Looks like a guy over on honda-tech is working on swapping TL calipers onto his Type-R. I know those R guys like to run NSX and Legend calipers as well, so maybe this could have applications for the Prelude also. The TL calipers are 4 piston, manufactured by Brembo.
So when all these people swap Legend or NSX calipers do they get better performance than say buying a Rotara? kit...also, does it end up being a lot cheaper to do the swap than the buy a kit, I just thought the kit would be so much easier to do
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Steve - Formerly Hawks10 - '98 5-Speed Base - Pink Floyd Vinyl + My Kind >* My Setup Page
people swap the legend and nsx calipers because it is a 2 piston system. What is the point of getting a TL brembo caliper when you can get brembo calipers through brembo. The reasoning also behind the 2 piston system is that many people have upgraded from the OEM 1 piston calipers to a 4 piston and have not seen any results worth giving a hoot about. The reason behind this is because the prelude was designed for a 1 piston system. it cannot put out enough pressure through the breaklights to fully take advantage of that 4 piston caliper. Therefore to upgrade in actual stopping performance, the 2 piston calipers like nsx and legend is a better move because it doesnt need as much pressure as a 4 and 6 piston caliper.
-The more you know
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Limited Lip, 05 Tails, Oem Fogs, Group N Top Hats, JDM Pinks, Whiteline 24mm Sways, Python 990.
people swap the legend and nsx calipers because it is a 2 piston system. What is the point of getting a TL brembo caliper when you can get brembo calipers through brembo. The reasoning also behind the 2 piston system is that many people have upgraded from the OEM 1 piston calipers to a 4 piston and have not seen any results worth giving a hoot about. The reason behind this is because the prelude was designed for a 1 piston system. it cannot put out enough pressure through the breaklights to fully take advantage of that 4 piston caliper. Therefore to upgrade in actual stopping performance, the 2 piston calipers like nsx and legend is a better move because it doesnt need as much pressure as a 4 and 6 piston caliper.
-The more you know
Gotcha, thanks for that explanation....
And all you guys, I assume he means "brakelines" not "breaklights"
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Steve - Formerly Hawks10 - '98 5-Speed Base - Pink Floyd Vinyl + My Kind >* My Setup Page
4 and 6 pot calipers = not enough pressure in the LINES
2 pot = best performing upgrade with our given brakeing systems...youd have to upgrade master cylinder for sure...and i mean unless your tracking as a profession, i seriously doubt anyone wants to mess with upgrade the entire system. im pretty sure that the spoon calipers are 2 piston but im not too sure on that.
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Limited Lip, 05 Tails, Oem Fogs, Group N Top Hats, JDM Pinks, Whiteline 24mm Sways, Python 990.
That's not necessarily true. It depends on the total area of the pistons. The brakes have no way of knowing how many pistons are in a caliper, and it's immaterial as far as pressure in the system is concerned. All that matters is the area of the master cylinder piston and the area of the piston(s) in the caliper(s).
If the 4 pistons in the Acura caliper have the same total area as the single piston Prelude caliper, the Acura calipers should work just fine. If the area is different, you're going to screw with pedal feel, travel, and brake balance.
Eh, they probabaly don't fit under 15s, so no use for me. Also, last time I checked, there were no good race pads for those calipers. I can't recall if I even found many aftermarket pads for that caliper.
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Originally Posted by golfluder01
basically in summary of my earlier post
4 and 6 pot calipers = not enough pressure in the LINES
2 pot = best performing upgrade with our given brakeing systems...youd have to upgrade master cylinder for sure...and i mean unless your tracking as a profession, i seriously doubt anyone wants to mess with upgrade the entire system. im pretty sure that the spoon calipers are 2 piston but im not too sure on that.
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Billy - 98 Prelude
#27 H2 NASA TX HondaChallenge
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Most people see a pretty decent difference by installing stain steel braided lines, and pads with a higher coefficient of friction.
Truthfully, you can probably perform those two upgrades and get a result almost as good as a big brake kit.
Now, while I'm reading above about the size of the pistons, and the fact that the master cylinder isn't as strong in the Prelude, etc... etc... The BIG difference is not simply that you have two or 4 pistons, its that you have more SURFACE AREA for the pad material to grip the rotors.
That's what will make the biggest difference.
However, then there is the factor of what compound you are using... so if you've got a big break kit without an agressive compound you're only going to stop so well. On the other hand, if you've got an OEM brake kit with a very agressive compound, you'll probably stop really fast... add some stainless steel lines... and you're probably going to be quite fine.
I thought the main advantage to having the NSX/Legend swap was longer fade resistance because of that greater surface area. In that sense, the NSX or TL swap would have at least that advantage over a fully upgraded OEM system.
I personally run Hawk HPS pads on Brembo blanks with Goodridge stainless steel lines. It's night and day over stock. My only qualm is that the brakes are less effective (ie: too hot at that speed) slowing down very quickly from 100mph. I'm hoping the NSX caliper may partly fix this problem.
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Originally Posted by Gerhard
Just to add my 2 cents:
Most people see a pretty decent difference by installing stain steel braided lines, and pads with a higher coefficient of friction.
Truthfully, you can probably perform those two upgrades and get a result almost as good as a big brake kit.
Now, while I'm reading above about the size of the pistons, and the fact that the master cylinder isn't as strong in the Prelude, etc... etc... The BIG difference is not simply that you have two or 4 pistons, its that you have more SURFACE AREA for the pad material to grip the rotors.
That's what will make the biggest difference.
However, then there is the factor of what compound you are using... so if you've got a big break kit without an agressive compound you're only going to stop so well. On the other hand, if you've got an OEM brake kit with a very agressive compound, you'll probably stop really fast... add some stainless steel lines... and you're probably going to be quite fine.
The HPS are your problem. They are a street pad, and even stopping from 100 once will over heat them.
I have Cobalt Friction's Spec-VR as my Track pad, and I can make stops from 140 down to stop and there is no fade or loss in the pedal. A street pad is only going to do so much. Even the HP+ doesn't like stops from over 100mph.
So can I use Cobalt Friction's Spec-VR's on the street or will their operating range not be touched on at regular traffic speeds?
Edit: Looking on their website, the brakes are rated 350-1550F.
So I take it this means that I *can* use them on the street but every single time I drive the car from having cooled down, I'd need to warm them up. I wonder how difficult this might be in the winter.
Also, last time I checked, there were no good race pads for those calipers. I can't recall if I even found many aftermarket pads for that caliper. 
