Hi Everyone!

I just upgraded the brakes on my '96 Civic EX using almost all Honda OEM parts. I would like to share my experiences from the upgrade and let you know what problems to avoid.

Previous Brake Setup:

Front- Centric Stock Calipers-> Centric Premium Rotors-> StopTech Pads

Rear- '95 EX Rear Calipers-> Centric Premium Rotors-> StopTech Pads


What I upgraded to:

Front- Centric Legend GS Calipers-> Parts Store Mini Cooper Rotors-> ITR Parts Store Pads

Rear- Raysbestos ITR Calipers-> EP3 Centric Premium Rotors-> ITR StopTech Pads

Overall, the swap was very simple as almost everything was a complete bolt-on. The big, 2-piston Legend calipers fit under my Kong Helium wheels with around 1/8" of clearance.


Minor Issues:

- Since I chose to mount the calipers with the bleeder valves pointing up the front bleeder valves are 1/2" away from the interior of the wheels. In order to bleed the front brakes the front wheels have to be removed to make clearance.

- On the rear calipers there are two bolt holes that are used to attach the parking brake bracket (I'm using the '95 EX cables). The '95 EX calipers use an 8mm bolt for these holes while the ITR calipers require a 10mm bolt. Also, only one of the bolt holes on the ITR caliper is threaded. I'm just using a bolt and nut on the threadless hole

- Both of the clevis pins on the end of the parking brake cables were rusted in place


Other than what I mentioned everything went really smooth. The bigger rotors and calipers looks fantastic, too.




Before on the left and after on the right.

 

Very nice, I like this setup. Are those 15" or 16" wheels?

 

Thanks! They are 15"s.

 

That's good news. I'm curious of this setup vs the DIY: The No BS Bolt on Big brakes for RS/GS/LS/GSR - Team Integra Forums - Team Integra

 

All things being equal (same pad, rotor, etc.) I am sure the stopping distances are pretty similar. I wish I had some empirical evidence to support that however.

 

I am running the stock 15/16" MC in my EX and the pedal travel is very long (which I anticipated). Pushing down the brake pedal feels like....nothing..nothing..boom.

I have an ITR MC ready to go in but I just need to find the time.

 

Using the legend caliper is covered in the thread. But from what I've gathered, the ITR will provide a more linear response with a single piston then the Legend with 2 smaller ones. Everything else is the same.
And you can use TSX pads instead of ITR with the mini cooper rotors so there is no pad overhang.

 

Thank you for passing on the insight

 

I have the ITR caliper and mini cooper setup on the front of my hatch currently - one piece of advice for anyone drag racing and is interested in running a 13" wheel is to avoid this setup as it will not fit.

How does the car feel the EP3 rears? I've been thinking of doing the same.

 

I'm not quite sure yet. Due to the fact that I've been too busy to install my ITR master cylinder I think my rear brakes haven't even been engaging. The rotors still show the factory machine marks on them after 1000+ miles. I'm guessing my factory 15/16" master cylinder isn't moving enough fluid to make it to the rear brakes.