Thinking of my next mod. Brakes?!?!? I'm reading that our brakes are not that bad. What about just changing Fluid and pads. what brand? Do I need to change rotors, both front and rear?? What would I need drilled and/or slotted or something esle. I'm not looking at the big bucks kits. Trying to stay under $600 or less.

 

i was just thinking that too. for now i'm only going with the brake pads (hawk) for now. In the end i'll end up with the gt brembo kit

 

If it's new & under warrenty why fix it if it ain't broken yet ?

 

Before you buy rotors, calibers, etc start by installing Hawk HPS pads. They will make about a 30% improvement over what you currently have. JMO~

 

i want something that can stop my car faster,i know what you mean about not being broken but this is more of a safety upgrade(at least that's what i tell my wife)

 

exactly what i had in mind,the front and rear kit for 130 shipped. If anyone cxan find a better deal let me know

 

Hawk HPS are $146 at Tire rack. No shipping cuz they are only 3 miles down the road from me.

 

How do new pads decrease braking distance? Under full out braking, the tires are the weak point, correct? You can only stop as fast as the tires are able to grip and tha ABS is able to get you stopped...so I don't see how new pads will yield a safety upgrade. If I'm wrong, someone please correct me.

 

Well wouldn't the ABS react on how the brake pads are working? If the pads were not griping the rotors then it would take more time to stop.

 

Not really, as long as the brake pads and rotors work well enough to lock up the tires, the ABS will function. Once the ABS is engaged, brake pads really will not have much effect on stopping distance. It keeps the tires from locking up and skidding. Basically, when the system detects wheel lockup, it releases some pressure from that caliper, letting the tire regain traction, then applies pressure again...and so on, until you get stopped. That is why the brake pedal "vibrates" when the ABS system functions, it releases and engages many times a second for each wheel.

Think of it this way...If you have wooden wheels, the best brake pads and biggest rotors in the world will not help you stop any faster than small brakes/rotors. The wooden wheels will just slip and slide. The main benefit of bigger/better brake system is repeated hard stops, they will be less prone to fade. When the brakes get very very hot, as in after several hard stops in quick succession, they do not work very well.

Actually, ABS can sometimes INCREASE braking distance on dry level pavement. Threshold Braking, done properly, (keeping the brake pressure just barely below full lockup by using the pedal to modulate the brakes rather than ABS) is the FASTEST way to stop in dry conditions. ABS is mainly benificial in the wet/slippery conditions. It keeps the wheels from lockup, allowing you to maneuver somewhat while braking in either wet or dry conditions.

Moral of the story...Tires and suspension have MUCH more to do with stopping distance than brake pads/rotors. (trust me, my Seargent agrees who is a trained Accident Reconstruction Expert for our P.D.)

 

Sorry, got a little off topic there...

 

Mmmmm....Brembos.