brake advise for my evo

[Zivic]

Originally Posted by SpatiallyAware

If you're not a nutty streetracer, and not doing timed events, then why wouldn't the stock brakes be ok? It's not like this is a civic or something that came with shit brakes.. It's a serious question here, as they seem to be decent from what little I've read. If you're not dragging them, and letting them cool off, then what's the deal?

Also, you're judging the "feel" of brakes that were heavily abused and using that to determine whether or not to spend >$2500

Yeah, the whole brembo thing is a mess in my opinion. The nissan brembos are chinese calipers with a brembo sticker. They are still good brakes, plenty for any type of street or even trackday stuff.... but not as good as real brembos.

I guess my hesitation is this...
when I got the car, I put new rotors and new pads on the car. never really was happy with the brakes. tried a few set of pads and still not happy. as long as the seals aren't leaking in the calipers, what is to make me think a rebuilt setup is going to be "that" much different/better?

I have been debating this for a month now, I am obviously trying to find the most cost effective solution that I will be happy with.

Your statement about the brembos on the Z is what I feel is the same with the evo. brembo only put a sticker on a lesser quality caliper..

just for clarification, my evo is a 2006 IX... someone in thread mentioned it was a X. Not sure of the differences but I think the X has a better stock estup

[SpatiallyAware]

Originally Posted by Zivic

I guess my hesitation is this...
when I got the car, I put new rotors and new pads on the car. never really was happy with the brakes. tried a few set of pads and still not happy. as long as the seals aren't leaking in the calipers, what is to make me think a rebuilt setup is going to be "that" much different/better?

I have been debating this for a month now, I am obviously trying to find the most cost effective solution that I will be happy with.

Your statement about the brembos on the Z is what I feel is the same with the evo. brembo only put a sticker on a lesser quality caliper..

just for clarification, my evo is a 2006 IX... someone in thread mentioned it was a X. Not sure of the differences but I think the X has a better stock estup

Ahhhhhhh why did you wait this long to tell us (me) this!? LOL

Ok, if you've tried new stock rotors/pads and still are not happy then may be it's worth upgrading.

And FWIW, I've been where you are.. I've cooked the brakes on my m coupe up in the mountains by not letting them cool off properly while driving like a hoon while someone was 'chasing' me. I still didn't go out and spend $3k on brakes... I replaced my pads/rotors at like $600 and am simply more careful with them. Granted my car came with good brakes, but still... My point is that on the street you should just be out having fun. It's not worth all this money on a car like that.

If you're racing the clock or competing then it's a whole different story.

[Zivic]

Originally Posted by SpatiallyAware

It's not worth all this money on a car like that.
.

the evo IX is a modern day classic. last true evo. I have owned the car for 2 yrs now and I actually think it has increased in value

[SpatiallyAware]

Originally Posted by Zivic

the evo IX is a modern day classic. last true evo. I have owned the car for 2 yrs now and I actually think it has increased in value

FWIW changing brakes will lower the value in the long run........


When I say "car like that" I mean that it's already a good sports car from the factory, no disrespect intended... it's not worth it in the sense that it already came with good brakes.

[Zivic]

Originally Posted by SpatiallyAware

Ahhhhhhh why did you wait this long to tell us (me) this!? LOL

Ok, if you've tried new stock rotors/pads and still are not happy then may be it's worth upgrading.

And FWIW, I've been where you are.. I've cooked the brakes on my m coupe up in the mountains by not letting them cool off properly while driving like a hoon while someone was 'chasing' me. I still didn't go out and spend $3k on brakes... I replaced my pads/rotors at like $600 and am simply more careful with them. Granted my car came with good brakes, but still... My point is that on the street you should just be out having fun. It's not worth all this money on a car like that.

If you're racing the clock or competing then it's a whole different story.

and don't get me wrong, the car will STOP... but it isn't confidence inspiring. if you brake hard from 70-75, you have a little shot of adrenalin as you fear it won't stop, then you push harder and over do it a bit. I am not happy with the initial bite nor the modulation.

I guess I drive my Z and when I was testing the car out for the head lift/cooling issues, I beat on it for 1.5 hrs or better, braking a lot and they just kept feeling better and better. not the case with the evo

[Imported]

Was the Wilwood kit you priced out from Wilwood or another dealer? I know I've seen a ton of kits that use Wilwood calipers from different retailers for my Miata. Just quickly looking around about that Essex kit, it's similar to the Wilwood SL6R.

Did you also take a look at Racing Brakes' kit? I've never used their calipers, but I have used their 2pc rotors before.

I'd just make sure there's good pad selection with whichever kit you do end up getting.

[SpatiallyAware]

Originally Posted by Zivic

and don't get me wrong, the car will STOP... but it isn't confidence inspiring. if you brake hard from 70-75, you have a little shot of adrenalin as you fear it won't stop, then you push harder and over do it a bit. I am not happy with the initial bite nor the modulation.

I guess I drive my Z and when I was testing the car out for the head lift/cooling issues, I beat on it for 1.5 hrs or better, braking a lot and they just kept feeling better and better. not the case with the evo

I dunno, I hear where you're coming from but I still disagree. Since you replaced your rotors (but then warped them afterwards) it says that there's something wrong with your driving style.

Keep in mind to always cool off the brakes after beating on them.. IE never run them hot and then stop. Always coast around a bit until they cool down before stopping the car or you will get the warped feeling from the pads bonding to the rotor.

[JCH13]

Try some Proterfield R4S pads then... or maybe R4E pads if you're super-serial about your braking performance, with some new rotors, and see what happens.

[Zivic]

Originally Posted by Imported

Was the Wilwood kit you priced out from Wilwood or another dealer? I know I've seen a ton of kits that use Wilwood calipers from different retailers for my Miata. Just quickly looking around about that Essex kit, it's similar to the Wilwood SL6R.

Did you also take a look at Racing Brakes' kit? I've never used their calipers, but I have used their 2pc rotors before.

I'd just make sure there's good pad selection with whichever kit you do end up getting.

it's the wilwood kit from wilwood, not a pieced together kit.

LINK


I can get full front and rears with pads and lines for about 3000 give or take depending if i want red or black calipers.

I have racing brake two piece rotors right now. I won't use them again for rotors. girodisc are a bit cheaper and I think some will say they are better.

the pad selection is a concern. I can get any pad I can think of with the ap setup and the pad I know I want is available with the alcon. the wilwood setup limits me, but many people like the wilwood pads that are available

[Zivic]

just got off the phone with a car buddy of mine. I went back to the essex rep and asked for better pricing. if he comes down to his previous promo price, I am going with that kit. isn't too much more than a rebuild, has tons of pad choices at 1/2 the price of oem pads, and cheap replacement rings.