V6 Brake Upgrade Questions

Cope · **V6 Brake Upgrade Questions**

I've got a stock 2003 V6, and my brake pads are due for replacement. I've already had the rotors milled once before, so I'm expecting to need to replace those as well.
While I'm at it, I want to beef up the thermal resistance of the system, because the brakes really suck when they get hot.
I'm almost definitely going with Hawk HPS Street pads ($155 for all four wheels).
I'm currently considering Brembo slotted rotors ($203 for the front, $152 for the back) but I'm looking for other suggestions. I don't want to spend more than the $355 it would cost me for these Brembos, but I've heard Brembos are wicked overpriced for what you get. I'm also aware that slotted rotors are mostly just for looks, so I would definitely go with solid rotors if I can find a set that would work better than my stock ones.
Would my brakes be any more resistant to heat if I changed the brake fluid? I'm working in the driveway of my apartment, so my facilities are pretty limited and I'd rather not change the fluid if it's not going to help.
Would stainless brake lines help with heat? Again, I'd rather not do the upgrade at the moment if it won't really help, but brake fade is a real pain in my rear.
Thanks for the info!

Danger Dude · 12:45 PM

I had Hawk pads and in 4 to 5 days my rims were covered in black dust after washing. They leave way to much dust. Honestly a good set of Premium Bendix pads about $40 and you should not worry about the back pads, rear breaks only provide 15-20% of the stopping and usually dont need changing until your third front brake pad change. As far as rotors I would not spend the money on back brembo rotors or any slotted rotors that is insane. I would get Front powerstop slotted or Brembo slotted rotors. Power stop are about 30% cheaper but made to the same specifications.

I drive hard in the mountains in places that have the most curves anywhere in the US "Tail of the Dragon" and my brakes keep up in the most hostile enviroment. Oh dont even bother with creamic pads for daily driving they sux. Unless they asre extremely hot they have poor stopping traits

Cope · **Update**

I found Brembo solid rotors for $174 for all four. I'm honestly not very interested in slotted, drilled, or dimpled rotors unless they're definitely better. Plus, I like the sound of $174 much better than $355.
Again though, if anyone can recommend a set of four rotors for less than $174 please do.
Thanks again!

Danger Dude, did you have the Hawk 'race' pads or the 'street' pads? I've heard the 'street' pads give off a lot less dust. The only 'Power Stop' website I could find was British and a little cheesy. It looked like all they offered was slotted rotors. Where did you get yours?

Danger Dude · 02:06 PM

They were street pads!! I am sorry I meant Power Slot not Power stop. I got mine off of Ebay. If you can get all 4 for 174 that is not bad. The thing is you dont need slots in the back only in the front. Drilled rotors are worthless. All the drill holes are for is making the rotor somewhat lighter. The slot lets brake dust and gases excape preventing brake fade and makes for better stopping and less heat build up on the rotor. Those tiny pads in the back dont build up much heat and really and the smooth rotors are fine!!!

Save the money you were going to spend on the hawk pads and rear rotors and get some Stainless Steel braded brake line for the front. That will actually help with getting good pressure to the calipers than the stock rubber hose.

**SpectorV** · 01-31-2005, 07:17 PM

I would upgrade to 17 inch rims and go with a set of bullit brakes fromwhere ever, many places have em im sure one of our sponsors do as well, the kit with calipers, rotors ( slotted or slotted and drilled or plain) with SS lines, and pads comes complete for 400 bucks... and will stop as good as you will ever care to and it will look extremly good with a nice set of 17 inch rims that are open so you can see them.

the advantage to 13 inch rotors/brakes is not really the caliper is the larger rotor.

STEVE · 01-31-2005, 09:10 PM

if your gonna get bullit brakes just get them fronts, but it will be mandatory to get a 17 inch rim or bigger with those brakes

Cope · 02-01-2005, 01:18 AM


Quote: Originally Posted by 232stang if your gonna get bullit brakes just get them fronts, but it will be mandatory to get a 17 inch rim or bigger with those brakes

Thanks for the suggestions, I'm sure it would stop on a dime, but I'm definitely not looking to replace the rims yet.

Cope · **Update**

I just got back from the Ford dealer (South Bay Ford in Hawthorne CA, I'd give 'em a 6 out of 10), and they said they can resurface my rotors again, so the rotor issue is solved. I'm going to replace the stock pads with the HPIs I mentioned earlier and be done with it.
Of course, if I still have any trouble I'm coming back to you guys...

As an aside, I'm probably going to try to rig up some kind of brake cooling ducts. I don't have any foglights, so I'll probably try to rig up something with the foglight holes in the front valance.

STEVE · 02-03-2005, 09:02 PM


Quote: Originally Posted by Cope I just got back from the Ford dealer (South Bay Ford in Hawthorne CA, I'd give 'em a 6 out of 10), and they said they can resurface my rotors again, so the rotor issue is solved. I'm going to replace the stock pads with the HPIs I mentioned earlier and be done with it. Of course, if I still have any trouble I'm coming back to you guys... As an aside, I'm probably going to try to rig up some kind of brake cooling ducts. I don't have any foglights, so I'll probably try to rig up something with the foglight holes in the front valance.

dont have them resurfaced at ford they will charge you an arm and a leg, just get them resurfaced at a normal machine shop

Danger Dude · 09:28 PM

The pepboys near my house charges around $7 a rotor to turn

STEVE · 02-03-2005, 09:28 PM

ford will charge way more

lowflyn · 02-03-2005, 11:41 PM

A place around here tried to charge me 130 to turn my front rotors...if I took them off. More if they took them off. I was like WTF.. I paid a damn total of 50 bucks to have my rotors on my old car turned and to get my calipers reworked and to get new pads installed. Screw them lol

Danger Dude · 02-04-2005, 06:09 AM


Quote: Originally Posted by lowflyn A place around here tried to charge me 130 to turn my front rotors...if I took them off. More if they took them off. I was like WTF.. I paid a damn total of 50 bucks to have my rotors on my old car turned and to get my calipers reworked and to get new pads installed. Screw them lol

Dude they were trying to SCREW YOU WITHOUT LUBE!!!!! Were they laughing at you while they told you the price

I have never seen even a dealership charger more than $15 a rotor.

Ponycarman · 02-04-2005, 01:11 PM

Best improvement you an make for braking is more tire.

Till your brakes can no longer lock up the tires you aren;t using all your brakes.

Steve

lowflyn · 02-04-2005, 03:27 PM


Quote: Originally Posted by Danger Dude Dude they were trying to SCREW YOU WITHOUT LUBE!!!!! Were they laughing at you while they told you the price I have never seen even a dealership charger more than $15 a rotor.

That's why I have never gone back in that shop....I laughed at the guy and walked out.

Cope · 02-05-2005, 12:15 AM


Quote: Originally Posted by Ponycarman Best improvement you an make for braking is more tire. Till your brakes can no longer lock up the tires you aren;t using all your brakes. Steve

When my brakes are cold, they can trigger ABS basically any time I want to stab the pedal. As soon as they get some heat in them, they go all to crap. New tires aren't going to help heat-induced brake fade.

On another note, you guys have a very good point about the dealer trying to screw me for labor costs to resurface the rotors. They charged me $30 just to LOOK at the rotors. There's a PepBoys within walking distance of my place, I'm definitely going there.
Thanks for the tip!

**SpectorV** · 02-16-2005, 05:12 PM

i can lock up my tires super fast lol, turning rotors is ok but they dont last nearly as long as they did new.... just a temp fix.