Brake selection

Hello ...

I wasn't sure if this is the right forum for brake questions. I have a 97 civic with a GSR and custom turbo. I was looking to up-grade my brakes so that I have enough stopping force for the power that I will be generating, I have 17" Tenzo Passion 5. I was looking at HP Racing brake kit and Rotora brake it. Both kits have CD and Slotted rotors and I was reading some of the forms and they stated that CD and Slotted are not good. So my big question what brake system should I use for my stopping power? Thanks for the advise.

Brembo GT kit!

Either of the kits you looked at should have a slotted ro blanks only option for the rotors. In fact, I KNOW that Rotora kits have a slotted only rotor option as well as one or two-piece rotors. The Brembo GranTourismo kit is a nice one, as is the Rotora, also both Baer and Wilwood make some very nice kits. Whatever you do, DON'T get an AEM big brake kit, those are just for show, and won't help your braking much if any from stock.

If the brake kits a good then why are some saying that its better to go with the Brembo Blanks and get HP or HP+ pads? It was stated that your better of staying stock and just getting aftermath rotors and pad because with brake kis you end up losing about 10-15 hp at the wheels.

...with brake kis you end up losing about 10-15 hp at the wheels.

:eek7: Never heard that one before.

Are you talking about the loss of HP due to additional weight of larger rotors, etc?

That is correct ....phoenixitc. I was reading one of the threads in this forum and they were talking about the lost of HP due to the weight of the larger rotors. So they said it would be best to just get after market rotors and pads. What do you thing about that?

That is correct ....phoenixitc. I was reading one of the threads in this forum and they were talking about the lost of HP due to the weight of the larger rotors. So they said it would be best to just get after market rotors and pads. What do you thing about that?

I'd honestly say that's your best bet unless you know you're for sure doing something that heats up your brakes enough that having a brake kit will be more help than harm.

SilverY2KCivic ... Just making sure that I read your comment correctly. So its best to go with the after market rotors and pads or to go with the brake kits?

I opted for Brembo slotted rotors and AEM pads about 6 weeks ago. Very nice feel and braking. I also added stainless steel brakelines.

SilverY2KCivic ... Just making sure that I read your comment correctly. So its best to go with the after market rotors and pads or to go with the brake kits?


Blank or slotted rotors, and good aftermarket pads like Hawk HPS or HP+ :cool:

Well also remember it is possible to have TOO Much brake for your car. Remember you can only slow down as much as your tires can grip. I mean I ran Hoosiers 225/45x15" fronts and 205/50x15" rears and I can lock them up with my Brembo blanks, HP+ pads, and stainless steel lines while autocrossing.

Yeah, but hes probably not gonna be as hard on the brakes as you were when you were autoXing.

It's simple, especially when it comes to auto-X'ing, I was told this once...

Pads stop the rotor, tires stop the car.
If you can lock up the front tires on every run, you have enough pad, and not enough tire.
If you can't lock up a tire on every run, you need more pad.

It's an endless cycle/circle really. ;) This follows with what CivicSiRacer was saying.