Welcome, Honda fam to another exhilarating journey into the world of high-performance driving! In today's blog, we'll delve into a topic that often goes overlooked but is absolutely critical for unleashing the full potential of your 2016+ Honda Civic, Accord, or late-model Acura like the new Integra – brake upgrades.

Just like a finely tuned instrument, your ride needs the right (big) brakes to play nice with its upgraded power and performance! in stock form, the brakes on most Honda’s and Acura’s coming out the factory are weak. Join us as we explore why proper brake upgrades are a game-changer for the modern Honda performance enthusiast.

The Foundation of High-Performance Driving

Imagine piloting your Type R or Si down a canyon road, the engine's exhaust blasting in your ears as you tackle every curve with precision and nail that “apex”. In these moments, you rely on your brakes as much as your go-pedal honestly. High-performance driving demands impeccable braking performance, and your factory brakes may not always rise to the occasion. Now, imagine this situation on your local track where other cars are nose to tail all around you counting on your stopping power. Let me tell ya, stock brakes aren’t going to cut it for more than a lap.

Handling the Heat

One of the key reasons why brake upgrades are essential for fast driving is heat management. When you push your car to its limits, the brakes generate tremendous heat through friction. Over time, excessive heat can lead to brake fade, reduced performance, and even brake failure in extreme cases. To avoid these issues, performance brake upgrades typically feature larger rotors and improved calipers designed to dissipate heat more effectively. This means you can push your Honda harder, longer, and with greater confidence. When it comes to all things performance, including brakes, heat is the #1 killer.

Enhanced Stopping Power

High-performance driving often demands quicker and more aggressive braking as well. Performance brake systems like our 27WON kits come equipped with high-heat pad materials and 2-piece rotors that deliver enhanced stopping power. This allows you to bring your Honda to a halt more rapidly and with better control, crucial in high-speed situations or when navigating tight corners and carving up canyons.

Consistency and Precision

Precision is the name of the game when it comes to fast driving and track time. Aftermarket brake upgrades provide a level of consistency that can make all the difference. Unlike stock brakes that may exhibit variable performance under extreme conditions, upgraded brakes offer a more predictable and repeatable response. This predictability allows drivers to fine-tune their braking technique and push their Honda to its limits with confidence. You will find with a BBK upgrade that your driving style will change a bit. Once you get the brakes up to temperature and in the sweet spot you will see that your braking in corners or the straight leading up to the corner changes. These changes can shave seconds off on the race track. Braking later = better lap times

Choosing the Right Brake Upgrades

Now that we understand the significance of brake upgrades let's explore how to make the right choice for your 2016+ Honda or ACURA. The first step is to identify your driving goals and requirements. Are you a weekend track warrior or do you seek improved braking for spirited canyon runs? The answer will guide your selection.

• Rotor Size and Material

Consider upgrading to larger rotors made from high-quality materials like carbon-ceramic or slotted and drilled rotors for enhanced heat dissipation and improved performance.

Going from a 10-inch rotor to a 13-inch rotor, for example like something you would find in one of our kits gives a ton more surface area for your brake pads to act on.

This gives more space for the heat to dissipate as mentioned earlier. A limiting thing for rotor size is how big of a rotor you can fit under your stock or aftermarket wheels. You can only get so much rotor under a 17” or 18” wheel, etc. which are very common sizes for 10th and 11th Gen Civics. So be sure and do your measurements before picking up a BBK.

• Caliper Upgrade

High-performance brake calipers are designed to withstand extreme heat and offer superior clamping force. This translates to more efficient and consistent braking. By utilizing larger pistons and/or multiple pistons we can tailor how the car brakes bias when you smash the pedal. This is important to not only upgrade the stopping power but keep the car balanced as well.

Our Big Brake kits utilize larger 4-piston calipers to really deliver an upgrade over stock you can feel the first time you mash the brake pedal.

• Performance Brake Pads

Choose performance brake pads that match your driving style. Street-performance pads offer great daily driving comfort with occasional track use, while track-focused pads are designed for aggressive driving on the circuit.

Our 27WON kit comes with a nice high-performance street upgrade pad but we utilized a common pad size that allows you to purchase pads of varying materials from other well respected brake pad suppliers like Hawk and Brembo to dial in exactly the level of aggression you need. 

• Brake Lines and Fluid

Don't forget about brake lines and fluid! Upgrading to stainless steel brake lines and high-performance brake fluid can further improve brake feel and response. When purchasing fluid be sure and select one with a high boiling point so you don’t have to worry about brake fade when you are carving it up. While upgraded stainless lines like those we include with our kits deliver better braking feel over rubber constructed lines the OEMs typically use due to the nature of how rubber has more give and flex. It’s also cheaper ;-)

In the world of high-performance driving, every component plays a crucial role in. Proper brake upgrades for your Honda Civic are not just a luxury but a necessity. Better heat management, better stopping power, more consistency and precision is the name of the game when you need it the most.

Lastly, let’s mention this one real quick, safety. Not many people put this as the top reason for a brake upgrade, but it should always be a priority, and upgrading your brakes can significantly improve your ability to handle your Honda at its limits both on the Street and the Track. Shorter stopping distances + faster response coupled with consistent braking means you have more control over any situation you encounter. 

So, if you're looking to take your driving experience to the next level, invest in quality brake upgrades and unlock the true potential of your ride. 

Vincent Melon 

-Co-founder 

REDEFINE the Aftermarket