Never understood this why so many people think brakes are the primary factor in stopping distances.



As long as you have enough braking force to lock up the wheels, which is basically every car made in the last 30 years (minus cars with drums, some of them I don't think can), your braking distances are only determined by your tires and suspension.



I just hear car people constantly talk about stopping distances and brakes, when they really are not relevant. The only reason to have massive brake rotors is because the brakes will have a mechanical advantage, therefore it will take less resistance from the pads to slow/stop the car. Less resistance means less heat.



Whether its investing in 6 piston calipers, or 16" carbon ceramic rotors, the only reason to invest in brakes is to prevent brake fade, not to improve stopping distance.



Just thought I'd clear up a misconception most people have, I was randomly thinking about and thought I'd post.

 

Very true.. A BBK does not provide more traction

 

true but your brakes are only as good as the tires you have.

 

Sort of true, sort of untrue.



While it is true that you can lock up most near any car's brakes, when you have locked them up you are not getting anywhere near the maximum braking your car is capable of. If you floor a brake pedal and lock up the tires your car will not stop nearly as quickly as if you modulate the brakes and keep from ever locking up your tires. Good brakes let you more easily modulate the brake pressure very near the point of lockup but without ever locking up. This is useful for anyone, but especially useful if you run on a road course or autocross.

 

Another point about going to larger brakes is the increased rotational mass. It a loss of horse power from the increase weight of the rotors.



Some magazine did a brake vs tire wear comparison and determined that the more wear on the tire the worse the car will stop. Something to do with how the tires are made. It was like 25% tire wear increased braking distance by 40% and and went to almost double at 50% tire wear. I know this fact is a little off topic. Sorry.

 

THANK YOU



also slotted, but otherwise stock rotors are just decreasing the area the pad can contact. i have my doubts on whether they are worth more than a fluid flush and fresh pads.

 

^^^^ The slotts and crossdrilled, make up for the loss of friction space, by keeping you brakes cooler and more efficeint, so by losing maybe what, 3 percent of your braking surface, you gain alot by just letting the brakes stay ALOT cooler and keeping brake fade out of the picture!!!

 

shitty brakes have a hard time stopping with good tires



sorta like good tires have a hard time stopping with shitty brakes



and good brakes and tires have a hard time stopping with shitty suspension



just like everything performance on a car, cant really upgrade one thing while ignoring another



i know a old road racer who would get his rotors from the junkyard, send em off to get drilled and replace em 3x a season



hes tried almost every type of rotor there is and still says thats the best route to take

 

Except for my Sonata, apparently.

 

>2004 sonata



i hope you have ABS.