I attended a recent solodex meeting (scca style timed runs) and while I did not drive the course, I took a ride in a competitor's car. The run was exhilirating and a lil scary (Rode with a 3 time solodex champ)... I figured I would like to give it a try sometime soon.

My car is a 93 Civic hatch DX model with the stock brake setup and honda pads front, drums in the back. What chance will I have at a solodex course on the stock setup ? Short of a brake upgrade to integra clamps, what is the best thing to do with the stockers ? Will upgraded pads alone do anything worth a damn on the track ? I guess I need to brake deep in the corners and don't think many of the pads on the market will heat up fast enuff.

Recommendations ?

 

stock DX motor? if so the stock braking system is adequate. Get some good fluid (ATE, motul, or even the valvoline), some SS lines and hawk blues and you'll be set.

if it's a swapped b series something else is probably gonna be needed.

s

 

Are you refering to time-trials (full size racetrack) or autocross/gymkhana (parking lot course made with cones)?

Either way, if you're running a stock-ish motor, the stock hardware is fine. If you have a big-horsepower engine (hybrid, turbo, etc), you may want to consider upgrading to larger rotors and calipers.

Hawk Blues are a horrible idea for slower-speed events and street use. But they are a good race pad if you're doing high speed stuff. I'm not sure if they'd be my first pick anymore, as Carbotech and Cobalt both have compounds that do well in typical Civic fitments.

And, as the other reply mentions, upgrade to a good fluid and possibly replace the soft brake lines (I'd use OEM rubber, but SS works too).

 

It's a big parking lot with cones.....we also have circuit events at a track... but not ready for that.

I have a pretty powerful motor... way more than my stock brakes should handle, but to practice the courses, I will not be maxxing out the speedo if you catch me... until I can upgrade brakes.

In the meantime, what's the best pad setup I could use or would I just be wasting money on the stock assembly ?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by X2BOARD &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It's a big parking lot with cones.....we also have circuit events at a track... but not ready for that.

I have a pretty powerful motor... way more than my stock brakes should handle, but to practice the courses, I will not be maxxing out the speedo if you catch me... until I can upgrade brakes.

In the meantime, what's the best pad setup I could use or would I just be wasting money on the stock assembly ?</TD></TR></TABLE>

For now, use some good brake fluid and upgrade to a good multi-use pad. Axxis Ultimate, Cobalt GT-Sport, etc will work fine.

When you start doing track events, you'll want a more aggressive pad compound - Hawk Blue, Cobalt Spec-B, etc.

I wouldn't bother upgrading the brake hardware until you know the stock stuff is inadequate. At that point, you'll have to decide a few things - budget, what safety gear, how fast you want to go, will you start racing, or stick to time-trials, etc.

 

Well I do drag racing as often as possible... since I mostly run on a track... the stock braking slows me down well enough on the run off, but I can't lay down too much rubber in a parking lot track or I'll be flying thru the fence...

 

I have stock setup on my 00 DX hatch as well. I was gonna do SS lines, Motul fluid and some EBC pads. My engine mods are restricted to throttle response and mid range, so I don't have much more power than stock. I figure good tires and suspension setup will slightly compensate for lack of braking power and hopefully a small lack of skill

 

More Cowbell!

My stock DX brakes have been more than adequate for my autox needs (lots of local,divisional and NT events, and Nationals once) for the last 6 years. I've been on Hoosiers for 5 of them and turbocharged for 2. I replaced the stock fluid with Valvoline synthetic, and things have been great since. Also, the stock pads actually work quite well compared to much more expensive options. I haven't modified my brakes in any way, yet they are very responsive, progressive, and strong enough to lock up all four Hoosiers anytime (got the flat spots to prove it ).

Obviously the rotors are too small for high speed track stuff, and the drums... well forget it. But for autox, they work great. If autox is your game I'd spend the $$$ elsewhere.

 

Well unfortunately, I built my current engine for a different chassis (which is now at a junkyard... thanks drunk driver ), so I bought this DX and swapped it in... so now I have a 200hp powerplant and 90hp brakes

I would like to expand my horizons to solodex racing, but man.. I really don't feel that my current brake setup will last even 2 laps.

What's up with the EBC pads... I always figured they were good for HIGH speed stopping and not 'stop and go'.

 

Thanks fsp31 !

Do any brake fluids affect the MC seals or anything negatively ? What exacty is the upside of using them ?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by X2BOARD &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
What's up with the EBC pads... I always figured they were good for HIGH speed stopping and not 'stop and go'. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Well, I have very little racing experience with my Honda. I'm not a great person to take advice on this from. But EBC works best fpr my bikes, so I will trust them on my cars. I DO know alot of people with the Greens and they all love them.

 

The benefit of a good brake fluid is a higher boiling point.

 

I've done quite a few high speed lapping days on the stock brakes in my b16 swapped 96 Dx hatch. My brake set-up consists of Cobalt rotors and Axxis Ultimate pads in the front, stock drums and fresh shoes in the rear and ATE Superblue fluid. I've had no problems whatsoever with this set-up . . . no fade, etc. And the pad life was incredible . . . 7+ events on the same set of pads along with 10,000 street miles.

 

If you are only going to be doing auto-x type events I wouldn't worry about it. TIRES. That's going to be your number one limiting factor and number one improvement in braking. You are also going to want a less aggressive pad. One with great initial bite and lower temp range. Axxis Ultimates or Carbotech Bobcat's or Cobalt GT-Sport would probably be perfect. Good fluid and bleed often and have your rear drums adjusted A LOT and you're set. Once you start doing lapping days on tracks and you are fast enough that brakes become inefficient, then maybe look into a hybrid brake set-up or big brake upgrade.

The thing is you haven't done one of these events yet, so what has you to the conclusion you're stock brakes are inadequate? Stopping at the end of a drag strip from 100mph in a straight line or laying rubber in a parking lot means nothing other then you may have shitty tires on if your stock brakes are locking them up with ease.

 

I don't have any lockup issues. How do I know how my brakes will perform on the solodex ? I live on an island... if you saw the roads we have to drive and the speeds we see... it's very similar to a solodex type course (mountains to boot... nothing like a spirited jaunt up and down a tightly winding mountain road. My brakes are great for stop and go, but throw a few hard stops in a row and they fade a lil bit. The brake fluid sounds like a good upgrade too.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by X2BOARD &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Do any brake fluids affect the MC seals or anything negatively ? What exacty is the upside of using them ?</TD></TR></TABLE>

That's a good topic for discussion! As far as I know, there are certain types of fluid that would not be suitable for a "street car", but as I understand it, this is due to the ability (or lack) to absorb moisture that makes it's way into the system. I've been told that Dot 3 fluid can absorb a decent amount of moisture without compromising pedal feel at higher temps. I can't remember the DOT rating on the Valvoline stuff, but I've run it for 5 years with no problems. As far as seals and such, I haven't heard of any specific brake fluid being corrosive or anything, but I don't really know. Anyone else?

BTW, my turbo'd motor is making almost exactly 200 whp, and the car weighs about 2185 lbs in race trim (without me). Before I got rid of the stock brake fluid, I would boil it regularly. We have fairly long autox courses here (dare I say "fast"?) so that's part of the reason. Once I changed fluid though, I never experienced fade or any other problems.

 

Looks like I'll try the fluid as the first and cheapest step. I just rebuilt my M/C with all new seals... I don't wanna do that again anytime soon...lol