Folks,
A few months back I had posted a break upgrade question for my 2003 Civic EX to you guys. Its my daily commuter car, which has done 50K miles and needs new tires but I ve never been happy with its breaks. So I wanted to know what the best options would be to upgrade brakes for better braking for this commuter car.

This is what I understood.

1) Bleeding the brake lines does improve braking in general.
2) Am going to put in Brembo OEM replacement Rotors
3) Also Akebono or PBR Ceramic pads
4) Put in steel braided brake lines
5) Switching to wider Kumho 758 195/60/15 (rather than OEM Firestone 185/65/15) tires

Now someone had suggested where to buy all these parts from...I really cant remember the name of the online store you guys use. Or is it better to buy them from some place in So. Cal?

Thanks.


Modified by ambat at 4:29 PM 1/14/2007

 

http://www.directtuning.com < located in chino hills so cal great shop a freind of mine works there good shop

http://www.dezodmotorsports.com

 

Try the for sale section:
https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1411597

The PBR Ceramic pads creates tons of brake dust but stop great.

 

Dezod that was the funky name I was looking for...couldnt remember that for the life of me.

So are both DirectTuning and Dezod Reliable (they dont seem to carry PBR Ceramic..only Nissin Kevlar-Ceramic). Are these guys the std. online honda part retailers (like ECS tuning is for VW stuff)? Or are there anymore?

I love PBR ceramics + Brembo on my Jetta....the brake dust is not really an issue (I just apply a think coat of wax on the rims...so it just comes right off when I am cleaning it)

 

Unless you are doing SEVEAR braking. Like on a track, for 2 hours straight, you do not need new brake lines

 

tirerack.com they delivered within 4 days of when i ordered

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Killtodie &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Unless you are doing SEVEAR braking. Like on a track, for 2 hours straight, you do not need new brake lines</TD></TR></TABLE>

Nope..the the usual LA traffic...BUT the current braking distance and squishiness is VERY disappointing not to mention scary.

So anything that helps with that would be appreciated.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by iwantspeed &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">tirerack.com they delivered within 4 days of when i ordered</TD></TR></TABLE>

Hey thats another great place...didnt know they stocked stuff besides tires. Even they got Brembo Blanks + Akebono Ceramic pads + Goodridge G-Stop Brakeline Kit

More on the brake lines from TireRack.com

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Goodridge G-Stop High Performance Brakeline race-bred street brake lines are constructed from the finest quality hose, consisting of a PTFE inner hose covered by braided stainless steel.In addition to providing a more responsive and firm brake pedal by eliminating the “spongy” feel that often accompanies stock rubber brake lines </TD></TR></TABLE>

If $108 bucks gets me more responsive and firm brake pedals that also improve braking safety...I dont mind spending on it. But if its a useless cosmetic upgrade that I will stay away from it.

I am assuming that there is no difference between Nissin, Akebono or PBR in terms of Ceramic pads especially for my commuter application.

OH when to install brake lines do they also bleed the brakes?

 

brake lines dont do squat jack

 

Yes they do.

I would go for hawk HPS pads over ANYTHING else on the market. I also suggest Motul fluid. Since u already have to replace the fluid after doing ur breaks, u may as well spend the extra $10 and buy the best fluid on the market.

Also, i would suggest an even BIGGER tire. maybe a 205/55/15. THis will give u FARRRR suprior braking to the 185's.

Check out http://www.dezod.com and check out their brake package, actually here... I pulled up the link, its a very good deal, and dezod are amazing guys.

http://dezod.com/pd_7thgen_bra...t.cfm

 

You guys are totally confusing me about the Brake lines.

Vantage:
I don't think the 7th Gen brake kit is such a great idea for me...since I really don't need slotted brakes (it will eat my brake pads and not really offer me any significant advantages). I think the Hawks Street Performance Pads go with the slotted rotors, right?

The 205/55/15 are 23.9" vs the OEM 185/65/15 which are 24.5". The 195/60/15 are 24.2". I am looking for superior braking but I don't want to loose by 34MPG fuel efficiency (remember its a commuter car)

 

i got hawk pads and ATE slotted rotors. and my car stops WAY better. i can stop on the freeway and not have any mushyness. and they are designed to make pads last longer than any other slotted rotor.

 

ambat I agree with Vantage about the stainless steel lines. They may not directly affect stopping distance but pedal feel will be much better.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ambat &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You guys are totally confusing me about the Brake lines.

Vantage:
I don't think the 7th Gen brake kit is such a great idea for me...since I really don't need slotted brakes (it will eat my brake pads and not really offer me any significant advantages). I think the Hawks Street Performance Pads go with the slotted rotors, right?

The 205/55/15 are 23.9" vs the OEM 185/65/15 which are 24.5". The 195/60/15 are 24.2". I am looking for superior braking but I don't want to loose by 34MPG fuel efficiency (remember its a commuter car)


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

I wouldnt go for slotted rotor's either, but its a good price. IMO Brembo Blanks are the best rotor for Daily. U will hadly lose to many MPG, and it will provide far better braking.

If i had the $$ to do my brakes right now i would go with this setup:
Brembo blanks
Hawk HPS Pads
Motul Fluid
SS Brake Lines

That will yeild the BEST braking for the $$ u can get using the stock calipers. Then it comes down to tire size, wider is better.

 

Im not sure about Hawk's but most aftermarket brake pads are excessively noisy.

 

dezod.com &gt; all

been doing business with paul for years!!!!!!!!!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Private-Tune &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Im not sure about Hawk's but most aftermarket brake pads are excessively noisy. </TD></TR></TABLE>

When i ran hawk HPS's on my CRX ( 4 wheel disc) although they wore a TAD faster than stock, there was no excess in noise, and a HUGE increase in stopping power.

I will never get a different kind of brake pad after using hawk's.

 

Ok Ordered from Dezod

Hawk Performance Street Front Pads + Brembo Blanks + Russel SS Brake Lines ($297)

I think I will stick with Kumho 758 195/60/15 (which is an upgrade from 185/65/15) rather than the 205. ($290)

And whatever they will charge me for bleeding and filling Motul + installation of new h/w. I hope this is not overkill.

 

That is probably the best braking u can get on the stock Master, without going to a big brake kit ( which are debatable).

U might want to check around, i know here no "brake" shops carry Motul, its mostly performance shops that carry it.

I would think a brake job is maybe $300? my prices may be off tho, cause i come from canada.