Upping my stopping power (keeping abs) -- while doing 5 lug conversion--- - Honda Prelude Forum

ludestarbai · 08-12-2008, 08:41 AM

Alright guys... trying to weigh out my options here cost wise.

I've got a 92 Si (ABS isn't currently working but i've got a new pump/actuator on the way so I plan on fixing that)

I want to do the 5 lug conversion---

I know I need Vtec brakes to do this... but i'm just thinking that if i've gotta spend money on someone's used VTEC brakes how much more is it really going to cost me more (and is it worth it) to just go an aftermarket route with even more stopping power than the Vtec brakes?

Now I'm a complete noob when it comes to brakes so I'll need help with what parts I will need to help me complete this 5 lug conversion, but help to increase stopping power at the same time.

Once again, at this time I would like to only upgrade the parts I will need to for the 5 lug conversion nothing else brake wise at this time, (more than likely will sometime in the future)

Thanks for helping this noob out!

petern101 · 08-12-2008, 09:43 AM

The only thing that will improve is getting good STREET pads.

Don't get RACE pads.

If you're thinking about a big brake kit, then I just want to tell you they really don't help on the street. If you're thinking of cross-drilled or slotted rotors, again, not much help on the street.

Just get vtec brakes with a decent blank rotor and some good pads and you will stop well.

ludestarbai · 08-12-2008, 09:58 AM

so in other words. (just to clarify) for my needs for now, just go ahead and get the vtec brakes...

(somewhere down the line i can get nicer rotors/pads)

just for my education though, why dont big brake kits etc... make much difference on the street?

jsmooney · 08-12-2008, 10:27 AM

The 5 lug conversion "includes" vtec brakes (they are required in other words). It's a decent improvement over the stock Si brakes. I did the conversion about a year and a half ago

BBYlude · 08-12-2008, 11:11 AM

You could also do Legend or NSX calipers IIRC. I think a few people have done this mod.

ludestarbai · 08-12-2008, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBYlude

You could also do Legend or NSX calipers IIRC. I think a few people have done this mod.

ok and just to confrim the 4th gen SI REAR BRAKES will work with the 5 lug conversion right? i only need to source front VTEC or 5th gen calipers/brackets. right?

petern101 · 08-12-2008, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ludestarbai

so in other words. (just to clarify) for my needs for now, just go ahead and get the vtec brakes...

(somewhere down the line i can get nicer rotors/pads)

just for my education though, why dont big brake kits etc... make much difference on the street?

BBK's are mainly for dissapating heat. You don't do enough stops on the street to make use of this. Also they are lighter (about the biggest advantage on the street). You can also find more pad compounds (mostly race compounds) and they're cheaper compared to your specific application pad in the same compound.

Even on the track, there are plenty of preludes and other road racing cars that don't have bbk's and do just fine.

chart45 · 08-12-2008, 06:35 PM

i did the 5 lug conversion on my 92 4ws and you need the front spindle of a 5gen with caliper and braket + new pad and disk at the rear you only need the knuckle and bearing + disk and pad your caliper and braket will fit perfectly and you also need the rear abs sensor of the 5gen becausde the abs reluctor is bigger on the 5 gen bearing...but if you do the conversion for more brake power just get the vtec brake because the swap is expensive and dont worht it but the look !!!!!

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TruNinja619 · 08-12-2008, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chart45

i did the 5 lug conversion on my 92 4ws and you need the front spindle of a 5gen with caliper and braket + new pad and disk at the rear you only need the knuckle and bearing + disk and pad your caliper and braket will fit perfectly and you also need the rear abs sensor of the 5gen becausde the abs reluctor is bigger on the 5 gen bearing...but if you do the conversion for more brake power just get the vtec brake because the swap is expensive and dont worht it but the look !!!!!

As red92s pointed out on his write-up for the 5 lug conversion for the rears, you only need the rear spindle assembly (not the entire knuckle).

rayslude · 08-12-2008, 08:54 PM

Legend calipers here. Easy swap, just gotta remember to mount them on opposite sides of which they should be.

Blamo · 08-14-2008, 02:19 AM

I recently did the swap and used legend calipers + hawk hps pads + front brembo legend rotors. I also put on goodridge ss lines for the hell of it. It stops decently now, not amazing.

ludestarbai · 09-26-2008, 09:18 AM

Well I just got done doing the 5 lug conversion, brand new nice brake pads etc...

I bleed the system, but for some reason I still dont get a nice harsh stop.
I've pretty much gotta push the pedal down to the floor for it to stop completely.

Its not floppy, its pretty resistant, just goes all the way to the floor.

I really dont like that feeling, theres no feeling of confidence in the pedal at all like that.

Is that a symptom of this conversion? Have you noticed that with your setup?

Any advice on how to overcome it? I really dont like driving around like that. The stock brakes felt much better in comparison.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

G_Loc · 09-26-2008, 02:15 PM

Sounds like you didn't bleed them completely... Try bleeding the system again

Did you go with Legend calipers?

ludestarbai · 09-26-2008, 04:18 PM

yeap legend calipers.

i just had tiresplus re-bleed them for me again while they did my alignment and that fixed the problem.

now they feel as good if not slightly better than stock.

still no crazy immediate bite like i was expecting/hoping for.

petern101 · 09-26-2008, 04:55 PM

What pads did you get? Most aggressive pads never have that great initial bite, oem ones would.

G_Loc · 09-27-2008, 10:20 AM

Did you use Legend rotors?