big brake, better pads or rear discs?

[astig]

I have asked my mechanic about transplanting rear disc brakes (from a salvaged fit) to my Fit w/ drums. He said that it should be no problem. however he suggested that if it is stopping power I am after I would benefit more from upgrading my stock pads to aftermarket ones or changing to bigger front discs.

How much improvement to braking power should I expect from upgrading to better pads? bigger rotors? rear discs?

BTW my GD is not in the US.

[kylerwho]

you should get better pads and rotors cause it will help prevent brake fade and give the pedal a little better feel.

bigger rotors will stop the wheels from rotating easier but it requires the tires to be able to grip the road to judge how quickly you will stop.

rear disc will not stop you any sooner than rear drums. they only look better and cool quicker than drums.

[astig]

thanks so much for the enlightenment. i guess i only want rear discs for the looks.

[El Chupacabura]

Originally Posted by kylerwho

you should get better pads and rotors cause it will help prevent brake fade and give the pedal a little better feel.

bigger rotors will stop the wheels from rotating easier but it requires the tires to be able to grip the road to judge how quickly you will stop.

rear disc will not stop you any sooner than rear drums. they only look better and cool quicker than drums.

Do rear discs not matter as much because the car is so light ? I was under the impression that discs were always better than drums.

[kylerwho]

discs do not stop quicker than drums. discs are easier to work on and will typically last longer than drums but dont help stopping power.

[solbrothers]

vallejo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[solbrothers]

Originally Posted by El Chupacabura

Do rear discs not matter as much because the car is so light ? I was under the impression that discs were always better than drums.

the rear brakes do like 10% of the braking.

[Jodele]

Drums are 19th century technology! You are in the 21st century right now…there is no self-adjusting drum brake mechanism that works properly so you will always have a long pedal travel when stopping. I don’t like that! I like to just modulate brake pedal pressure for stopping. I have not heard of drum brake binding in the last 50 years or so, so that point is moot. The only reason manufactures still use drum brakes is because it is very easy to make the e-brake hold with them.

I have destroyed 3 sets of stock front discs on my 2007 Fit. They are just too small for the 15” and 16’ wheels that you can get the Fit with. Those front discs are that small because of the Standard Fit that comes with 14” wheels!

Here is a thread for a cheap version of “Big” brakes for the Fit/Jazz.
Integra Type-R front disc brake installation

[Tofuman]

Upgraded pads should do the trick if you want better braking. You can add braided steel brake lines too. The rotor size is fine for the size car we have. The Spoon Sports endurance racing Fit uses standard brake calipers and rotors, but has upgraded pads and brake lines. It even still has drums in the rear.

[Jodele]

If you have larger wheels, even 16-inchers, they are not adequate!