Okay, those of us with non-Brembo TLs have to face a couple of facts when it comes to considering brake upgrades:

1) The brakes installed on our cars by Acura are weak. They were clearly designed for a 2004 Honda Accord 4-Cylinder and struggle to provide good braking under normal driving conditions, let alone [ahem] "abnormal" ones;

2) Upgrading to a BBK or a Brembo conversion can be prohibitively expensive (thousands of dollars).

So, what to do? Well, I'll share my solution for your consideration and I'll do so in the order I did them.

First, brake fade is a substantial issue on our cars. Even without engaging in any kind of "spirited" driving, a quick stop on a freeway can be a harrowing experience. I discovered (thanks to AcuraZine) that Acura made upgraded brake pads for our cars as part of the complete A-Spec package. Being the brand loyalist that I am (perhaps to a fault), I gave them a try.

What did I discover? BIG DIFFERENCE in braking. This upgrade alone eliminated probably 70% of the worrisome fade I was experiencing (note: this car will likely always have some amount of fade with the stock calipers and without ceramic rotors).

Where to find A-Spec pads? Try here, for example: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2005-...Q5fAccessories

$125 for the set which gets you all 4 wheels.

Second, I decided that since heat is the number one enemy of effective braking, it was time to upgrade the rotors. Our stock rotors are notorious for weakness and warping. Time for them to go. My solution - Stoptech rotors from XLR8.



Additional discussion of the rotors here: https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-tires-wheels-suspension-97/my-birthday-802000/

The result - additional firmness, stability, and confidence in braking due to heat dissipation and superior materials. Plus, the added benefit of looking really freaking cool.



Where to get them - here: http://store.excelerateperformance.c...d/g-55257.aspx

Cost? $104 per wheel on the front, and $93 per wheel rear for a total of approx. $394.

Third, and final, was the one that really put things over the top. The rubber brakes lines from our fender walls to the calipers just plain flex too much causing a softer than preferable pedal. Solution - stainless steel brake lines. Once again, XLR8 had the parts (and some DOT 5.1 Motul Brake Fluid):



Additional discussion about brake lines, etc. here: https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-performance-parts-modifications-112/new-goodies-xlr8-806832/

Result - HOLY CRAP! Worrisome fade is gone. Absolutely worth it!

Where to get them - here: http://store.excelerateperformance.c.../i-251905.aspx

Cost? $100 for the set and that covers all four wheels.

Fluid - here: http://store.excelerateperformance.c.../i-290511.aspx

About $9/liter (you'll need 2 to do a flush)

There you have it. About $640 (plus install costs if you don't do it yourself) and you have a completely different level of performance from your brakes.

 

Loving the upgrades.

 

Hey now don't be insulting Accords like that

Looks good though. I'd be interested to see how long they last.

 

Boriqua2565 - you PM'd me with a couple of questions but your Inbox is full. Here's my response:


When I first installed my A-Spec pads, I just had the stock rotors with no slots or drilled holes. When I put new rotors on I went with the slotted and drilled ones.

Here's the link for the brake lines: http://store.excelerateperformance.c.../i-251905.aspx

Hope this helps.

 

I recently installed the autozone Duralast Gold that were recomended so strogly her and I HATE them..they suck...break squeel is bad every morning pulling out of garage ( BT had rotors turned and they were seated properly)
I have a 2006 TL with 80,200...
Anyway so, question for ya...
What If I just replaced the pads ? Did you notice any improvement?
What if I just did pads and brake lines...

when changing pads, rotors i did a complete brake line flush..
any input

thanks

BTW are the pads you speak of OEM Acura ?

 

The pads are OEM and are difficult to find since most dealers don't even have them in their parts network!

They will ONLY WORK ON THE NON-BREMBO setups. The brakes dust a bit more than the factory ones, however the dusting is minor compared to the braking increase.

I have a setup similar to the above one (read sig) and it's improved braking at higher speeds and reduced brake fad quite a bit.

BTW if anyone needs some front a-spec pads I had a for sale thread in the Black market with some photos of the pads themselves.

 

I just ordered the stage 1 set up from Heeltoe. I didn't get the rear rotors cause I really don't need to do those yet so I won't even put in the pads either. I'll save those for when I do get the rotors. But the kit comes with ss lines, ebt300 pads fronts and rears, honda brake fluid and RacingBrake Open-Slot Slotted rotors. It's basically a combination of slotted and cross-drilled but without the noticeable holes. Instead the holes are in the slots and in the hub itself.

 

nice write up, I have the stoptech slotted not slotted/drilled, xlr8 SS brake lines, and I def gotta order some of that motul..

+ I need to install it of course lol

 

 

If you go back to the beginning of my write-up, you'll see that just changing the pads alone to the A-Specs made a huge difference. I'd say the brake lines were the next most impactful in terms of immediate bang for your buck. The eBay link I provided is to a dealer selling the A-Spec pads right now for $125 (that's about 1/2 the normal cost at a dealer...I've looked into it) and, yes, they are an OEM part.

 

I'm looking forward to putting on my SS lines.

good shit!

 

I thought we could only use DOT3 or DOT4 brake fluid on our cars and not or shouldn't use DOT5. Anyway else hear anything like that?

BTW, I have a very similar setup. I have the Stoptech SportStop slotted and drilled front and rears and StopTech Street Pads with SS lines. I used Motul RBF600 but if i recall my shop used DOT4. I can check my receipt if anyone cares to know. But Anyway, the setup is freaking awesome and awesome looking. I just have to paint my unsightly calipers now. Waiting for the weather to warm up to do that.

 

You're right, we can't use DOT 5, but we can use DOT 5.1. I'm sure Excelerate will chime in as I know he's gotten this question more than once.

Thanks for the compliments on the setup, BTW.

 

Need to replace my original rotors on a 2004 base TL - they have 145,000 miles! Recently had new stock pads put on so not crazy about replacing them. Could these slotted/drilled stoptech rotors be used with regular pads? Thanks!

 

Yep. You can use the rotors with regular pads. But, the impact on performance won't be nearly as noticeable.

 

Yes you cannot use DOT 5. DOT 5 is silicone based. DOT 5.1 is compatible with DOT 3 and 4.

 

Very nice write-up! I need to look into upgrading my brakes also but dont want to get to crazy as i put the OEM wheels on in winter when i put the car in storage. Ill have to look more into this... at least the SS lines, i already have Ceramic pads (No brake dust)!

 

Looks like a great setup.

Here's some additional info on Stainless Steel Brake Lines. Very informative.

http://s4wiki.com/wiki/Stainless_steel_brake_lines

 

Good info. It should be noted that the SS Lines from XLR8 (above) are covered in a plastic coating which should prevent some of the issues noted in this article with respect to damage the SS exterior can cause.

 

What are your thoughts on the calipers? Are you going to paint them?

 

Thanks for the info, much appreciated.

 

Already did - black. Used a Duplicolor kit made specifically for brake calipers (I went with the version that has a brush).

You can see here what I did:

 

Nice job with the paint too. Looks alot cleaner then the silver stock color... Looks like i have found my next mods now that i have the go taken care of!

 

Yeah, I did the calipers right after I switched to the A-Spec wheels. They are far more "open" and the silver calipers just looked...cheap.

 

ttribe - the A-spec pads you linked to, will they fit on a stock 2004 TL or do i have to upgrade the calipers etc to use those pads?
I am thinking of going the same route - A spec pads and Stoptech rotors with SS lines and motul 5.1 - tired of the crappy vibrations while braking when the wheels are hot. Thanks!

 

Straight swap out on the pads. Take the old ones out, drop in the new A-specs; you don't need to do a thing to the calipers (I'm assuming you don't have Brembos...then it would be a different story).

 

Thanks ttribe - No, mine is non-brembo, stock brakes, nothing done yet - coming up to 105K miles on original brakes.

 

nice!

 

I'll never argue that the stock 5at brakes are mediocre at best. But how are you guys experiencing fade from a single freeway stop? Mine always performed excellent from a single 80mph stop on the freeway. The trouble began with multiple 80mph stops. I have to assume it's not fade some of you are experiencing. Any car should be able to perform at least one fade free 80mph stop.

 

I might be using the wrong term, and perhaps my experience is colored by the fact that I live 16 inches from the surface of the sun for the better part of the year (thus, more heat), but in some of the stop and go traffic here on our freeways, I've felt less than comfortable with the stopping power and felt like it got progressively worse as my commute progressed.

 

That's weird. I lived in Mesa and commuted to Phoenix for a couple years and never had issues with fading. They did warp extremely easy just in the normal drive down the 60 every day. Not confidence inspiring.

 

60 and 101 every day...30 miles each way from my home in Gilbert to my office N. Scottsdale.

Either way, whether it was "fade" (in the technical sense) or just plain weak, I like the performance much better now than when they were stock.

ETA: One cannot rule out the driver here as well. It could just be that I am unkind to brakes.

 

ordered my lines on the 11th.
waiting till the 22nd.

ARGGGGG, why couldnt excelerate be closer to my house!!!

 

Indeed. Waiting is always the worst part.

 

I didnt call Josh, but ordered it on a whim on thursday at like 1am.
I should have known that they werent going to ship till monday

my car is jacked up with all the lines off!!!
waiting is the worst! lol

oh yeah, I'll make a diy of my install.
I made some noob mistakes!!!!

 

I can wait to get my stuff in. And justnspace please take a bunch of pics.

 

Sorry for the delay. We actually had sold a few units in the past couple weeks and ran out of stock. I had some express aired to us so I could send you your package.

 

you're good. I should have called you, first.
I'll call you in a bit, to make another purchase

 

OOOOHHHHH!!! What's next on the horizon?!

 

maybe the progress RSB.