break upgrades - am i doing this right
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 8,222
Likes: 0
From: Norfolk VA
break upgrades - am i doing this right
Okay, I've got about 2 weeks left before my car takes a long boat ride to Germany. Before i ship it, i want to do some upgrades to the break system. It stops fine now, but it doesn't seem to be as firm as it used to be. I just past 20K miles. I bled the breaks in January (about 12K miles ago) and that's when it started to feel a little soft, just normal DOT-3 fluid in there now.
This is what I'm thinking about doing now.
New Break Pads (I was thinking the Hawk pads, or is something else better?)
Stainless Steel Break Lines
better fluid (Motul RBF600 or is something better?)
I mainly use my car on the street, but i want to make sure that i can stop on the Autobahn:reddevil . I'm more concerned with the car stopping than I am with break dust so what pads are the best for stopping? Is this worth the effort or am i wasting my time and money on this?
This is what I'm thinking about doing now.
New Break Pads (I was thinking the Hawk pads, or is something else better?)
Stainless Steel Break Lines
better fluid (Motul RBF600 or is something better?)
I mainly use my car on the street, but i want to make sure that i can stop on the Autobahn:reddevil . I'm more concerned with the car stopping than I am with break dust so what pads are the best for stopping? Is this worth the effort or am i wasting my time and money on this?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 767
Likes: 0
From: potomac md
Re: break upgrades - am i doing this right (Lancer033)
i would get hawk brake pads, baer slotted rotors and stainless steel brake lines. and if u are really really going to push ur car on the autobahn than i would also get the zo6 rear brake ducts to help cool the rear brakes off. i hope this helps :cheers: :seeya
Racer
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 429
Likes: 0
From: Rocky Mount NC
Re: break upgrades - am i doing this right (Lancer033)
I recently did a brake upgrade as well.
DBA Gold Rotors, Hawk HP's, Stainless Lines, Motul 600. I would recommend all of these, except the Hawk pads. Very squeaky, very dusty. Yes, they stop the car, but there are other pads that have similar stopping power, without the squeaking. I've seen forum members recommend EBC greens, perfomance friction z's, or raybestos q/s. Good luck. :cheers:
[Modified by Chandler, 8:02 AM 10/29/2003]
[Modified by Chandler, 8:02 AM 10/29/2003]
DBA Gold Rotors, Hawk HP's, Stainless Lines, Motul 600. I would recommend all of these, except the Hawk pads. Very squeaky, very dusty. Yes, they stop the car, but there are other pads that have similar stopping power, without the squeaking. I've seen forum members recommend EBC greens, perfomance friction z's, or raybestos q/s. Good luck. :cheers:
[Modified by Chandler, 8:02 AM 10/29/2003]
[Modified by Chandler, 8:02 AM 10/29/2003]
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
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From: D*ck ina Box
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Re: break upgrades - am i doing this right (Lancer033)
Checking your brakes for breaks is a good preventive maintenance thing ;) :D
Racer
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 473
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Re: break upgrades - am i doing this right (Lancer033)
Sounds like your brake bleeding technique was not good if you have a mushy pedal afterward. Redo it. I would also check to see what your pad thickness is now. If it is half worn, I would get new pads. I personally think stainless steel brake lines for the street or autobahn are a waste of money. I run stock brake lines on my 99' with over 25 road course events and they are fine.
Racer
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 386
Likes: 0
From: Chicago IL
Re: break upgrades - am i doing this right (Bill Benavitz)
Sounds like your brake bleeding technique was not good if you have a mushy pedal afterward. Redo it. I would also check to see what your pad thickness is now. If it is half worn, I would get new pads. I personally think stainless steel brake lines for the street or autobahn are a waste of money. I run stock brake lines on my 99' with over 25 road course events and they are fine.
Unless they need replacement, stick with the stock rotors - spend the money elsewhere. Get some speedbleeders to help you with the bleed process, upgrade the quality of brake fluid (I like the ATE SuperBlue), and don't bother with SS brake lines. I've run the Hawk pads and didn't like them too much, run EBC greens for street and reds for track now (check Tirerack, that's where I got mine). With the speedbleeders on you can easily flush the old fluid out of there, and the ATE Superblue makes it easy to see when the fresh fluid starts coming through since the color changes. Be sure to follow the proper wheel sequence for bleeding as they made a change somewhere in the Y2K or '01 model year.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 104
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Re: break upgrades - am i doing this right (Lancer033)
I'm running Performance Friction pads and am very pleased. Auto Zone sells them on line.
New front rotors from GM are under $100 each. (less if you get a discount).
Bleed the master cylinder first, then rr,lr,rf,lf farthest to nearest the master cylinder.
Yeah, it's brakes. :)
New front rotors from GM are under $100 each. (less if you get a discount).
Bleed the master cylinder first, then rr,lr,rf,lf farthest to nearest the master cylinder.
Yeah, it's brakes. :)
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,229
Likes: 1
Re: break upgrades - am i doing this right (OldSStroker)
I should mind my own business, but why would you send you car to germany?
will you be driving it in Germany? if so I hope you go on that no speed limit freeway :thumbs:
will you be driving it in Germany? if so I hope you go on that no speed limit freeway :thumbs:
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 8,222
Likes: 0
From: Norfolk VA
Re: break upgrades - am i doing this right (Mean Green)
Checking your brakes for breaks is a good preventive maintenance thing ;) :D
___________________
okay, based on what I've read here, I'll check the pads and replace them if i need to, get some speed bleeders and change the break fluid. Skip the SS lines, the rotors are fine, so i wasn't going to replace them anyways.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 8,222
Likes: 0
From: Norfolk VA
Re: break upgrades - am i doing this right (TheStef)
I should mind my own business, but why would you send you car to germany?
will you be driving it in Germany? if so I hope you go on that no speed limit freeway :thumbs:
will you be driving it in Germany? if so I hope you go on that no speed limit freeway :thumbs:
Racer
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 386
Likes: 0
From: Chicago IL
Re: break upgrades - am i doing this right (Lancer033)
Oh yeah, and lose the dog! Just dead weight, slowing you down. Let's see, AU-GA game is at GA this year, so based upon recent series history guess that means it's a Tigers win. :yesnod: War Damn Eagle! :D
And good luck on the transpo to Germany, hope all goes right for your ride.
And good luck on the transpo to Germany, hope all goes right for your ride.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 889
Likes: 0
From: DFW tx
Re: break upgrades - am i doing this right (Karl_in_Chicago)
If you have a 2001 and up, the bleed sequence is passenger rear, driver FRONT, driver rear, passenger front -- not PR, DR, PF, DF.
I had a problem with spongy brakes on friends accord, after bleeding in the proper sequence, it was fixed.
I had a problem with spongy brakes on friends accord, after bleeding in the proper sequence, it was fixed.