brake upgrade
10-17-2014, 09:32 PM
#1
richard cranium
Thread Starter
brake upgrade
Just wanted to know what's the best brake upgrade for the 1st gen rdx . better pads with upgraded rotors , big brake kit ( 2 piece rotors? , ss brake lines , fluid . any thoughts appreciated . also weight savings? . thanks team !
10-18-2014, 11:38 AM
#2
1) Fast Brakes BBK based on 4 or 6 pot Wilwood calipers with 13-14" rotors and hawks pads.
2) Project Mu Acura TSX BBK customized for RDX.
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crxtype-r (10-19-2014)
10-19-2014, 07:43 PM
#3
richard cranium
Thread Starter
good stuff . thanks . need to do something ,not stopping so good right now . got the ebay special and it's not enough bite .any info helps or personal experience with a setup someone is already running . thanks guys.
10-19-2014, 08:58 PM
#4
If we are talking about city driving, than a very simple upgrade to some performance rotors/pads should be enough.
If we are talking about race track experience where sometimes you need to brake from 160 to 0 an a very short distance then 4-6 pots kits and some very aggressive pads are in need.
Also it depends on your budget - a good BBK will cost you about 2k.
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crxtype-r (10-19-2014)
10-20-2014, 11:36 AM
#6
The problem with using another car's brake calipers is that you might mess up stock brake bias, effectively making you stop LONGER than current RDX brakes.
remember, each car is set up to perform differently with different sized Master cylinders and different sized rotors.
they all need to play well with each other to get shorter stopping distances.
OP never said whats wrong with his set up.
are the pads fading?
does he want more initial bite?
What does he want out of an aftermarket brake set up?
without measuring the stock braking distance, how can some one tell if they improved braking?
remember, each car is set up to perform differently with different sized Master cylinders and different sized rotors.
they all need to play well with each other to get shorter stopping distances.
OP never said whats wrong with his set up.
are the pads fading?
does he want more initial bite?
What does he want out of an aftermarket brake set up?
without measuring the stock braking distance, how can some one tell if they improved braking?
10-20-2014, 01:16 PM
#7
^ all good factors..
i think the rdx brakes are rather small to begin with... you should ask KenB what brakes he went with and go off those.. i wouldnt go as big but deff a bigger size would help
i think the rdx brakes are rather small to begin with... you should ask KenB what brakes he went with and go off those.. i wouldnt go as big but deff a bigger size would help
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10-20-2014, 05:07 PM
#8
richard cranium
Thread Starter
i know ken went with the k sport bbk. i have to ask him his opinion on it. I got the ebay special F & R zinc slotted rotors with ceramic pads, works ok for know (OK!?) . but for future mods want to upgrade with F & R braided lines and a good quad caliper with some nice pads (maybe carbotech pads) i run those pads with wilwood quad calipers on a 2 piece rotor on my H2 class scca crx . i think a 6 pot is over kill. but whatever they make. is what it is . just want something i can use as a daily driver but need when i get some spirited driving in. rdx 2 pots and stock pads prone to brake fade . want the reassurance. you know . input much appreciated . thanks gents !
Last edited by crxtype-r; 10-20-2014 at 05:09 PM. Reason: mispelling
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justnspace (10-20-2014)
10-20-2014, 05:28 PM
#9
^ahh, cool! now we get into what you really want!! 
Do the stock pads fade that bad??
the SS lines will help out a lot!!!
also try some DOT 5.1 fluid, it has a higher boiling point.
I wonder if Ksport actually put in the R&D to match brake bias on the RDX.
Do the stock pads fade that bad??
the SS lines will help out a lot!!!
also try some DOT 5.1 fluid, it has a higher boiling point.
I wonder if Ksport actually put in the R&D to match brake bias on the RDX.
10-20-2014, 07:29 PM
#11
Guys:
1) We already have SS braided lines in stock. And they are good.
2) DOT 5.1 is not a big help on RDX. I have Motul 5.1 in my system. Almost no difference.
Our pair rotors+pads are infamous for brake fading, thats true.
Simply because we have exactly the same size as CRV III has. However CRV weighs 250 kg less.
But the problem is not with a pair rotor+pads and even with the calipers. The problem is our MBC. Its not efficient enough and thats why people who went to install TL-S calipers said the difference is not that significant.
I would use 4pots Wilwood BBK with 2-piece rotors.
1) We already have SS braided lines in stock. And they are good.
2) DOT 5.1 is not a big help on RDX. I have Motul 5.1 in my system. Almost no difference.
Our pair rotors+pads are infamous for brake fading, thats true.
Simply because we have exactly the same size as CRV III has. However CRV weighs 250 kg less.
But the problem is not with a pair rotor+pads and even with the calipers. The problem is our MBC. Its not efficient enough and thats why people who went to install TL-S calipers said the difference is not that significant.
I would use 4pots Wilwood BBK with 2-piece rotors.
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justnspace (10-21-2014)
10-21-2014, 07:36 AM
#12
Guys:
1) We already have SS braided lines in stock. And they are good.
2) DOT 5.1 is not a big help on RDX. I have Motul 5.1 in my system. Almost no difference.
Our pair rotors+pads are infamous for brake fading, thats true.
Simply because we have exactly the same size as CRV III has. However CRV weighs 250 kg less.
But the problem is not with a pair rotor+pads and even with the calipers. The problem is our MBC. Its not efficient enough and thats why people who went to install TL-S calipers said the difference is not that significant.
I would use 4pots Wilwood BBK with 2-piece rotors.
1) We already have SS braided lines in stock. And they are good.
2) DOT 5.1 is not a big help on RDX. I have Motul 5.1 in my system. Almost no difference.
Our pair rotors+pads are infamous for brake fading, thats true.
Simply because we have exactly the same size as CRV III has. However CRV weighs 250 kg less.
But the problem is not with a pair rotor+pads and even with the calipers. The problem is our MBC. Its not efficient enough and thats why people who went to install TL-S calipers said the difference is not that significant.
I would use 4pots Wilwood BBK with 2-piece rotors.
it'll just have the same problems; as most likely, they didnt spend the R&D to match it with the Master Cylinder.
if stock is prone to brake fade; try to find the largest rotors that will fit. a larger diameter rotor will act like a heat sink and will shed heat faster.
also, one could innovate a brake cooling duct.
instead of throwing parts at something to make it better, why not improve or innovate the factory brakes...
I bet cooling them via brake duct would help out immensely.
10-21-2014, 08:22 AM
#14
richard cranium
Thread Starter
my brake fade was only on the stock setup, witch the factory pads suck. even with the ebay spaecial setup I don't even get fade . just with more mods want to feel safer and better stopping power. the master cylinder isn't the problem it's just finding the right pad and rotor and also justnspace ( dancing crabby) me likey. , i removed my factory fog lamps and ran flexable dryer vent hose and made some brake cooling ducts. who needs the fog lamps anywho.
10-22-2014, 06:05 AM
#15
All factors I'm very aware of. I know the 3rd gen TL-S ran a 4 pot Brembo caliper, unsure of what size rotor. Reason I brought it up, is I have been looking into doing a 5 lug swap on my civic, and running these with s2000 rotors. It has been done before, with great results. If able to swap simple parts, for use, this could be a great upgrade for minimal cost on the RDX, and would look killer as well. haha.
10-22-2014, 07:22 AM
#16
richard cranium
Thread Starter
do you need to change the knucle with the tl-s calipers or just get braketes and who or where to get them from , brakets that is. fast brake? and you can just make a custom line. thoughts?
10-22-2014, 07:56 AM
#17
^yes, you need the knuckle from the TL-s.
again, every one thinks it will be a great upgrade; and it even feels like an upgrade with shorter pedal travel.
but in reality, the math doesnt lie.
the master cylinder has to be properly sized for the caliper.
the TL guise THOUGHT that by putting on the RL's Larger brake caliper that we would get better results.
it's not the case and we ended up getting LONGER stopping times.
again, every one thinks it will be a great upgrade; and it even feels like an upgrade with shorter pedal travel.
but in reality, the math doesnt lie.
the master cylinder has to be properly sized for the caliper.
the TL guise THOUGHT that by putting on the RL's Larger brake caliper that we would get better results.
it's not the case and we ended up getting LONGER stopping times.
10-22-2014, 08:05 AM
#19
My 2006 TL came with factory Brembos up front.
Do you guise know how bad I want to swap my ugly 1 piston rear caliper to either the STi or Evo rear brake calipers???????????????
I really want a BBK on the rear.
but guess what...
while it will bolt up and fit on the TL; it's not sized properly and will likely give me horrible results.
Just because you can and it fits; Doesnt mean you should.
Do you guise know how bad I want to swap my ugly 1 piston rear caliper to either the STi or Evo rear brake calipers???????????????
I really want a BBK on the rear.
but guess what...
while it will bolt up and fit on the TL; it's not sized properly and will likely give me horrible results.
Just because you can and it fits; Doesnt mean you should.
10-22-2014, 10:43 AM
#20
My 2006 TL came with factory Brembos up front.
Do you guise know how bad I want to swap my ugly 1 piston rear caliper to either the STi or Evo rear brake calipers???????????????
I really want a BBK on the rear.
but guess what...
while it will bolt up and fit on the TL; it's not sized properly and will likely give me horrible results.
Just because you can and it fits; Doesnt mean you should.
Do you guise know how bad I want to swap my ugly 1 piston rear caliper to either the STi or Evo rear brake calipers???????????????
I really want a BBK on the rear.
but guess what...
while it will bolt up and fit on the TL; it's not sized properly and will likely give me horrible results.
Just because you can and it fits; Doesnt mean you should.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>Just because you can and it fits; Doesnt mean you should.<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
holy crap this guy has a brain!!!!!!!!!
yeah this is absolutely the case I was looking for something at one point and just dropped it because nothing was available for less then $$1,400.00 and that was the front only. I figure I'll just get the k-sport setup that ken is running and get some FAT rims and tires at that point as well so that I can use all that braking capacity when I get them.
sad fact. my 92 jeep Cherokee with 4.5 inches of lift and 32BFG A/T stopped better then my 08 RDX from 60, 70, 80, to 0 and it only had a rear disc brake swap from a 98 grand Cherokee and slotted rotors and ebc pads in the front. I got sick of doing drum brakes.
10-22-2014, 09:36 PM
#21
richard cranium
Thread Starter
dito think i'll go with the ksport that ken is running . it's the best price and design for what i need it for , and looks good now just need l/w wheels
11-05-2014, 01:50 PM
#22
Instructor
I ended up going with EBC. Got the Redstuff pads and Ultimax rotors on all 4. It feels like it stops quicker. They look great and are much better performing than stock. I purchased them from Autoplicity for about $450 total. Took them over a month to order them from EBC for some reason, that's according to EBC themselves.
11-05-2014, 10:07 PM
#23
richard cranium
Thread Starter
went with wilwood six pot calipers and 14' 2-peice rotors and braided lines all around, should be here in 2 weeks. have to have the brackets made . gonna try to run the stock wheels .
11-08-2014, 07:38 PM
#33
Drifting
Ok protoRDX, these are not Honda Civics. The reason why (I'm sure you read this on a civic or a civic style rear disc BBK website) civic application says it will lose it's e-brake function, because their e-brakes are connected to the same line. However, our RDX and most SUV's have a hub style e-brake. Our e-brake is not connected to the brake line, it has it's own line.
Hub style:
Disc style:
Guess which one we have.....
Hub style:
Disc style:
Guess which one we have.....
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protoRDX (12-13-2014)
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protoRDX (12-13-2014)
11-19-2014, 09:19 PM
#40
Looking at a EBC & redstuff pad upgrade. Then I read on the EBC website that redstuff pads are NOT made for truck or SUV fitment. I know several companies sell them as part of a package for the RDX. Not sure what to make of this - except many folks seem to like them on the RDX. Are they intended for lighter vehicles?