The Hoth

Hi guys,

Just want to say TSX is the most beautiful inline four sport sedan I've even seen.

I am currently driving a 98 VW passat and a S2000(on the weekend) and I am seriously considering trading in my VW to a TSX.

Just one thing. The Braking distance of the TSX are somewhat consistently longer than most of its competitors.

(For example, according to the lastest C&D mag for 70 to 0, it took TSX 192 ft to accomplish that. Volvo T5 166fts, all other cars in that test took about 170ish ft to stop from the same speed.)

Does anyone update the brakes on his/her TSX? I want to know.

Thanks!

Red-CL

IT is pretty nice lookin' ain't it?

Helicobacter Pylori

brake sucks

The Hoth

No kidding

Can you describe the braking with a little more details?

ClutchPerformer

The brakes are fine. It's the TIRES that need changing.

Bananaairsoft

100% with ClutchPerformer

jiggaman

i don't really mind the brakes. i don't ever think to myself damn these brakes take too long to slow the TSX down. so i dunno.

rivvin

All these tests say the brakes suck, but I don't think so. It stops pretty quick to me and this is coming from a 95 Integra GSR and 98 Accord v6 owner. It brakes better than both of them in my opinion.

Helicobacter Pylori

I'm the only one hating the brake

dom

To the tune of 20+ft? I don't think so. Tires may help but not by that much.

And tires won't solve the warped front rotor problem either.

The Hoth

That was the second comparison test I read and the TSX consistently takes 20+ ft more to come to a full stop. That scares me. 20+fts? It is almost like a whole car's length.

Just imagine you were driving 70 mph on the high way, other people in Volvo T5, BMW 3, Audi 1.8T, Subaru on the highway are driving at the same speed. All of you saw an obstacle at the same time. All of you slammed on the brakes at the same time. 180fts before the obstacle. All other cars were able to come to a full stop before hitting that. Only you hit the obstacle. That sucks huh?!

If I ever buy a TSX. Frist mod. Brembo brakes.

STL

The Hoth,
If by Subie you mean Legacy GT, then you are wrong. I've seen a comparo where the LGT took longer (than the TSX) to stop.

javierjavier

the brakes do sux. for about the first week i was constantly mis-judging the braking distance, but i was coming from an a4 and it took a little while to get used to. i don't drive as aggresively as i used to so am not worried about it too much. you can always upgrade if need be. incidently, this was the one thing that somewhat bothered me about my new car. but like i said earlier, now i'm used to it.

o_nate

I've had one case so far when I had to slam on the brakes. I was approaching the turnpike toll booths. Suddenly out of the corner of my eye I see this guy driving horizontally across the lanes, trying to get to a tollbooth on the other side of me. He is heading right for a collision with me. Apparently he doesn't see me. I had to slam on the brakes. Then he saw me and slammed on his brakes. Luckily I came to a stop about two feet from this guy's fender.

ClutchPerformer

And they WON'T help you unless you change the tires.

Think about it: the TSX's stock brakes can lock up the wheels. You really don't need any more brake caliper force than that. What will it do for you other than distort your rotors?

What will improve your braking is to up the point at which the tires start to slip (i.e. get better and/or stickier tires). Now the tires will generate more longitudinal braking force (the force that stops your car) up to the point where they slide and lockup happens. To generate more braking force, more caliper force is required. So if AFTER you improve your tire traction, the stock brakes don't lock up THEN you should upgrade your brakes (and you'll be back to the tire-limiting situation). Make sense?

Edit: Notice how the TL with brembos (6MT) also has a performance tire upgrade.

The Hoth

The perfect TSX for me is the A-spec TSX with Nav, 6 speed with brembo brakes and disc rotors.

Weight reduction:

CR hood and trunk, light weight battery

Powertrain:

CAI, Header and titanium exhaust

Chasis:

Strut bar, x-brace, tie bar...etc.

I would buy alll these mods first and install them at the first day of the purchase of the TSX.

Am I missing anything?

The Hoth

whoops, my bad :-P

ClutchPerformer

Yes. A set of performance tires. Without them, your extensive powertrain, chassis, and brake mods don't mean jack.

supraken

iTrader: (1)

I'm with you..... everytime when I brake a little hard, it feels like the forward momentum decrease too slowly or car is not going to stop in time..... and when I tested the brakes on TSX loaner , I stomped on the brake from 40mph and it didn't slow down the wheels/car enough so that the tires will make a difference....no ABS kick in, no loss of traction with tires.... just not enough braking power....

I'm sure some better tires are needed too tho....

ClutchPerformer

I don't believe you. My ABS kicks in all the time. Maybe you weren't pressing the pedal hard enough....

Dan Martin

I can lock up my tires easily.

I wonder if there's some variation between cars leaving the factory? Maybe that's why some people love the stock tires and I really hate them?

jcg878

I hate the stock tires, but like the brakes. Does that make me some kinda freak?

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

I haven't had any problem locking up the tires. The thing about Acura brake performance is that it has never been stellar. However, one thing people forget is that Honda/Acura has one of the best brake feels, making it easy to modulate the amount of braking that you want. I've driven the car for well over a year and haven't really had a problem with the brakes yet.

The Hoth

Feel is important, but if it takes additional 20+ ft to stop, it takes additional 20+ ft to stop. No good braking feel in this world is gonna help you on that.

If the A-spec package included a set of brembo brakes upgrade, I would have bought a TSX in a heartbeat.

Too bad.

sol-tsx

I've never, ever had a problem with the brakes on my TSX, even in emergency stops. I agree with the others above who say it's the tires. The OEM Michelins are crap.

1SICKLEX

Dude, that is a little more than a car length

supraken

iTrader: (1)

It kicked in once when I was driving my OWN car unintentionally when I had to make an emergency stop, and that was on a highway. It also kicks in often when I try to go through toll booths a little too fast, but that's usually very rough surfaces. However, when I tried it on the loaner, I'm sure I stomped on the brake as hard as I can. Maybe it was because I was driving on a nice flat asphalt road which gave the tires a better grip??

I guess it's also a 'feel' thing, the brakes just doesn't give me that much confidence, I usually try to brake early.

Anyone looked into upgrading to two or four piston brakes? How much would two piston calipers cost?

bob shiftright

Think it's mainly Honda's choice of brake pad material.

Volvo uses very "grabby" pad material but it creates lots of dust so the wheels always look dirty. In contrast, the Honda's wheels usually look pretty clean.

The TSX should still stop quicker than 90% of vehicles on the road.

I agree the stock tires aren't the best and were probably chosen for CAFE and price reasons, not for performance.

Helicobacter Pylori

Actually I have been thinking. ABS kicking-in really has nothing to do with braking power. If you slammed the brake pedal hard enough in any ABS car, ABS would kick in. Moreover, as we all know, ABS doesn't necessarily shorten the braking distance in all road condition.

Rubber does play a big role in braking and the stock tires are simply not as adequate as we desired. However, I am talking about nice dry asphalt here. If my capliers bites harder than tires griped, I would be sliding/drifting/locking up like hell.

I agree with supraken. Brake doesn't give me much confidence. Perhaps it's a feeling.

ClutchPerformer

They're great for everything except performance.

ClutchPerformer

Not if your brakes couldn't generate enough force to lock the wheels.
No. ABS will never let your wheels lock.

Change the tires, guys, and you'll see what I mean.

Helicobacter Pylori

how about changing rim, shocks, and tires

The Hoth

Finally I got a chance to sit in the TSX. I adjusted the seat all the way back and I still don't have enough room for my legs. They were like within one inch to the steering wheel. Damn my long legs

Dan Martin

Did you try adjusting the wheel?

ClutchPerformer

How tall are you?

dom

Then what the hell am I doing wrong? My wheels are covered in brake dust even after taking a quick 2 minute trip to the variety store?

ClutchPerformer

It's those 52mph turns you take on the way to the 7-11.

ricecake

Stop flirting with domn, Clutch. His heart belongs to Dan. :ghey:

ClutchPerformer

He told me he I was the ONLY ONE FOR HIM!

jlukja

Can't be. He takes em' at 52 mph precisely to avoid braking and brake dust buildup.