New pads, old rotors?

[12,000 RPM]

I wanna get new, more aggressive pads.... can I keep my rotors? They don't judder. I wanna change my fluid and get SS lines too. Is DOT 5 too much for the street?

[CaminoRacer]

If the rotors are in good condition, not glazed, and have even wear, then it won't matter. Biggest thing is getting the new pads to bed nicely.

SS lines are wonderful, and go with DOT 4.

[MexicoCityM3]

I´ve put new, different pads on used rotors a ton of times. You'll be fine. It'd be insanely expensive to track if I swapped rotors every time I swap pads.

[MexicoCityM3]

Also: you don't need to change to a higher temp fluid for the street. Lol. Or . SS lines also a waste. I have them on the E46 and don't have them on the 1M. No noticeable change. On the track, for street use no way that's necessary.

[Byteme]

Also: you don't need to change to a higher temp fluid for the street. Lol. Or lol. SS lines also a waste. I have them on the E46 and don't have them on the 1M. No noticeable change. On the track, for street use no way that's necessary.

I concur. For street use just use what brake fluid the car's manufacturer says to use.  Regarding SS, I assume we are talking about replacing the flex lines.  Depending on how old the car is it might be wise to replace them.  Occasionally they deteriorate to the point that they do not allow the braked to fully release; the interior swells and acts as a one way valve.  One of the front lines on our F150 did this.  Just install good OEM quality flex lines and you're good to go.

[CaminoRacer]

SS lines usually help firm up the brake pedal.

[Byteme]

SS lines usually help firm up the brake pedal.

Warning, like K&N filters this topic usually starts heated discussions.

I'm sure they do, and I'm also sure most would never notice it.

Think about it.  You take a car and change the flex hoses and probably 99 out of 100 times you change the brake fluid and 100% of the time you at least bleed the brakes. and if you are bothering with stainless flex lines you probably installed new pads and cleaned up the brake calipers.  That in itself, fresh brake fluid alone, will firm up the pedal.  Then there is the placebo effect.  You shelled out bucks for those parts and expect them to make a difference, so...............

Mario Andretti or John Lingenfelter may be able to tell the difference but Joe average driver won't notice much if anything at all except a slightly lighter wallet.

I'd love to see some kind of decent study with back to back data that shows what differences, if any are achieved by using them.   

[Eye of the Tiger]

You should try stainless steel brake fluid.

[Rupert]

And you replace old flex hoses with new flex hoses.

[Eye of the Tiger]

And you replace old flex hoses with new flex hoses.

And/or permanently wrap the old/new rubbery hoses in bailing wire. How could that not stop the supposed expansion, thereby improving brake feels? You could coil up all four wheels with $5 worth of wire.

[CaminoRacer]

The only nay-sayers for SS that I've seen are right here in this thread.

[Rupert]

Car enthusiasts are known for their susceptibility to snake oil via their DIY don't-ask-a-professional-ask-another-DIY-guy methods. Goes both ways, of course.

[Rupert]

And/or permanently wrap the old/new rubbery hoses in bailing wire. How could that not stop the supposed expansion, thereby improving brake feels? You could coil up all four wheels with $5 worth of wire.

Or wrap them with rubbery rope.

[MexicoCityM3]

The only nay-sayers for SS that I've seen are right here in this thread.

When I did them on the M3 I couldn't tell the difference, but like CLKid said, I did pads and fluid as the same time so who knows? On the 1M I haven't done it and it brakes just fine even on the track only with pads and fluid. Admittedly, I may push a bit less these days than back when I started tracking. I don't go 100% most of the time on braking. No point to wear the car so much IMO.

Maybe the Civic rubber lines are rubbish and it would be very noticeable even on Sporty's commute.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Or wrap them with rubbery rope.

Foreverially.

[CaminoRacer]

I have full faith that the pressure specs on a 1M brake line are greater than for a Civic.

[Eye of the Tiger]

I have full faith that the pressure specs on a 1M brake line are greater than for a Civic.

Brake lines is brake lines, mang.

[Cookie Monster]

I think the DOT brake line requirements for stock lines are stupid high - like has to be able to withstand 4000 psi so x number of minutes without exploding. I don't think stainless steel lines will prevent further expansion over stock lines considering stock lines are held to such a high standard. The only reason I can see getting stainless steel lines is on the track, where repeated hard braking causes everything to heat up to crazy high temps. Maybe then stainless steel lines could prevent pedal fade/squishiness.

I don't have SS lines on my track car yet (waiting to get a BBK which includes SS lines), and I'm going with brake ducts first to cool the brakes down before swapping lines. I do boil my fluid pretty quickly, though.

[CaminoRacer]

http://www.stoptech.com/technical-support/technical-white-papers/stainless-steel-brake-lines-q-a

[Rupert]

Says a company who sells braided brake hoses.

[MX793]

I think the DOT brake line requirements for stock lines are stupid high - like has to be able to withstand 4000 psi so x number of minutes without exploding. I don't think stainless steel lines will prevent further expansion over stock lines considering stock lines are held to such a high standard. The only reason I can see getting stainless steel lines is on the track, where repeated hard braking causes everything to heat up to crazy high temps. Maybe then stainless steel lines could prevent pedal fade/squishiness.

I don't have SS lines on my track car yet (waiting to get a BBK which includes SS lines), and I'm going with brake ducts first to cool the brakes down before swapping lines. I do boil my fluid pretty quickly, though.

Material can stretch without breaking.  Two different materials can carry the same amount of stress but with different amounts of strain (stretch or deflection).  Braided stainless lines do stretch less than typical rubber lines, and that can give you a bit more feel.  I think they are more noticeable on something like a motorcycle than a car that has power brakes and not likely something I'd invest in for a car.

[Eye of the Tiger]

What do they use on rally cars? I would go with whatever that is. Maybe some kind of carbon fiber coated flexible tungsten with teflon nanoprobe repair bots.

[CaminoRacer]

Says a company who sells braided brake hoses.

Hmm okay let's take a poll.

Who here has SS lines on a car that used to have rubber?

I do! And I notice a difference. My brake feel is fantastic.

[Cookie Monster]

Hmm okay let's take a poll.

Who here has SS lines on a car that used to have rubber?

I do! And I notice a difference. My brake feel is fantastic.

How old were those rubber lines?

I'm not arguing that SS lines aren't a good upgrade, but I don't know if I'd do it on a strictly street driven car.

[giant_mtb]

If the guy wants to put race lines on a Civic to never track it, fine.

[CaminoRacer]

How old were those rubber lines?

I'm not arguing that SS lines aren't a good upgrade, but I don't know if I'd do it on a strictly street driven car.

Not old.

But, that's a good point. SS lines shouldn't wear out like rubber ones do. So you get longevity on your good brake feel too.

[MX793]

Not old.

But, that's a good point. SS lines shouldn't wear out like rubber ones do. So you get longevity on your good brake feel too.

SS lines still have some kind of rubber or polymer in them to prevent fluid from weeping out between the braided strands.

[12,000 RPM]

I will say this. When I first got the car, the brake pedal was pretty solid. And when I went in for my last service, they said I am due for new fluid. So a flush alone might do it. But I figure, if I am doing a flush the lines will be empty anyway, which would be an ideal time to change them out. Could it be a total placebo effect? Maybe. Is it overkill for a SOHC commuter Honda Civic? Most definitely But I figure I might as well. I feel like the flush and bleed will do the heavy lifting though.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Maybe your firewall has stress cracks around the master cylinder from all that manly, heavy brake feeling you like to do.

[Cookie Monster]

I will say this. When I first got the car, the brake pedal was pretty solid. And when I went in for my last service, they said I am due for new fluid. So a flush alone might do it. But I figure, if I am doing a flush the lines will be empty anyway, which would be an ideal time to change them out. Could it be a total placebo effect? Maybe. Is it overkill for a SOHC commuter Honda Civic? Most definitely But I figure I might as well. I feel like the flush and bleed will do the heavy lifting though.

Why would your lines be empty during a flush? You're continually cycling fluid through the system till you get fresh fluid coming out the ends. At no point should you have empty lines during a flush...