Need Brake + Rotor recommendations

[Eeesawk]

Hey everyone, I'm a CTR owner that's new to the forums so forgive me if this has already been asked. I have the '21 and am looking to replace the front+rear pads and the rear rotors. I'm looking for a set that's suited for street driving+road trips, my biggest priorities are longevity and performance without braking the bank (pun intended). I don't mind a bit of noise either. Any and all recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

Also, I typically prefer to do my own work on my vehicle both to save money and learn more about cars but I don't have the most extensive tool collection so if this is something that is better left to an auto shop to handle (dealership told me all sorts of things but of course I'm skeptical as I'm not sure if they just want the business) then please let me know. I look forward to interacting with you all more in the future!

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[REDRAGN]

Check out @Unity Performance (send them a DM) as they sell anything you need...as noted above Paragon is a very good option and priced well. Paragon makes pads and rotors. Your best option for the described use will be something like the Paragon P2 Street/Sport pads.

If your not ready to really go all in, Powerstop makes some good pads and rotors.

As far as doing the work yourself, its not hard at all and there are many tutorials here and youtube videos. Just ensure you are aware of the electronic rear parking brake on the rear calipers...you can easily damage this!

Check out @fatherpain build thread...he has an index up top and everything you could need to know is spelled out in detail.

 

[m_kluch]

I got Akebono. Cheap and the performance is good. Quiet and very low brake dust as well.
I would recommend them for anything except track use

 

[Unity Performance]

Check out @Unity Performance (send them a DM) as they sell anything you need...as noted above Paragon is a very good option and priced well. Paragon makes pads and rotors. Your best option for the described use will be something like the Paragon P2 Street/Sport pads.

If your not ready to really go all in, Powerstop makes some good pads and rotors.

As far as doing the work yourself, its not hard at all and there are many tutorials here and youtube videos. Just ensure you are aware of the electronic rear parking brake on the rear calipers...you can easily damage this!

Check out @fatherpain build thread...he has an index up top and everything you could need to know is spelled out in detail.

Thanks Matt!

Hey Isaac, without breaking the bank I would recommend the following setup:

EBC Blank Front Rotors
StopTech-Centric Blank Rear Rotors

Good Pad choices for longevity and decent street performance would be Hawk 5.0, Paragon P2, and EBC Redstuff. StopTech Street or Sport if you're keeping it budget-friendly. EBC Yellowstuff or Paragon P3 if you like to do hard street braking.

I have all that's listed above on my site

https://unity-performance.com/collections/2017-civic-type-r?pf_pt_product_type=Braking

 

[Eeesawk]

Good Pad choices for longevity and decent street performance would be Hawk 5.0, Paragon P2, and EBC Redstuff.

I really appreciate the insight! Of the 3, are there any that have a particular area they outshine the others in? For example, longevity and performance are more important to me than noise and brake dust reduction. The Yellowstuff and P3s are enticing and within my budget but I'm concerned about them lasting throughout my LA commute and occasional road trips. Thanks in advance

 

[Eeesawk]

Check out @Unity Performance (send them a DM) as they sell anything you need...as noted above Paragon is a very good option and priced well. Paragon makes pads and rotors. Your best option for the described use will be something like the Paragon P2 Street/Sport pads.

If your not ready to really go all in, Powerstop makes some good pads and rotors.

As far as doing the work yourself, its not hard at all and there are many tutorials here and youtube videos. Just ensure you are aware of the electronic rear parking brake on the rear calipers...you can easily damage this!

Check out @fatherpain build thread...he has an index up top and everything you could need to know is spelled out in detail.

Thanks for connecting me! Unity performance has a ton on their website and @/fatherpain has quite the extensive page, I'll be spending quite a bit of time on both going forward ?

 

[eKay]

Thanks Matt!

Hey Isaac, without breaking the bank I would recommend the following setup:

EBC Blank Front Rotors
StopTech-Centric Blank Rear Rotors

Good Pad choices for longevity and decent street performance would be Hawk 5.0, Paragon P2, and EBC Redstuff. StopTech Street or Sport if you're keeping it budget-friendly. EBC Yellowstuff or Paragon P3 if you like to do hard street braking.

I have all that's listed above on my site

https://unity-performance.com/collections/2017-civic-type-r?pf_pt_product_type=Braking

Out of all those pad recommendations, which one produces less dust? I switched out the OEM pads for some Akebono ceramics and I already miss the OEM pads stopping power.

 

[dsm_mikey]

Wow...that is cheap! I picked up a set of the EBC front rotors ($218) for a just in case moment...great deal on the rotors! Obviously 2 piece rotors are preferred, but I grabbed a set anyway in case 2 piece are backordered...also 1/3 the price!

Thanks Matt!

Hey Isaac, without breaking the bank I would recommend the following setup:

EBC Blank Front Rotors
StopTech-Centric Blank Rear Rotors

Good Pad choices for longevity and decent street performance would be Hawk 5.0, Paragon P2, and EBC Redstuff. StopTech Street or Sport if you're keeping it budget-friendly. EBC Yellowstuff or Paragon P3 if you like to do hard street braking.

I have all that's listed above on my site

https://unity-performance.com/collections/2017-civic-type-r?pf_pt_product_type=Braking

 

[Unity Performance]

I really appreciate the insight! Of the 3, are there any that have a particular area they outshine the others in? For example, longevity and performance are more important to me than noise and brake dust reduction. The Yellowstuff and P3s are enticing and within my budget but I'm concerned about them lasting throughout my LA commute and occasional road trips. Thanks in advance

Hey Isaac, Paragon P2 should fit the bill, followed by EBC Red, and then Hawk 5.0 if you're looking for really good pad life

Out of all those pad recommendations, which one produces less dust? I switched out the OEM pads for some Akebono ceramics and I already miss the OEM pads stopping power.

It'll be between the EBC Reds and Paragon P2, both are non-Metallic. I've heard Akebono Ceramics are pretty dust free, haven't yet tried them myself. I'm currently on StopTech Sport for winter, and they're much less aggressive compared to the track compound Paragon R5 I run as daily summer pads, BUT what blew my mind is the 27WON Strut Bar with the master cylinder brace. Look into it, your brake pedal travel once the brace is installed with the bar will be half or less what it currently is, since the firewall won't flex anymore once you hit the brakes.

Wow...that is cheap! I picked up a set of the EBC front rotors ($218) for a just in case moment...great deal on the rotors! Obviously 2 piece rotors are preferred, but I grabbed a set anyway in case 2 piece are backordered...also 1/3 the price!

Oh hey Mike! Thanks for your order brother Bit of a price adjustment (+ $22) after you got the rotors actually because I noticed a mandatory price change effect just took place, but hey even at $240 for the set they're a TUV approved product, and are made by a company who has been really improved over the last few years!

 

[eKay]

It'll be between the EBC Reds and Paragon P2, both are non-Metallic. I've heard Akebono Ceramics are pretty dust free, haven't yet tried them myself. I'm currently on StopTech Sport for winter, and they're much less aggressive compared to the track compound Paragon R5 I run as daily summer pads, BUT what blew my mind is the 27WON Strut Bar with the master cylinder brace. Look into it, your brake pedal travel once the brace is installed with the bar will be half or less what it currently is, since the firewall won't flex anymore once you hit the brakes.

I kinda jumped the gun with the Hawk 5.0. Hopefully I won’t regret it. Probably not too late to return it.
If you were to choose between the Paragon P2 vs Hawk 5.0, which one would you choose for a daily?
I gotta look into that! Thank for the tip

 

[pinhead66]

BUT what blew my mind is the 27WON Strut Bar with the master cylinder brace. Look into it, your brake pedal travel once the brace is installed with the bar will be half or less what it currently is, since the firewall won't flex anymore once you hit the brakes.

Is this also true for the Si or other non-CTR? Is there noticeable brake pedal feel improvements with the master cylinder brace?

 

[Sleepy]

Keep in mind you will need the scanner tool to properly do the rear brakes. Some members here have had hit or miss success with doing the rear brakes on their own. To me its better piece of mind to have the dealership do the rear, but that's just me. The front is very easy though.

 

[Dave B]

If you have a 2021 car you should have excellent OEM rotors. Why do you need new ones? The advantages of the 2 piece rotors are pretty significant so would consider Paragon or Girodisc replacements if needed.

Have used Hawk 5.0 pads at the front and they seem pretty close to OEM but way cheaper.

Doing the front brakes is really pretty easy with no special tools needed. (The best helpful hint is to use channel lock pliers to retract and replace one pad at a time. No issue if it is either the inner or outer but don't remove both pads before replacing one of the new pads). Rear brakes are more complicated. I track the car quite often and routinely change my pads at the track. The electronic parking brake function on an electronic tool (in my case Foxwell 510 elite) has made the job very easy but unless you are changing rear pads with the frequency I do, you may want to leave this to the stealer.

 

[midlyfecrysisFK8]

It may just be me, but I changed my rear pads with just removing the parking actuator. There are 2 bolts holding the black plastic actuator on each side. You can remove it and spin it by hand. Much like the video below.



I know some people may not be comfortable with doing it this way, but I have had no problems with mine since using this method.

 

[ez12a]

Hey that's me! But I agree, rears aren't that hard provided you either have the OBD tool (and don't accidentally exit maintenance mode before you have everything installed) or just do it by taking the actuator off (and not ruining the connectors in the process). Aside from the actuator the brake job is very much like standard brakes on any non-Brembo equipped car.

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