Doing it backwards?

[Gripology]

So when my wife told me for about the 200th time that i wasn't getting a new car anytime soon, i decided that i would put some work into the car i have. I checked the forums, this one and a couple of others to figure out what i could do and in what order to do them. Here is what i found.

There are a lot of people, honda, toyota, etc., who are beefing up the engine compartment and the looks of the cars, but not really doing much for the thing that really matters...brakes.

Now maybe i'm crazy, but does it drive anyone else bezerk to see these GIANT SUV's with the 26" wheels, rollin' along, driver on the celly, two screaming kids in the back and the stereo loud enough to make me think that Revelations wasn't a really bad acid trip, and the brake rotors are smaller than my stock honda's?

Anyway..maybe i'm frustrated. I have been putting a lot of time and money into my car lately and, from the outside, i can't see a difference. I haven't lowered it yet, new wheels are a ways away. Tinting or new lights are far off. I guess i'm just wondering if anyone else has or is going through this or did their upgrades "backwards". I thought i was being smart, thinking safety before looks, but now...

Someone put me back on track! This weekend i'm doing the drum to disc swap and until i get new wheels, I WONT SEE ALL THE WORK!!! UGG!

[gloryaccordy]

I've always wanted to upgrade my rotors/pads, but having to get them pressed off turned me off to it. The best way to upgrade your brakes is to cut weight from your car...

[starchland]

bolt ons dont add that much power to warrant new brakes immediately, but ya it is somewhat neglected.

[Gripology]

bolt ons dont add that much power to warrant new brakes immediately, but ya it is somewhat neglected.

I'm not upgrading really. Stock rotors on both ends, but SS brake lines and performance pads. The stock rotors seem to work just fine for stopping. I just thought it was interesting reading everyones parts lists and not finding a lot of brake upgrades.

quick note, right away i noticed a significant difference when i switched from the stock brake lines to the SS. Pedal feel is much stiffer and there is no fade on hard braking. Easy job too. Took me and a friend about 45 minutes for each front side (sharing tools, changing the pads and bleeding the lines) and about 20mins for the rears. Someone with more experience in this could surely do it faster. I highly recommend this for anyone who likes to drive fast and might have to stop fast too!

[Gemini]

I will definately think about that because I do drive fast and stop hard evryday of my life.

[4GAccordH22]

In order of installation:
cross drilled rotors
strut bars and a tie bar
17" rims w/ 215/40/17 tires
EBC GreenStuff pads
H22A1 with header and CAI (and auto to manual swap)
2.25" exhaust
Eibach Pro-kit springs and Tokico HP (blues) struts
Optima red-top battery
S-AFC II (I know, no VTEC controller, but I got a good deal on it)
Next up (when I have money again) is the rear disc swap

I don't think that was backwards...

[dubdealer]

Your right, brakes aren't necessarily the first on a list of people things to do. My engines out, so I don't think it's going to need to stop from...well...0 mph real quick. Wasn't there a right up somewhere about how the drum rears actually were better in performance than a rear disc? I might be delusional? Sorry for the scattered thoughts, what's next on your wagon (awesome choice).

Aaron

[wed3k]

i do everything when a component goes out.

so i put in a brake booster, new master cylinder, new rotors, new pads and rebuilt calipers.

[SteveB]

I've always wanted to upgrade my rotors/pads, but having to get them pressed off turned me off to it. The best way to upgrade your brakes is to cut weight from your car...

The only thing I used a press for was the bearing. I'm sure there is a DIY for this....even the factory manual doesn't use a press.

[wed3k]

duh...i made a DIY on this. GOSH

[Clueless]

Welcome to cb7tuner, no I don't do things backwards!

[DeathFromAbove]

trust me....if wilwood made a kit for our cars, i'd have had it ages ago. there's really not too much we can do to our brakes. swap to legend calipers or NSX...but that's hard to find. only real option out there is like...powerslot/aem BBK, which is a good 3 times overpriced. i think brembo makes for our car, i recall checking like 5 years ago on their site, and it was something like 4g. how about no.

i'll be happy with some PBR ceramics on Brembos. i mean, h22's came in preludes, and they weren't rocking 4 pots off the assembly line....it's not like our cars are fast like ferraris....OEM brakes are sufficient with some good pads.

[Gripology]

i wasnt trying to insult anyone or their rides. i'm pretty sure there are a loads of people taking care of the handling first. i was simply venting and maybe a little jealous looking at everyone elses cars. sorry if i offended anyone.

[Shuebakka]

I don't think you offended anyone. I think its better to get it over with in the begining. I did rotors/pads third i think, after my swaybar #1 and clear corners #2. Do things in whatever order you want

[DeathFromAbove]

i am terribly offended. i will block you now. i hate you. may a great plague strike your family!