Aftermarket brakes or big brakes?

[1991TSiGFORCE]

I'm debating on going after market brakes or going big brakes for my 1991 eagle talon tsi. I want to keep my stock wheels on my car so I'm debating which would be better. Going with big brakes or after market brakes? Let me know. Thanks.

 

[Cs4g63]

Just stepping up to the big brakes is a very good economical upgrade. I have done it with most of the DSMs ive owned and am always satisfied enough to not go any bigger on the brakes.

 

[kahl23]

Most aftermarket brakes require that you run a 17" wheel to clear the larger rotors, although I'm pretty sure TCE and maybe Stoptech offer a kit with a smaller rotor so that you can run 16" wheels. Another issue with aftermarket brakes is caliper clearance. On our car with Volk TE37s and Stoptechs in the front we had to run a small spacer to have the spokes clear the calipers. I know that Stoptech has a printable template that will allow you to check for caliper clearance if you have a set of wheels on hand. What do you want to get from this upgrade? If you want to keep stock wheels, then it would probably be easiest to use a factory big brake upgrade.

 

[1991TSiGFORCE]

So stick with the big brakes then? I was planning on going with drill slot brakes. Is there really anything different from drill slot brakes then big brakes? I guess what I'm trying to say is that which of these would be better for drag racing, street racing, etc. for braking?

 

[andy4g63]

I don't know, what you mean by BIG brakes, but depends mostly on your goals for the car. Most aftermarket brakes, like BAER, or Wiloods from TCE, or Stoptech, require 17" to cleard the caliper. And your stock wheels are 16". Second it is a little inconvenient, if you have a 13" rotor in front and get a flat tire, you can not install the factory spare AKA, DONUT. Simply will not fit 16" wheel over 13" rotor. You have to take out one of your rear tires, put it in front/you have to be running 17"s/, and put the donut in the back- it is a big headache.

I would recommend, upgrade to a 2G, two piston calipers and brackets, SS brake lines ,all around and some serious pads, like Porterfield's from RRE. You will be more, thanhappy.

 

[1991TSiGFORCE]

Big brakes are from 2nd gen...

 

[1991TSiGFORCE]

Most aftermarket brakes require that you run a 17" wheel to clear the larger rotors, although I'm pretty sure TCE and maybe Stoptech offer a kit with a smaller rotor so that you can run 16" wheels. Another issue with aftermarket brakes is caliper clearance. On our car with Volk TE37s and Stoptechs in the front we had to run a small spacer to have the spokes clear the calipers. I know that Stoptech has a printable template that will allow you to check for caliper clearance if you have a set of wheels on hand. What do you want to get from this upgrade? If you want to keep stock wheels, then it would probably be easiest to use a factory big brake upgrade.

Thats the thing. I know if I get other upgrades for my brake system I'm going to need bigger rims which I'm not planning on. I just want to stick with my stock rims. Thats why I'm asking which of these brake system would work better for drag racing or street racing. Those two were like the only options so far but other than that I would like to know which of these will work best for me.

 

[Cs4g63]

I don't know, what you mean by BIG brakes, but depends mostly on your goals for the car. Most aftermarket brakes, like BAER, or Wiloods from TCE, or Stoptech, require 17" to cleard the caliper. And your stock wheels are 16". Second it is a little inconvenient, if you have a 13" rotor in front and get a flat tire, you can not install the factory spare AKA, DONUT. Simply will not fit 16" wheel over 13" rotor. You have to take out one of your rear tires, put it in front/you have to be running 17"s/, and put the donut in the back- it is a big headache.

I would recommend, upgrade to a 2G, two piston calipers and brackets, SS brake lines ,all around and some serious pads, like Porterfield's from RRE. You will be more, thanhappy.

Im 99.9% sure he did just mean the dual piston caliper brake setups off the 3000gt and the the 2g AWDs.

 

[1991TSiGFORCE]

Alright guys. Thanks for the help. Now I know which one I want to go with, but I also have another question. If I do upgrade to big brakes, Don't I need to change my proportional valve?

 

[webconnect]

Go with aftermarket brakes. Trust me, the "big" brake caliper/pistons we have is no big deal. You will be disappointed . Its like going t25 to 14b. Yeah its cool and all, (for about 5 seconds) then you just will want more.

 

[1991TSiGFORCE]

Go with aftermarket brakes. Trust me, the "big" brake caliper/pistons we have is no big deal. You will be disappointed . Its like going t25 to 14b. Yeah its cool and all, (for about 5 seconds) then you just will want more.

So you saying going with after market brake is better off than big brakes?

 

[kahl23]

Depends. Most people don't realize that braking force is dependent on how much grip you have available. If you have stock brakes and only are concerned with slowing down the car after a 1/4 mile run or on the street in a panic stop, then you would see the biggest gains from getting slotted (not cross drilled) rotors, super sticky tires and aggressive pads. If available braking force is greater than available grip you either activate the ABS if you have it or lock up the front tires. The main benefit of running an aftermarket brakes is that the larger thicker rotors offer more material to absorb heat and more surface area on the caliper over which to distribute the braking force, as well as some increased pressure from a larger caliper. The main advantage of running aftermarket brakes is that they allow for repeated hard braking without overheating, i.e. road racing or autox. For drag racing, they are really unnecessary, and actually add rotating and unsprung weight, which you don't want. I know I've seen a drag Evo or two that actually downgraded to 2g brakes as a budget way of running 15" wheels and slicks. So, I guess the moral of the story here is if you are just interested in drag racing and some spirited driving(please don't street race, and if you do, don't talk about it on here again, you won't like the responses you'll get), the 2g upgrade is probably what you want. If you want to get into auto-x or road racing, look into Stoptech, Baer, and TCE.

 

[1991TSiGFORCE]

Depends. Most people don't realize that braking force is dependent on how much grip you have available. If you have stock brakes and only are concerned with slowing down the car after a 1/4 mile run or on the street in a panic stop, then you would see the biggest gains from getting slotted (not cross drilled) rotors, super sticky tires and aggressive pads. If available braking force is greater than available grip you either activate the ABS if you have it or lock up the front tires. The main benefit of running an aftermarket brakes is that the larger thicker rotors offer more material to absorb heat and more surface area on the caliper over which to distribute the braking force, as well as some increased pressure from a larger caliper. The main advantage of running aftermarket brakes is that they allow for repeated hard braking without overheating, i.e. road racing or autox. For drag racing, they are really unnecessary, and actually add rotating and unsprung weight, which you don't want. I know I've seen a drag Evo or two that actually downgraded to 2g brakes as a budget way of running 15" wheels and slicks. So, I guess the moral of the story here is if you are just interested in drag racing and some spirited driving(please don't street race, and if you do, don't talk about it on here again, you won't like the responses you'll get), the 2g upgrade is probably what you want. If you want to get into auto-x or road racing, look into Stoptech, Baer, and TCE.

If I do decide on either one, what should I go with for brake pads? semi-metallic, ceramics or other after market pads?

 

[erald01]

Just get the 2g brakes because they will make a difference on the 1g since its a little lighter as a car, plus if you do get aftermarket brakes they will cost you to as much as $1500 just for the brakes, where as the 2g brakes you can get from a junk yard for as low as $400 for all four wheels. The way i see it is unless you care about how your brakes look and you want to look cool having brembos or wildwoods then get the aftermarket, if you are making over 600hp then get the aftermarket brakes , but other then that i recommend getting the 2g brakes and you will be left over with at least 1000 dollars, which can help you make your car fast, get new wheels or whatever other plans you have.

 

[1991TSiGFORCE]

Alright... Thanks for the help people...

 

[kahl23]

For the street I think EBC green pads should work well.

 

[TheBlizz]

You got a 91. Get 93-94 brakes. They're 2 piston and are a direct bolt in for your car, You'd need custom lines to run 2g brakes on your 1g.

With that said, my last 93 AWD stopped like a dream with all stock lines, parts store pads and rotors and dot 3 fluid.

 

[andy4g63]

Hawk are actually better pads, but most of all, as I said before get PORTERFIELD R4 brake pads from RRE. The guys, that road race their cars use them.

The thing that actually stops your car is not the brakes, but the tires, period.......
The wider and stckier- better braking.

 

[kahl23]

Ah, good to know, we use BHP XPS, which are great, but unfortunately are no longer available. Something about the cost of carbon going way up. I knew Hawks were supposed to be great on the track, but hadn't heard about their street options.

About the tires, I couldn't agree more

Depends. Most people don't realize that braking force is dependent on how much grip you have available. If you have stock brakes and only are concerned with slowing down the car after a 1/4 mile run or on the street in a panic stop, then you would see the biggest gains from getting slotted (not cross drilled) rotors, super sticky tires and aggressive pads. If available braking force is greater than available grip you either activate the ABS if you have it or lock up the front tires.

For a good example of this, the BMW M5 uses pretty normal looking calipers and relies on the tires to give it the grip to brake well.

 

[JamesRayburn]

If money is no concern then I would go with aftermarket brakes. But if your looking for something relatively cheap and economical then I would get the 93-94 2 piston calipers and rotors. Add some SS brake lines and some nice pads like EBC reds or Hawk's ferro-carbon compound pads and you will have awesome stopping power.

Oh, and brakes do stop the car

 

[sillyme]

what is the difference in rotor size from the 90 gsx eclipse to the 94 gsx eclipse? are the late model rotor bigger or thicker? are the 94 and 98 rotor the same? thanks