Things to Consider: Upgrading to larger brake pads and discs?

[echoparkpanda]

Hi everyone, I was thinking of upgrading my stock brakes on my Civic Hatch. I think the stock brakes are a bit small and want to pick up a big brake kit with drilled or slotted rotors.

What are somethings to consider when purchasing large brake kits? Also, any recommendations for brake kits?

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[BarracksSi]

Let's say that you're already maxing out the tires, you've upgraded the pads, and you've switched to even higher-temperature fluid, and you're still getting brake fade. Now you really need bigger brakes with greater mass to handle all that heat you're generating at your track sessions.

What to consider in a big brake kit?

1. Brake balance.
2. See #1.

What you don't want to do is get a big brake kit that actually makes the car stop worse than before.

Boiled down to one sentence: Because bigger front brakes reach their maximum power at a lower pedal pressure than stock, the rear brakes will never reach their full braking potential because the overall system pressure will be lower.

With proper balance, whether you use an adjustable proportioning valve or choose appropriate components (calipers, pads, and rotors) -- or do all of the above -- you can certainly get much better braking performance than stock.

http://www.autos.com/aftermarket-parts/why-a-big-brake-kit-wont-make-your-car-stop-faster
http://stoptech.com/technical-support/technical-white-papers/rear-brake-upgrades
http://www.myturbodiesel.com/wiki/brake-faq-mythbusting-why-you-may-not-want-big-brake-upgrade/
http://www.turnfast.com/tech_brakes/brakes_balancing
https://www.zeckhausen.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=6446_6565

 

[BarracksSi]

I'm not trying to be a downer, but although any big brake kit will look pretty darned cool, you don't want worse braking when it matters most -- which is when you find yourself trying to avoid an accident.

 

[totopo]

Hi everyone, I was thinking of upgrading my stock brakes on my Civic Hatch. I think the stock brakes are a bit small and want to pick up a big brake kit with drilled or slotted rotors.

What are somethings to consider when purchasing large brake kits? Also, any recommendations for brake kits?

why do you want a bbk? Are you overheating your pads at the track? Have you tried either an intermediate compound pad or want to consider swapping to track pads at the track? BBK is only for heat management. They also may add unsprung weight which is bad.

drilled or slotted rotors produce less heat on braking at a cost of reduced life of both pad (can be more than 30%!!) and rotors. Also drilled/slotted rotors have a propensity to crack, often while you are braking hard... which usually doesn't end well. If you are overheating your pads and getting a BBK, then get a big enough one so you can use a solid rotor. Consider slotted rotors after you have chosen a rotor size (OEM or bigger) and are still having heat problems with track focused pads.

If this is all for cosmesis... then do whatever you want, just try not to make your car worse as barracksi said. Make sure the bias remains the same.

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