Brakes unless at high speed - what to tackle?

[mike2100]

Originally Posted by fatoni

theres no point in having a sports car for street use either. its hard to criticize people for not being entirely rational considering many of us are using it for street use since thats not rational at all

There are plenty of reasons for driving a sporty car to work every day or on the weekends. But:
If the car can stop itself fine (if it couldn't, Toyo/Subaru would be sued), and
If the car isn't used for track use (no potential for boiling the fluid), and
If the car has Prius tires, and
If the OP doesn't care about how his brakes look

Then upgrading brakes beyond changing pads is a silly waste of money. I'm not criticizing, just giving my opinion.

Originally Posted by seven

I ran RBF600 on my Corvette and swap between ATE yellow and SuperBlue?
Why on the street? 3 reasons...
1 - if you do a track day, chances are you're not gonna change fluid after the race, maybe before but usually not after.
2 - There's ZERO harm in running better fluid on the street
3 - It's like $4 a pint more for ATE fluids than DOT3 crap ($8 more for RBF) - if you're that cheap you need to drive a Corolla.

You're right, ATE is inexpensive. I would run it on the street when the time comes to swap out the fluid. But I wouldn't expect it to fix the OP's problem. Even a slightly squishy pedal will still stop the car. If he's got air in the lines, then bleeding the system with stock fluid will solve the squishy problem. If there's lots of air then his original problem is also solved.

Originally Posted by Dave-ROR

I'm shocked you like the HPS pads, I tried them a long time ago and they were some of the worst pads I've ever used (next to discount one-stoppers).
I agree on fluid on the street, stock is fine. Same with the pads, I never had a problem on the street with them. Sure, on the track they sucked, but on the street they were fine. Hell some members here have used them on the track for a good bit without issue

Everybody says that. I think they're fine for the street, and I used them for about 3 events in my Miata on street tires. I think the stock brakes feel more like the Hawk Ceramic... frustrating

Originally Posted by seven

Also if you do ever decide to do a track day or even an auto-x... you're halfway prepared.
Not everyone will track, sure, but it's not a bad thing

Agreed, any potential for track days might as well spend the extra and put in some ATE. Stock fluid WILL boil at the track, causing gas bubbles. I did it a few weeks ago to test out the stock system. Fluid boiled and pads glazed and wore out really fast, and I was on the stock tires.
But unlike slick tranny fluid you won't notice the difference between stock and upgraded brake fluid unless you are braking enough to heat em up to the boiling point of stock fluid.

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by mike2100

You're right, ATE is inexpensive. I would run it on the street when the time comes to swap out the fluid. But I wouldn't expect it to fix the OP's problem. Even a slightly squishy pedal will still stop the car. If he's got air in the lines, then bleeding the system with stock fluid will solve the squishy problem. If there's lots of air then his original problem is also solved.

Everybody says that. I think they're fine for the street, and I used them for about 3 events in my Miata on street tires. I think the stock brakes feel more like the Hawk Ceramic... frustrating

My only problem with ATE (and the reason I'm switching) is the large bottles. I end up tossing mine in the trash because I'll open it, do a bleed or two, then it sits for awhile and I don't want to use an opened bottle of ATE that's been sitting around capped for months. Might not be as big of a deal outside of this swamp but the water definitely gets to it here.

And hey, at least someone in the world has had good luck with HPS pads! Not sure how it happened but as long as they work for you

I'll be trying AP Racing pads for the first time soon, I'll see how it goes.

[SpeedR]

Originally Posted by Dave-ROR

Stock pads are perfect for the street. I'm shocked you like the HPS pads, I tried them a long time ago and they were some of the worst pads I've ever used (next to discount one-stoppers).

I agree on fluid on the street, stock is fine. Same with the pads, I never had a problem on the street with them. Sure, on the track they sucked, but on the street they were fine. Hell some members here have used them on the track for a good bit without issue.

Originally Posted by Dave-ROR

Mine feel fine. They aren't 911 hard, but they are less squishy than a lot of OEM setups.

Maybe you guys with issues should do some bleeding? My car had some air in it but that was after a few laps on the track, but perhaps you guys have air in the lines from the factory?

Originally Posted by Dave-ROR

His point eliminates track use. I don't disagree with the other two points, but it's not at all required. If people are generating enough heat to boil fluid on the street then they are doing something wrong.

YES well said.

OP from your description of engine braking saving you I would say you need to do the Driver mod.