Big Brake Kit?

[sjs]

I’m curious to know how many have purchased NSX big brake kits or plan to in the future. I’ll save the questions about which ones you have/want and why for another poll, but right now I wonder about how common they are.

 

[Lazarus]

I'd be interested to know what kind of wheels BBK-users have on their cars, because I'm not having any luck at all finding a set of wheels to go with mine.

 

[KGP]

I'd be interested to know what kind of wheels BBK-users have on their cars,

That would be a reason for another pole, in a new thread.

 

[NSXDreamer2]

the poll results showing that people not interested or not planning to buy it in near future Outnumbers the rest of the option.

I guess if someone is looking at this post from Brake company/vendor, they should do something to convince us that we need better brakes... (or maybe a lower price tag will do too )

 

[Lazarus]

the poll results showing that people not interested or not planning to buy it in near future Outnumbers the rest of the option.

I guess if someone is looking at this post from Brake company/vendor, they should do something to convince us that we need better brakes... (or maybe a lower price tag will do too )

On my first NSX, I had OEM brakes, and they were always more than good enough for street driving. I guess a lot of people are pretty much satisfied with the braking performance of the OEM brakes and so it's not high on the list of modification priorities (I'm thinking more people are hoping to get their NSX to go faster rather than stop better). Furthermore, with all the hassles one is likely to encounter in finding a set of wheels after having bought an after-market BBK, I doubt many people will be too anxious to take up this option.

 

[ajnsx]

i'm looking to buy a big brake kit eventually, will look nice behind 20inch wheels Brembo so far, but they will be painted to match the body colour of the car. More for the show scene than actual usage, oh well.........

 

[Yellow Rose]

the poll results showing that people not interested or not planning to buy it in near future outnumbers the rest of the option.

Not anymore.

I guess if someone is looking at this post from brake company/vendor, they should do something to convince us that we need better brakes.

No, they don't need to convince you.....you need to convince yourself. Go to a track event with a supercharged NSX running factory brakes. (That would be this dumbass.) Although the brake fluid was only three months old, on day two the pedal went to the floor because of boiled brake fluid. What was once a gold color, the roasted brake fluid was black.

 

[satan_srv]

No, they don't need to convince you.....you need to convince yourself. Go to a track event with a supercharged NSX running factory brakes. (That would be this dumbass.) Although the brake fluid was only three months old, on day two the pedal went to the floor because of boiled brake fluid. What was once a gold color, the roasted brake fluid was black.

hehe I take it you weren't running SS lines either? Supercharged or not track events are pretty hard on OEM brakes that's for sure.

 

[NSXDreamer2]

Don't get me wrong, I too think that the nsx could use better brakes even on street. I had encountered couple incidents that I couldn't stop the car as I "thought". My heart pounded so hard after that and I said to myself, that is, I'm going to get better brakes. As soon as I went home and look at the price of BBK...

But the cost is still up there and it's really not too easy for us. Well, my stoptech factory size rotors and pads and ss lines are here. Hope it'll help.

 

[nsxtasy]

I had encountered couple incidents that I couldn't stop the car as I "thought". My heart pounded so hard after that and I said to myself, that is, I'm going to get better brakes.

It's unlikely that a big brake kit would have made a difference in those circumstances.

The big advantage of a BBK is that it is supposed to have greater resistance to fade and other harmful effects of the heat that occurs with sustained usage, such as on the racetrack.

On the street, when you have an unexpected need for a "panic stop" to avoid an accident, the factor that limits your stopping distance is your tires, not your brakes. No brake setup can give you more stopping power than your tires are capable of. And even the stock brakes are highly unlikely to overheat to the point of fade in a single panic stop on the street.

 

[ncdogdoc]

No, they don't need to convince you.....you need to convince yourself. Go to a track event with a supercharged NSX running factory brakes. (That would be this dumbass.) Although the brake fluid was only three months old, on day two the pedal went to the floor because of boiled brake fluid. What was once a gold color, the roasted brake fluid was black.

Sorry Andy, but I know a couple of FI NSX people that would disagree with you, as they still run stock brakes on supercharged or turbocharged tracked cars. (the turbo has been sold so I do have to remove it from the equation)

While I do see the major benefits for high horsepower track situations, I also see the benefit of lower cost and wheel choice with appropriate accommodations with the OEM setup. To each his own.

 

[Yellow Rose]

Well put, Ken.

Dreamer, not that you did not have a "pucker" incident, a single panic stop episode on the street is not justification for BBK.....but they do look good.

 

[Yellow Rose]

Sorry Andy, but I know a couple of FI NSX people that would disagree with you

Well, they either have bigger hangee-downees (which they have no control over) than I do or they are not very logical (which they do have control over). Going fast is fun; however, stopping fast is important. But.....

To each his own.

.....correct. You mention cost - here is something to think about. What costs less, a totaled NSX or BBK?

 

[kenjiMR]

Sorry Andy, but I know a couple of FI NSX people that would disagree with you

Well, they either have bigger hangee-downees (which they have no control over) than I do or they are not very logical (which they do have control over). Going fast is fun; however, stopping fast is important. But.....

To each his own.

.....correct. You mention cost - here is something to think about. What costs less, a totaled NSX or BBK?

Different tracks may have different needs... driving a huge oval track won't burn your brakes at all.

 

[X-TNSIV]

I think the BBK that I have on my car is the single best investment that I've made on the car.

I have felt the pedal go soft on me while using the factory brakes under a single braking situation on the street and it's not very secure feeling.

I even tested my new kit from triple digit figures and it brought me right back to the speed limit with no fading.

the brakes are well worth it.

Allen

 

[sjs]

Interesting results, but only 51 responses thus far. C'mon guys, there are more than that of you out here!

 

[matteni]

I have felt the pedal go soft on me while using the factory brakes under a single braking situation on the street and it's not very secure feeling.

I respectfully submit to you something was very wrong with your brakes. On my stock 91 brakes I have had a few track miles, pad beddings, and panic stops and all were greeted with NOW braking power. Since then I have upgraded the stock brakes with significantly improved fluid (higher boiling point), duct work (large air ducts and removed backing plate), pads (squeal and dust but have great initial bite and inspire confidence), and rotors (aero 2 piece rotors).

I have seen a lot of track accidents and never has one been because someone ran out of room to stop and hit something. I have seen brake pad and rotor failure contribute to an accident but not a situation where the tires were capable of stopping the car faster if only the brakes could keep up and then someone ran out of stopping room and hit something. Most (if not all) where people entering corners to fast or abrupt inputs (jerking the wheel with 2 tires off the track, lifting off the gas in a turn, etc.). I would hate people to get the idea that they would be a lot faster, safer, or happier with a BBK under all but a few circumstances.

If money was no object - I would get 2 new sets of light weight wheels, a new set of street tires, a new set of track tires, BBK front and rear, and an e-brake setup. But for me that would be over 1/3 the value of car and would have a small difference in my track fun, track times, and track safety. It would have no difference in my street driving. On the other hand if my wallet was $10,000 lighter I guess I could stop and accelerate a LOT faster!



Also - if you don't believe me I can rip some high performance laps at Mid Ohio filmed by some highly qualified race drivers in an NSX where they repeatedly praise the stock NSX brakes lap after lap.

I do agree it does look cooler - especially if you are running much larger then stock wheels.

 

[nsxtasy]

I respectfully submit to you something was very wrong with your brakes.

I agree. On the track, maybe. On the street, in a single braking situation, no way - unless something was wrong with your brakes (insufficient pad material, low fluid, old fluid, etc).

 

[X-TNSIV]

most of my braking that I experience fade from, was from triple digit speeds, or close to...ie 90mph +

I understand what both nsxtasy & matteni are stating and I agree, but in my case I still felt the pedal go soft, and the brakes started to feel gritty (like sand paper). Which I don't understand.

I was running the stock rotors, carbotech panther + pads, motul RBF 600 brake fluid (all fresh fluid and bled completely), plus the dali brake deflectors.

now I've tried even harder stops from the 130mph+ range and the brakes are solid all the way down to 60mph, still knowing that I can still lock up the front tires just by pressing the brake pedal harder.

Allen

 

[G-man]

I agree. On the track, maybe. On the street, in a single braking situation, no way - unless something was wrong with your brakes (insufficient pad material, low fluid, old fluid, etc).

Well, actually, I have to disagree with everyone's idea that stock brakes are just fine. All you have to is drive a 2003 Mitsubishi Evolution VIII or a 2003 Nissan 350Z Track Model both of which have Factory OEM offered Brembo brakes to realize just how bad the NSX brakes are. The EVO VIII and the 350Z are also very close to the overall weight of the NSX, but both brake with much better feel and confidence if not shorter overall stopping distance. So, I would agree that the brake upgrade is not just a "low priority vanity upgrade unless you are a track junkie" kind of thing and submit that it is a good performance and safety upgrade to overcome a main weakness of the NSX. Only the dangerously poor stock headlights are worse than the brakes.

 

[xsn]

You can cure 95% of the complaints above about driving on the street by just changing the stock pads. The stock brakes have plenty of power for any kind of street use properly maintained. But the factory pads do not "bite" as aggressively as some prefer.

X-TNSIV obviously there was something wrong with your brakes. You can brake a stock Accord down from 120 once with no fade.

For the track several good suggestions have been made about fluid, ducting and etc. that will work for most. It is nuts to spend that much $ without at least trying those suggestions first. Well for me it is I guess it depends how deep are your pockets.

 

[DONYMO]

The EVO VIII and the 350Z are also very close to the overall weight of the NSX, but both brake with much better feel and confidence if not shorter overall stopping distance.

From 60 to 0, the 350Z stops in 118.6 feet and the NSX in 119.
Not much difference. The EVO is 106, so there is a significant disparity there. (Source: edmunds.com)

As far as feel, I've never had a problem there.

 

[MvM]

When I just had my NSX the only thing I would not feel sure about where the brakes. Better stated, the pedal-pressure I needed to get a certain level of braking seemed to me at least a bit out of synch. Perhaps it was just me not hitting the pedal hard and fast enough to slow down the car quick enough for my taste.
Since then, I switched to the Axxis-pads and the increase in bite these offered already gave me a lot more confidence in the brakes of my car. Next, I guess, would have been bigger front tires.
On the track I have experienced fade on several occasions, but most times it was due to my inexperience, using the brakes too soon and for too long to slow down. Only after several more experienced people showed me how you could & should use the brakes (i.e. short and hard) did I experience much less or hardly any fade unless after a much longer time.
Mostly, what I would like is to get better braking at a certain pedal-pressure.

 

[X-TNSIV]

X-TNSIV obviously there was something wrong with your brakes. You can brake a stock Accord down from 120 once with no fade.

I hear the same thing from multiple members on this site...

but you also have to keep in mind that I'm running 18"/19" set-up with 12 addtional lbs per wheel up front and 18lbs per wheel in rear. This added rotational mass plays a big factor for when I need to stop the car.

I'm positive that the stock brakes where fine (no unusual problems) and I know what I was feeling. I'm just stating how I feel about the stock set-up vs the BBK that I purchased.

Allen

 

[kenjiMR]

I hear the same thing from multiple members on this site...

but you also have to keep in mind that I'm running 18"/19" set-up with 12 addtional lbs per wheel up front and 18lbs per wheel in rear. This added rotational mass plays a big factor for when I need to stop the car.

I'm positive that the stock brakes where fine (no unusual problems) and I know what I was feeling. I'm just stating how I feel about the stock set-up vs the BBK that I purchased.

Allen

then there is something wrong with your car... wrong wheel size!