The braking on this car is one of the weakest systems I have ever experienced in any level sports car. The car needs aftermarket brake upgrades for sure. I don't know about a 5k system but if it strikes your fancy and you have the money have at it. I would say that if you are sensitive to squeaky brakes / dust etc the more track specific the kit is the more it will lean towards those things considered impractical for people just wanting a pretty caliper color. You can accomplish a look for a much cheaper cost.

 

This is in direct opposition to almost all published reviews of the car. One of the consistently mentioned highlights of this generation is how well the brakes have performed in extended track sessions (even on stock pads in some cases!). There are tons of upgrades to this platform that are going to give you much better ROI in terms of lap times than a brake kit.

OP, if you want red calipers, just get them powder coated.

If you're just occasionally doing track days, just do track pads and fluid. Color on pads is irrelevant as you don't see them.

 

I don't think these oem brakes are weak for street use at all. Granted, i'm on oem tires. enough overheating stories at track, so pads n fluid are a required item for track use. I did have a set of stoptech awaiting to be installed but there's whole another project on its own.(wheel fitment, tires.)

If you are getting the TRD pads for looks, you would be better off getting some G2 caliper paint and spend a weekend paint the calipers. you won't see much of the pads after installed. also Imo, the bright silver calipers with potential surface rust would not look good with red pads backing with accumulated brake dust anyway.

 

Bro, I am not sure what you want to read, but at no point have i suggested that this car needs fucking 6 pot fronts in order to be driveable. All i stated was that the brakes on this car are weak. They are. I'm super sorry I'm not credible enough for you, Bro. My apologies. I do find it ironic that you posted a bunch of links to automotive journalism sites with quotes to reinforce your point of view. You write about the legions of drivers with such vast experience to make my dick shrivel in fear of your hyperlinks, but I better not post anything to support my argument on the matter that's just silly. Literally everything I posted on my original response to the OP was an opinion based on experience. If you have have a different opinion; that's great... maybe try posting something without tripping over yourself in an attempt to discredit anything I have to say. Maybe, take some pointers from slowv6's post. He seems to know how to disagree with someone without trying to shit on everything they post.

 

You said this car has weak brakes, and that it was your "opinion." Neither is true. Braking distance is an objective metric, one that happens to be widely available for almost all cars. 60-0 for this gen is 108 ft. with stock pads. For comparison, a quick google search yields the following: MX5 club - 111 ft., s2000 - 110 ft., V6 Camaro - 111 ft., PP Mustang - 104 ft., M2 comp. - 106 ft., etc. If your car truly has the weakest brakes you've ever felt, then according to your photos of your prior cars you legitimately have a problem with your 86. It is easily on par with comparable track cars.

Brake fade is measurable but more subjective. According to reviewers who know what they're doing, fade is minimal unless you're pushing limits. Anyone pushing limits is already going to have pads and fluid.

I legitimately don't understand why you're so upset. You posted an "opinion" that is verifiably false. I corrected the error, and you're going ape shit for some reason.

 

Weak or not, and whatever your opinion may be, you can't deny that you need dedicated track pads and fluid for the track.

 

That is true for any car.

As for the raging debate:
I have yet to drive a Gen 2 in anger, but I am hard on my Gen 1 brakes everyday. Never thought they were "weak". Tires have always been the weak link for me. Original pads lasted forever, by the way.

Based on what I read (everything), I fully expect the Gen 2 brakes to be more than adequate. The fact that rotor size was not increased supports that. So I am in Brofessional's camp. (Also, I don't think there was anything wrong with the way he expressed himself.)

Maybe things feel completely different on uber-sticky tires. Maybe. And just maybe Joeyzilla's brakes need a bleed. It happens. Out of curiosity, Joey, have you tried a Gen 1?

Having too much brakes really decreases driveability. You need the right balance for the weight of your car. Subaru could have gone bigger all around, pretty much at no additional cost to them, but they didn't because their test drivers feel the balance is right. There really is no guesswork involved.

 

I'm beginner level on track but plan on tracking it 4-6 times/year. I'm doing pads and fluid, that's it. The braking power seem good enough for me, I just don't want them completely fading on me while I'm on the track. I've read that when stock fluid/pads overheat it happens pretty fast.

 

Brake feel can be a very subjective thing. A car might stop quickly in a short measured distance but with the pedal dropping down toward the floor, that might not feel great. Another car with a slightly longer stopping distance might have a confidence inspiring firm pedal, that feels great but strictly by the numbers does not perform as well.

in my opinion the twins are not "numbers" cars. They are all about the feel.

 

That's interesting as I hear similar shit all the time with bike reviews and either I am completely ham fisted or people really like twitchy brakes.

I want resolution in my stopping same with my go pedal. I don't want to breath on either one and have them engage as if I did a two foot stand in a panic. (I don't want the pedal to go to the floor on either side before doing anything as well)

Most npc cars IMHO are too sensitive in every control point with zero feedback because it's easy.

 

That's interesting as I hear similar shit all the time with bike reviews and either I am completely ham fisted or people really like twitchy brakes.

I want resolution in my stopping same with my go pedal. I don't want to breath on either one and have them engage as if I did a two foot stand in a panic. (I don't want the pedal to go to the floor on either side before doing anything as well)

Most npc cars IMHO are too sensitive in every control point with zero feedback because it's easy.

I agree that that did sound like: "I don't need no friggin' safety; my finger is the safety." Sorry. But Joey is complaining of lack of bite and too much travel / bite point too far. I personally like earlier bite as well. But I could get used to anything so long as I didn't need to actually bottom out the brake pedal.

I think we've just run out of things to complain about

 

Not complaining, other than not actually having a car yet, just intrigued by people who want hair trigger brakes.
To me it all feels over boosted and artificial like the sport throttle modes on cars or the steering on every car.
But I'm a big guy and I'm not known for my finesse so I'm sure that's part of it.

 

Not complaining, other than not actually having a car yet, just intrigued by people who want hair trigger brakes.
To me it all feels over boosted and artificial like the sport throttle modes on cars or the steering on every car.
But I'm a big guy and I'm not known for my finesse so I'm sure that's part of it.

The brakes on this car are fine for the street and likely perfectly capable for auto cross events. Pedal feel is firm and doesn’t have an aggressive initial bite. Brake dust isn’t bad, but I’d prefer a better initial bite