as the title says, i'm looking for opinions on front brake upgrades. i want something i'm NOT going to have to worry about, and will offer good "stopage".
i had major fade issues with my stock brakes w/ hawk pads......but that might be remidied with my new braided lines, new ATE super blue, and new EX master cylinder (just installed)......but we'll see. i'd like to upgrade the front, and the most obvious choice is an EX 4 door upgrade, but thats tough to find. i'd also like to maybe get crazier than that. like, 2 piston legend calipers, or some kind of 4 piston calipers on custom mounts, with 10.2'' rotors or something.

any other thoughts?


DA?

anything with more than one piston calipers?

i've researched it, and came up with NOTHING on multipiston calipers.....

it HAS to fit under 14'' wheels though! 15'' wheels are a NO NO for me..........

thanks in advance.

 

i've also been thinking about making my own mounts for some 4 piston calipers.
does rotor diameter matter that much when choosing calipers?

could i throw a caliper designed for an 11'' factory setup (nsx/legend calipers) on a 10.2'' rotor? it might result in less-than perfect pad wear, but it seems like it would be fine to me........
another idea i've been tossing around is using 2 stock calipers on each rotor....using custom mounts and messing around with proportioning valves


this is also posted in tech/misc.

 

how about rebuilding the current Calipers?

 

the current calipers work fine for street driving, i'm just looking for a "bullet proof" setup for the roadcourse.

 

JDM SiR on my CRX NO on DA stuff! NSX/Legend will require custom rotors (higer offset) and most likely a 15" min wheel

 

If the car is still street driven, then you will have a tough time finding 1 setup that works well for both applications. However, with the braided lines and good fluid, all you should really need to change is pads. You didn't mention your engine setup, so I assume that you're not making monster power and hitting > 140 on the straights, so do what just about every H4 racer does and buy cheap autozone rotors and good track pads. Then just swap out the pads when you're done at the track with some street pads and you're good to go. On and EF/CRX, it's like a 20 minute job to swap both sets of front pads. One piston calipers on OEM CRX rotors works fine for me. Our cars are too light and don't go fast enough to need big brake setups IMO.

Edit: to address your initial fade concerns - Street pads will fade on a race track period. You didn't say whether you were using hawk street pads or race pads. If you were using race pads, then I would suspect you were cooking the fluid. Dot 3 brake fluid does not hold up to the temps generated on a track. Also, rubber lines give more as they get hot. It sounds like you've pretty much fixed those issues, so I'd bet that with some good pads, your car will feel good the next time out.

- Scott

 

IF you'd be willing to change your mind on 15" wheels, go with the FastBrakes 11" adapter kit http://fastbrakes.com/products...iv-11
I've had them on my car for years both as a street car and a track car and I've been very happy. I kept the rear drums because they're lighter than the rear discs (and i already had them), but did upgrade to a 15/16" master cylinder and steel braided brake lines.

It uses OE rotors from a VW Corrado, OE Calipers from most 1988-2001 Integra/Prelude/Accords, fits under 15" wheels and uses brake pads that EVERYONE keeps in stock. Unless you are trading dollars for ounces, this is the way to go. A very nice package and a very reasonable price.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by redzcstandardhatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">it HAS to fit under 14'' wheels though! 15'' wheels are a NO NO for me...</TD></TR></TABLE>

I am using EX knuckles with 94+ calipers/rotors, which will fit under 14" wheels. The Cobalt Friction Sport pads seems to be the best compromise pad for street/HPDE duty for me.

I know you posted you had a hard time locating a set of EX knuckles - maybe this thread can help point you in the right direction:
https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1171175

 

4 piston calipers will not help one bit with fade, and 10.2" rotors are too small to be "bulletproof" on anything except an old, stock British car (likely because it wouldn't be running/working anyway....)

 

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1171175

 

thanks for the opinions and links guys. i've read that last one posted, and may go with that.

the engine setup is a d16a6 turbo, making 185 whp and 155 wtq right now, but within a month or so, the bottom end will be completed and i'm shooting for 215 whp at the roadcourse, 250 on the dyno/street, and dont worry, the oil is being chilled via a custom oil cooler setup.

i'm basically trying to build the car with a "good at everything" kind of attitude, but on a mild budget.


at gingerman last weekend the brakes failed (boiling fluid, then the MC failed completely after we bled the brakes), so i'm kind of on a "gotta fix these brakes" trip.

 

Well, with that kind of set-up, can I ask. Why do you have to stick with 14" wheels? I could understand it was for rules, but running that type of motor setup, I doubt you have any rules to follow!

If you go to a 15" wheel, your options REALLY open up.

If you stay at 14", you just don't have the room under the wheel to put a big rotor. Remember, a larger rotor makes much more of a difference with heat than a multipiston caliper.

 

I am actually thinking of ditching the 11" ITR setup I have on my street hatch and using the 10.2 setup from the EX. I already have the EX knuckles on there....I am doing this so I can run 14" mAD JdM wEELZ yO!

I like the 11" setup, but it is wayyyy overkill for the street.

As far as track use goes....my ITA car doesn't seem to have braking issues and it uses stock calipers and rotors (obviously).

If you don't have any rules to follow, I would probably suggest the 10.2 EX route.

 

the largest you can run under 14 is the ex 10.2" theres realy no other option. the da knuckles wil change the geometry of the front suspension (less camber, possibly caster closer to 0*)

 

215whp+10.2" rotors+roadcourse = heartache. Or at the very least a bunch of cracked rotors and incinerated brake pads.

IMPO, ditch the 14" wheel limit and get some R-sized brakes at a minumum....

 

i've got a set of 93 Civic EX front brakes for sale. 10.2" rotors, calipers, knuckle, and bobcats. spares that i don't need anymore.

nate

 

yeah, the last couple days ive been tossing around the idea of bigger wheels, but the only thing is i have 14'' wheels i LOVE , with falken azenis's with good rubber on them (using them for track day duty right now)

and, i have another set of 14's for daily duty....

it just seems too economical to change..

i think its gonna be 10.2 rotors w/ hawks or carbotechs.

thanks guys-adam

 

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1171175

then there is always this set up... i'll be b00sting my D series soon... and i think i'll just kill the r0t0rs .... because i'm stingy and dont want to buy breaks and wheels

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by redzcstandardhatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">yeah, the last couple days ive been tossing around the idea of bigger wheels, but the only thing is i have 14'' wheels i LOVE , with falken azenis's with good rubber on them (using them for track day duty right now)

and, i have another set of 14's for daily duty....

it just seems too economical to change..

i think its gonna be 10.2 rotors w/ hawks or carbotechs.

thanks guys-adam</TD></TR></TABLE>

If you're going to still use 14" azenis you're not going to have enough rubber on the ground anyway to use bigger brakes.

The bigger brakes are just going to make it easier to flatspot your tires and then there goes your economical approach. A 14" azenis is way too small for 215 whp anyway.

 

By the way....

Use knucles off a 4 door EX from the same generation as your car. They are hard to find yes, but worth it. Try giving Larry at Import Auto Salvage a call.....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by redzcstandardhatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">yeah, the last couple days ive been tossing around the idea of bigger wheels, but the only thing is i have 14'' wheels i LOVE , with falken azenis's with good rubber on them (using them for track day duty right now)

and, i have another set of 14's for daily duty....

it just seems too economical to change..

i think its gonna be 10.2 rotors w/ hawks or carbotechs.

thanks guys-adam</TD></TR></TABLE>

i thought the same way you did.ive got my snows on 14's, daily tires on 14's and only track/autocross tires on 15's. but after cracking rotors every 4th track day among other braking issues, i have decided to step up to the 11"

 

i think i'm going to be doing the modified accord wagon calipers, or a custom bracket setup for wilwood calipers w/10.2'' rotors.

 

those of us running teg or itr calipers for lapping and track use....anyof you use a 15/16th master? or have you all gone to 1"..

I was thinking if ITR and GSR cars with 57mm pistons all have ABS and my car does not...so mabey i sould use the 15/16.....

BTW check your pistons sizes the itr caliper and stock integra for instance hase mroe pistons area then both legent and nsx.....so they stop more,.

 

i have 15/16" m.c., front-nsx calipers, legend slotted rotors, hawk hp+ pads, s.s. lines
rear- type r calipers,02' civic si rotors, hawk hp+ pads, s.s.lines

havent driven on them yet...cant wait!!! oh yea on a 91 civic si...