UnderConstruction7

I'll just brake into my reasoning for new brakes. I was riding on the interstate & shortly after pulling off & sitting at a stop light. The smell of brakes started travel around my car. Then, I looked out my passenger side mirror & to my suprise. There was smoke coming from my brakes. I believe it was the brakes. Since then my brakes don't engage as they should or have in the past.

Now here I am. I was thinking about upgrading the whole system. Mainly because with the cross drilled rotors they wont heat up as much or quickly. Also, they will handle aggresive driving a whole lot better. My main reason for this is because my car is an SE model FC with the 4x114.3 lug. As it seems those are a little harder to find than the 5-lug model. So here are my questions.

1.Do they actually make upgrade kits for the 4-lug models
2.If so, who makes them & how much are they
3.If no one offers a "kit" what brakes, pads, etc.... would you all recommend

1RedR1and1RedPEP

How much do you want to spend? And what calipers are on there now? I am not well versed with the FC but a kit can surely be made up. What size rotors are on there now?
What size master cylinder? what is the square area of the stock caliper pistons?

1R1

UnderConstruction7

Guess that could be important, all of it is stock or at least never touched by me. So whatever stock specs are, they still are the same to this day

1RedR1and1RedPEP

U.C.7
Come up with all the answers to my questions and I can help you with a brake kit. Look at the 6 piston and 4 piston kit in this section.
1R1

gergrx7

just do teh 5 lug conversion, this was you will get 4 piston calipers front adn 1 piston rear, but both are vented.

adn much cheaper than big brake kit ($2,000+)

UnderConstruction7

If only it was as simple as just getting the conversion. Heres the thing & the reason i'm keeping the 4-lugs. I have a set of 18" Ro_Jas coming to me & they are 4 lug & off another SE model. Not to mention the 5Zigen's i'll be buying for sport driving. But yeah, the conversion isn't in my future right now. If all else seems to fail, i'll just buy new pads for a quick fix

gnx7

iTrader: (10)

4 lug stuff works... your pads must be crap.... get some performance pads and make sure the rotors are freshly turned when bedding them for the first time. There are plenty guys road racing with 4 lug stuff and having no brake problems.

You should've upgraded to 5 lug parts with stock 4 piston aluminum calipers and the larger vented rotors before dropping coin on 18" 4 lug rims. I'm sure you figured this out already.

baby steps first man.....

-Mark

DamonB

Your brakes don't need upgraded. You need to figure out which caliper(s) are binding and not fully releasing. Then you will not have the smell and smoke...

You don't need an upgrade, you just need a repair.

UnderConstruction7

The main reason i'm buying these 18s is because my current wheel & tire setup is giving me nothing but problems. These 18s seem to be a pretty good choice giving the fact they are wrapped in Falkens plus they are 18" wheels for 850.

Once I get my steering rod put in, ill have a look at the current brake setup & have more specs for you. Hell if all goes well, i'll come back with a "Consider that fixed" comment