I know the brakes on the FD are pretty good, but I'd really like quicker, firmer, more confident stopping power than what we already have. My DD is a Jeep SRT8 and the 4 piston Brembo brakes are incredible! Now when I drive my FD, I really crave some more braking power.

From what I've read alot here on this forum, is that the popular big brake kits don't really improve power, they just prevent the brakes ftom getting overheated on track-like conditions.

If I wanted to get some seriously stronger "bite" to feel safer in high speed emergency situations, what would be my options?

thanks,

Ian

 

If you want a stronger bite, you just need better brake pads. If you want to stop quicker, you need stickier tires.

Try:

* SS brake lines
* Either Carbotech Bobcat or Bonez Stage I brake pads.

 

Have you changed the brake fluid? Are the brakes in good condition? What kind of pads are installed now. I would be very surprised if a Jeep could really outbrake an FD (just from a weight perspective). If a Jeep SRT8 is your baseline, nothing drastic should be needed since big brake kits, etc. don't really shorten stopping distance, they are for minimizing brake fade in repeated heavy braking situations like on a track. Also, more bite = locked tires- not good for an emergency situation. As said above, tire grip will make the car stop in a shorter distance.

I have a '93 and when I bought it, the brakes were in pretty bad shape (missing and corroded shims, incorrect clips, piston dust boots shot) and the fluid was pretty nasty. Luckily the pistons looked good, but refreshing the brake fluid, putting in stainless steel lines and new pads along with Mazda's caliper rebuild kits (clips, springs, boots, etc.) made them like new.

 

Just to add to the good information already posted: race pads that perform well at very high temps may not give the initial "bite" most people look for when braking on the street, especially when they are cold..

However, street pads that give that bite, may result in horrible fade when subjected to track abuse.. It's always a balancing act.

 

Use your brakes hard, regularly. Kind of the "Italian Tune-Up" for braking systems.

 

I did upgrade my stock system with:

Brembo Drilled & Slotted Rotors,
Hawk HPS Pads,
Flushed with ATE fuids two months ago,
& Steel Braided Lines

I thought the HPS pads would be much better than stock, but there's not that much difference in bite. What wouyld you guys recommend using for some very spirited weekend driving?

Regarding the brkes of the Jeep, the 4 pot Brembos are amazing. They stop my 6000 pound truck from 60 -0 in only 110 feet compared to the FD's stock distance of 135 ft at half the weight. They really are quite impressive.

 

Thanks as always, Mahjik....how do these pads compare to the Hawk HPS?

 

If you're willing to put up with more noise and dust, HP+'s will give more bite. Also, are you sure that it's perfectly bled?

Drilled and slotted rotors aren't an upgrade from a braking perspective, they're nearly 100% for styling.

A brake master cylinder brace does wonders for pedal stiffness, as does a larger MC (929 1").

 

IMO, the HPS's suck ****. They are decent street pad, but that's about it. Carbotech pads are fairly expensive, but IMO they are worth it. I run their track pads on my M3 (the Carbotech XP10's).

On my RX7, I use the Bonez Stage I's:

http://www.rx7.com/store/rx7/fdbrakes.html

The Bonez are a good street/autox pad. They aren't going to have the bite of the Hawk HP+, but they don't squeal and don't tear your rims up with brake dust. I'll most likely switch over to the Carbotech Bobcats when they are done, but I've been very happy with the Bonez. I'll mainly be switching just so I can do bulk orders of my brake pads (both the M3 and the RX7) rather than get one from one place, and another from another place.

 

Thanks!

 

whats the Ford brake fluid that everyone sweats? I can't remember what its called, so I can't find it.
Apparently its some of the best fluid out there

 

Motorcraft High Performance Brake Fluid I believe.

 

If you got money to play with, I've been extremely happy with my RacingBrake 4 wheel upgrade kit. Awesome on track and street performance. Feels like it has more bite than my previous 99 spec kit although I only drove it with EBC Greens and Axxis Ultimate pads.

Otherwise, try the pads that Mahjik suggested.

I'm running Hawk HPS pads on my RB kit and it feels good. I'd prefer a little more bite but not sure if there are street oriented pads that offer more bite and are low dust.

 

Ford DOT3 brake fluid. Ford changed the formulation a few years ago from a 550F boiling point to a 500F boiling point, but you can still find it in the parts stores in the old formulation. I've found it from Prestone within the last year.

 

have russell brake line and axxis ultimate kevlar pads , work great

 

I use hawks hp+ for street and track use.
Hp+ need some warming up to get the "bite", which is why I brake hard when they are cold, until they are warmed up. I know when mines warm up when the pads start squealing a little bit when I brake hard.