread title an oxymoron?

 

There is nothing wrong with Drums.

In fact a Drum brake has a larger braking surface then discs do.

Discs are just better at Shedding Heat so in repeated use they are better then drums. Since they are more resistant to fade Such as on a race course.

In the average Road car Rear Drums are fine.

 

my fluids are fine.

I flushed EVERYTHING out of my car this summer when I bought her.

and how would I check the brakes ? don't you need something to mesure that ?

 

ok first off, you stupid.

2nd DON'T LOCK UP YOUR BRAKES.
3rd your stock brakes are fine.
4th If you can lock up your brakes up your fine.
5th upgradeing to something "bigger". is 1 going to make lock up alot fast 2 help with heat disapastion
6th the biggest limiting factor in braking is tires
7th DON'T LOCK UP YOUR BRAKES just like in acceleration loss of tracktion is bad in accelerating and in braking

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Daniel_san &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">and how would I check the brakes ? don't you need something to mesure that ?</TD></TR></TABLE>
take the wheels off...no
btw i think your brakes are fine, theyre not gonna stop on point exactly when you want without major upgrades including tires and suspension

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by slammed_93_hatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">ok first off, you stupid.

2nd DON'T LOCK UP YOUR BRAKES.
3rd your stock brakes are fine.
4th If you can lock up your brakes up your fine.
5th upgradeing to something "bigger". is 1 going to make lock up alot fast 2 help with heat disapastion
6th the biggest limiting factor in braking is tires
7th DON'T LOCK UP YOUR BRAKES just like in acceleration loss of tracktion is bad in accelerating and in braking</TD></TR></TABLE>

thanks... I guess...

I usually dont' lock up my brakes. but even if I don't it's not that easy to stop. I'm sure theres something i can do to makes my car stop when and where I want it too.

so I guess my real question is: is it really the tire ?
so next summer when I buy my new rims and good tires, will my braking improve that much ?

 

is that how u drive usually. u go really fast and then stop at the last minute. cause either way ur gonna hit something no matter what brakes u have on there. maybe u should go back to drivers ed. i would b scared as **** if i saw u comin at me at 80km/h hoping to stop on a dime just before u kill everyone in front of u. try getting a paraschute like the dragsters.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Green_Day_Kid &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">is that how u drive usually. u go really fast and then stop at the last minute. cause either way ur gonna hit something no matter what brakes u have on there. maybe u should go back to drivers ed. i would b scared as **** if i saw u comin at me at 80km/h hoping to stop on a dime just before u kill everyone in front of u. try getting a paraschute like the dragsters. </TD></TR></TABLE>

alright, I'm not some ricer idiot.
I don't go as fast as I can then stop as hard as I can. that's retarded, I was just testing my brakes

this to me is a safety issue.

I just want to be able to brake better when the time is needed.

example: if woman slammed on her brakes on the high way right in front of me.

and maybe for some reason I'm reaching for something, girl friend is saying something stupid or some thing distracts me even for a second. and I usually roll about 15 km over the speed limit. I will hit her.

i want to prevent this.

I may never use this extra braking power that I seek. I just want the peace of mind knowing that it's there when I DO really need it.

 

Rule of thumb...if you just purchased a car...and don't know the condition of your brakes, or when they were last changed...umm you should change them. It'll be obvious if you need new brakes because if you'd take off your wheel, you'd see how much pad is left. If you're close to the rotor...replace them. Don't be cheap...then again it's only your life. (not to be mean, but someone told me that and i changed mines right away

Also...you are not gonna be able to stop on the dime...if you did...you'd walk out of your car having...broken or brusied ribs, broken arm, or maybe even a concusion...think about it...your body...in your car...hitting a brick wall. That's what you want to acheive? More power to yah!

 

Just do some maintenance. Change your fluid, check for leaks, get a brake job and get some kick s@$$ street pads.

 

stopping on a dime is an expression people ! I don't mean it literally !

I was just asking about my brakes because I recently drove my buddy's 2002 Jetta and was very impressed with the brakes. it was allot more effective then mine, and his car is heavier and had 2 passengers.

and they were jsut stock tires on stock rims

 

wheel cylinder?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Daniel_san &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">stopping on a dime is an expression people ! I don't mean it literally !

I was just asking about my brakes because I recently drove my buddy's 2002 Jetta and was very impressed with the brakes. it was allot more effective then mine, and his car is heavier and had 2 passengers.

and they were jsut stock tires on stock rims</TD></TR></TABLE>

We know its just an expression...if you know that...then you should know your car is not gonna stop that FAST?!

OF COURSE your friends new Jetta is gonna stop faster then yours...hell his brake system is TOTALLY different from yours...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by civicboisi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

OF COURSE your friends new Jetta is gonna stop faster then yours...hell his brake system is TOTALLY different from yours... </TD></TR></TABLE>

alright, then I guess that answered my question.

i will change my pads though, with the best I can find.

because like you said earlier. it's just my life I'm dealing with !!

 

tires are the ULTIAMTE FACTOR in any brake setup.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by slammed_93_hatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">tires are the ULTIAMTE FACTOR in any brake setup.

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

thank you !!

so now instead of waisting money on over sized GSR brakes that would be nice, but probebly wont need. I'll just get some nice ******* tires next spring.

thanks alot guys

 

anytime