Brake upgrade for non-S

[racer_d]

I like this confusing discussion, but I agree with JIM.... It doesn't matter how much HP your car has. HP doesn't impact brakes. As it was once explained to me, as long as you have enough braking power to "lock them up" then you have "enough brake".

The advantage to larger brakes is their ability to stand up to REPEATED heavy braking. Heat management. Stopping once or twice on the street, or slowing from 70-30 a couple times on the highway will not show much difference.

BTW, the reported 7 foot difference is braking distances is likely MORE attributable to weather, tire and road conditions than the brakes themselves.

[JackG]

[QUOTE=racer_d]I like this confusing discussion, but I agree with JIM.... It doesn't matter how much HP your car has. HP doesn't impact brakes. As it was once explained to me, as long as you have enough braking power to "lock them up" then you have "enough brake".

--- You are over-simplifying things, and someone you knew was mis-informed. A set of brakes can be designed that can "lock" in a quick braking excercise, but will overheat and fade rather quickly on the track. They are not "enough". All brakes are not the same.

The advantage to larger brakes is their ability to stand up to REPEATED heavy braking. Heat management. Stopping once or twice on the street, or slowing from 70-30 a couple times on the highway will not show much difference.

--- Agreed, that is one big advantage.

BTW, the reported 7 foot difference is braking distances is likely MORE attributable to weather, tire and road conditions than the brakes themselves.

--- Were you there? Are you sure? Maybe it was skewed, but in the other direction. The actual diff is 16 feet, in the S brake's favor.

I've never known a racer that said " I have enough brakes." Are you sure you are a racer, racer_d? Everyone knows that if you have better brakes, you can go faster. If you go faster, you need better brakes. The recipe for better brakes is widely known. More rotor, more pad, etc. You guys duke it out...

:ah:

[Slashmatt]

I don't know what the original poster really wants here.

Could you please explain the problem you percieve with your stock system?

1. Do your brakes fade too much on the track? (This will most likely NEVER be the case on most roads)

2. Do you have so little braking that you cannot outbrake your tires? (This means that in a solid braking situation you cannot invoke your ABS)

3. Do you think that your brakes don't have enough response? (This means you have trouble modulating your brakes)

For 1: Try better rotors; if you can find rotors that cool more efficently than the stock rotors, go for it. Also, get Motul 600, ATE or similar high performance fluid with a high boiling point.

For 2: First, try different pads. For road/light track cars I like Hawk HPS and Pagid Blues

For 3: Teflon coated stainless steel lines. (Night and Day difference in brake feel)

Okay, how do I know all of this? I've tracked a couple of cars (Miata/Z3 2.5i/NSX/Vette Z06) and driven thousands of back country miles in supercars.

The best brake feel I've ever experienced was with my NSX. The stock brakes were horrible (2 Piston single sided cast jobs with small rotors). Without changing calipers or rotor size, I achieved braking greatness by taking the steps above.

I don't know if you just want to spend money or if you want better brakes, but that's the way I'd go first.

If I knew where to get some good multi-piece rotors that fit the stock calipers for my new used '04 Boxster S, that'd be the first thing I'd do.