Now that the turbo and fuel system is all upgraded, I think it's time to look at the braking system!

I've searched and searched the forum for trying to find some actual figures for how much power the stock system will support, but so far I haven't found anything!

From what I can gather they are good for up to about 300hp, but what happens up around 4-500hp?

I know it's not just in the brakes but in the tires as well and as I'm more than happy with the tires, this is why I'm starting to look at the brakes.

Will standard disc's slotted and some good Hawk pads do the trick or should I look at getting bigger disc's and calipers?

I know there are a few options such as the EVO kit or a combo kit of maybe BXW and toyota but then the issue of brake biasing comes into play which I wanted to avoid! But then this could be done using a variable brake bias if it came down to it.

I'm running 18" wheels so space isn't a problem but I would like something that pulss me up reasonably quickly!

Be good to know what you guys have done with the same sort of HP figures...

 

i want to find out the same i was thining hawkpads or green stuff with slotted rotors

 

What are you doing with the car?

 

The car will mostly be used on the street, will take part in the odd track day and strip days during the summer.

 

IN my experience, the stock T2 brakes are fine. Just get whatever pads suit your needs. For street use, ceramics will be fine.

What you need to keep in mind is proper suspension tuning so that you can control the vehicle under hard braking.

 

arghx - what ceramic pads have you used in the past, any manufacturers you'd recommend?

I've been looking into "Performance Friction' and 'Hawk' Pads so far, any other better options?

Will be doing this at the same time as some of the suspension, have got new struts and springs in the car at the moment but will be upgrading the sway bars, this was going to be the next topic. Was planning to use the RB sway bars and links and was also thinking of getting the slotted discs from RB too.

 

It's a bit off topic but this is how the car sits at the moment, may possibly upgrade to coilovers but this will be at a much later date, if I start doing more track work, it'll come to the top of the list.

 

I am doing big brakes on all 4 corners now using stock calipers, its not a cheap or all that easy project, but in the end i feel it is worth the effort.
Yes the stock brakes are good, to a point, but after improving everything else why not the brakes too?

 

If you are doing a track event, you just swap in some track pads. For the street, you "can't" use anything too extreme, they'll just make noise (and you'll draw attention). My basic hawk HP+ pads screamed in agony at every stop sign. And for street driving, they really don't make a difference. For the record I would swap them in the day before my track event, and take them out the day after.

When you're on the street, just don't unleash the car. You won't need to worry about the brakes doing normal driving, so you can use normal pads. It's that easy.

 

If you keep your foot off the pedal on the right then upgraded brakes don't necessarily enter the equation.
Now if you USE the HP and get up to Excess speed that is where you need good brakes.

 

I haven't built the car not to not mash that right pedal down hard, thats one of the reasons I'm looking at the brakes, it's all well and good to go fast but stopping is sometimes overlooked.

So far the slotted disc's and upgraded pads are looking good, I'm still interested in hearing of some 'upgrade' suggestions....

 

I got slotted rotors with EBC Green pads.
good combo I find for all around driving and some Spirited roads.
My buddy will attest that the dash board tastes like Mints..(showed him the stopping power and he wasn't Ready!)

 

What tires will you be running?

 

I was just reading into the green EBC pads, I think it will be between them and Hawk HPS, have heard good things about both.

For the tyres I'll be running Potenza's all round, 235 50 18 on the rear and 205 50 18 on the front. Will try and squeeze bigger on the rear but not sure if it'll fit....

 

What I've come up with in the disc side of things are the power slot cryogenically treaded rotors, I've seen some others out there, frozen rotors etc that are very similar.

Has anyone had experience with these?

They claim they have extended life and they are only about $30 more per disc than standard slotted disc's.

 

Stainless steel brake lines. One of the better bangs for the buck in Mazdatrix, if you're looking to do more than a pad-and-rotor upgrade. Do you already have the 4 caliper fronts?

 

these are the best things since sliced bread, its amazing.

IMO on the street where you need to really only stop once, you don't need much, on the track where you need to stop more than once, the stock brakes are going to start being small...

 

I already have the 4 pot calipers up front so that's all sorted, have been looking at the braided lines, will check out mazdatrix.

 

I'm also going to chime in since I need brake advice as well. Mines only an N/A street car that may see one or two track days this summer. I'm replacing all 4 rotors and pads all around and getting stainless lines, but should I just buy rotors and pads from local parts store for about 1/4 of the price of brand name stuff or should I spend the extra on brand name rotors and pads?

 

Rotors from the autoparts store are fine... most racers use the cheapest rotors they can find.

get nicer brake pads...

 

I dont.think you have enough tire for.serious braking power. If you can lock your oem brakes with those tires, you dont need more brakes. Just better pads for repeated braking. You should just get cheap.blanks. and good pads. Or just pads.

 

How much bigger tires would you recommend, the front for me is the problem, they're a 3 piece wheel and I've already had to replace the inner rim of the front wheels with narrower ones, the tires were rubbing on the strut tower. I may be able to squeeze 215's up front, would really like 225 but that's not going to happen.

 

Raybestos ceramic pads on all 4 corners with drilled and slotted rotors,good suspension upgrades and new braided lines and i have no issues stoping mine!

 

Get a set of 17x9s and 255 tires around or maybe even x10 in rear with 285s. I can't believe you run 235s in rear with 400-500hp. If you want performance, you should think about better wheel/tire combo for track only use. And keep those for street.

 

I only had to upgrade my brakes when I was running 255/40/17 DOT-R's

With 205's in the front you should be fine with stock calipers and blank rotors running Hawk HP+
It would also be beneficial to swap out the stock brake lines with Stainless to improve pedal feel and flush out your fluid and replace with ATE Super Blue.

Time to go wide in order to best use that 400-500 hp.