I’m a first time poster on this forum but I do own a couple of DB’s and a DA (I’ve actually owned quite a few cars in this platform - also owned DC’s and about every worthwhile civic generation). I would first like to give props to dominicdiaz8 for completing this project and to be the first one to introduce this brake hybrid to the DA world.
I guess I should share my experience with Honda hybrid big brake kits and the myths that surround them. Like every other forum I have visited there is a fare share of idiots who will knock this setup in favor of what you are supposed to purchase via the magazines. Swhangin is the primary fool for this topic of discussion. I shall not bash anymore but just share all my experiences with hybrid brake setups. I am only here to help out others and keep the OEM concept going.
Master Cylinder:
Start with a 1" OEM Honda unit found on anything with ABS. Do your own research and start with this core. The brake boosters can be limited to 15/16 MC on civics
Rear EP3/RSX calipers (4x100 rotors):
Perfect upgrade for any Teg, I have ran the 10" rears with stock fronts for a while on a car. Gives the car perfect balance and squats even on high speed breaking. This upgrade works better on DA/DC/EG/EK chassis than it does with a similar setup on the EP3 and EM chassis. It is like my DA was made for it without any other mods.
Front ITR’s:
This is the base for any performance you want out of your DA/DC. If you own a crappy DX civic and upgrade the brakes to a DA/DC you know and feel that the car should have come with that setup stock. Well own a DA/DC and upgrade to ITR fronts and you get the feeling that your car should have stopped like this from the assembly line. Currently the easy setup is to run Mini Cooper rotors but I have had experience with modding both sides of the caliper and rocking 94 Prelude VTEC rotors. If I had to do it again I would have just bolted on mini cooper rotors and made it easy (I guess I have some prelude rotors for sale now).
At this point I would like to add that a full factory BBK makes your heavy DA/DC feel more natural on the road and track. The rears are a great upgrade to start with but when you add the fronts they really perform like the car should (turn a base model into more). The best comparison I can only give is taking a base HF CRX and putting stock DA brakes on the front/rear and see how it is.
With all of that said I would like to point out that the rears are just about maxxed out at this point. Yes you can go very little more with Fastbrakes kit but the entire inch of rotor you get will not help.
We move on to the fronts and you must realize that the bias won’t differ that much on the various setups. If you want to alter it then go with a civic proportionating valve that favors the rear. With the fronts you start with the ITR (same as accord v6, minivan, crv, prelude VTEC, ITR) and then move to the late model CL and also S2k. Those calipers are the discussion here so I thought I would give my piece.
here is a truly definitive parts list you will need to do the rsx/ep3 rear brake upgrade- skip the numerous threads of crap and redundancy. Straight to the point!
- rear rotors from 2002-2003 civic si (chassis code:ep3 - 4lug)
- rear calipers from any year rsx (need to mount the left caliper on the right side and vice versa due to the e-brake levers) Note: bleeding the brakes with the calipers on is gonna be a pain!
OR
rear calipers from 98-01 integra type-R (bolts on like stock!!) Note: they’re really not that cheap and if you decide to go this route, make sure the caliper you’re getting is actually one from a type-r, as the cast stamp is the same for the rsx (14something vs stock DA is 13something). The difference is how the e-brake lever on the caliper is positioned. (learned this the hard way!!) Note2: 96-97 type-r caliper bracket does not bolt on for some odd reason (also learned this the hard way, smh lol)
- brake pads for the application of the caliper (should be the same either way iirc)
- can use the stock brake lines from the DA (direct bolt-on)
also another oem alternative aside from what i stated above
- rear rotors from 2002-2003 civic si (chassis code:ep3 - 4lug rotors whereas after 2003, it is 5lug)
- rear caliper brackets from a 2002-2005 civic si or any year from a rsx
- use stock DA calipers
- rear brake pads for 2002-2005 civic si or rsx (again should be the same iirc)
hope this helps you out and save you some time from searching!
I’m personally running the 98-01 type-r rears and it’s literally a bolt-on affair!
Good Luck!
for more info, try looking up BrakeExpert though he’s been banned for a long time on honda-tech, he is brake guru on oem brake upgrades and has posted alot of info from RL’s, NSX’s, Legend’s, S2K’s,and etc. I have learned alot searching through his old posts when I was doing this a few years back…
I guess I wasn’t clear on when I asked what pads are you guys using with the upgrades. What I meant what was compound are you using? OEM, aftermarket? what exact pad? I’d like to know this because there are SO many options for great pads for our stock brakes that would probably do as much as the caliper/bigger rotor upgrades. For example, I’m running Endless CCA with Project Mu rotors SS brake lines, New OEM brake master cylinder, ATE superblue brake fluid in the front, rear is just Ceramic pads by Centric, E-coated centric rear rotors. This setup feels amazing and this is the stock braking system. I do have to warm the CCA pads up before I feel their CRAZY bite, but it feels amazing when it does and it more than enough for what I need. And to the people fading, are you doing circuit events or something? I don’t see any other circumstance where regular driving would get fade.
I have a 1993 four door which is a track only car, I have the legend single piston calipers up front with mini cooper rotors and stock in the rear. I run Hawk DTC-30 pads up front and HP+ pads in the rear. this setup gives me great braking I am debating on making a few changes but need to track the car with this setup a little while longer to see exactly what I want to change. You can upgrade the size of the rotors and change out calipers but the pads are what make you stop and talking to several road racing guys they run stock setup with really good pads and stop on a dime.