I need better brakes! suggestions?

[caineroad]

the one I have in my car are the original toyota brakes, what do you guys think of it?

Today i was going 100kph/60mph and suddenly needed to stop for a red light(it went from green to yellow), but i was already approaching the interaction so I braked hard I thought i would stop before the line but it didn't....... i heard the tire squeaked and it stopped 10 meters over the line... i estimated the stopping distance was about 50 meters.

I had the brakes checked by toyota a few weeks ago, they said it was top notch, a lot of pads left. My tires were new this season, they are yokohama AVID touring S 14".

if I want to lower the stopping distance, which should i go with? tires or brakes?

I can't fit a bigger rotor i guess cuz my wheels are standard 14"

thx!

[marcus]

lol its not your brakes its your speed..

[RedRide]

50m to stop when going 100kph seems about right
Perhaps you are asking to much from your car/tires?

An experience driver learns not to engage in frequent "panic stop".

[Betrivent]

Stopping ten meters from the line is fine, remember you still had 10 meters to work with and maybe ease up on the brakes before you came to a stop to save yourself a jolt and some whiplash. Also.. watch for stale lights!

[caineroad]

oh...cuz i was thinking about those racing brakes they can stop really fast for cornering and stuffs... no means to race but id like to use it for emergency to stop faster... well seeing the response... i guess is better to stick with the toyota brakes and drive slower!:w00t:

[caineroad]

Stopping ten meters from the line is fine, remember you still had 10 meters to work with and maybe ease up on the brakes before you came to a stop to save yourself a jolt and some whiplash. Also.. watch for stale lights!

oh sorry i meant over the line:headbang:

[Betrivent]

Ah well at that point it's safer to go through the light.. assuming 100 was the speed limit ;)

Different pads may give you betetr stopping power but keep in mind a car can only stop as fast as the brakes can dissipate heat.

[swidd]

Uhm. New pads will not improve your braking much. Try adjusting the rear drum star wheel so the pedal travel is reduced; it will more properly engage the rears earlier so you'll overall distribute braking better. I've bitched about this before on the forum here, that the star wheel adjuster does not properly self-adjust as intended, and in time, I lose "firmness" in the pedal (and the parking brake goes up many clicks). May also need a bleed or new fluid. I may put on stainless steel brake lines.

I put "racing grade" pads on my front, and it made only a very small difference when the pads are hot. Since I rarely apply the brakes, they are usually quite cold, so upgraded racing pads make little sense. They were cheap =)

When you raise your hand brake, how many clicks does it take? More than two? You can tighten it more. Its a simple DIY with no oily mess. After I do it, I need 1 click to hold the car on a hill.

[eTiMaGo]

if your tires are squealing, no matter how good your brakes are, you're not gonna stop any better. It's all about the grip, get grippier tires and they'll grab the road better.. Then if you can stomp on the brakes and *not* hear any tire squeal, you should look into improving braking.

Of course, this is for a daily driving scenario, when racing, improved brakes are usually fitted for the benefit of lasting longer before overheating, as they are used very heavily.

[caineroad]

When you raise your hand brake, how many clicks does it take? More than two? You can tighten it more. Its a simple DIY with no oily mess. After I do it, I need 1 click to hold the car on a hill.

It used to take 5-7, after some adjustment at the dealership now it's the same as yours, 1 click hold the car on a hill

[caineroad]

if your tires are squealing, no matter how good your brakes are, you're not gonna stop any better. It's all about the grip, get grippier tires and they'll grab the road better.. Then if you can stomp on the brakes and *not* hear any tire squeal, you should look into improving braking.

Of course, this is for a daily driving scenario, when racing, improved brakes are usually fitted for the benefit of lasting longer before overheating, as they are used very heavily.

gripper tire, do they call it slick tire? when race car brakes hard, their tire don't squeak?

[MUSKOKA800]

when race car brakes hard, their tire don't squeak?

That's due to driver skill. It's call threshold braking.
Race brakes will lock when necessary but you can't turn a car with the brakes locked so it's not a desirable situation.

[cali yaris]

sounds like the OP locked the brakes up on that stop and doesn't have ABS.

Without ABS, you have to brake up to that point without locking them/skidding to have the shortest stopping distance. Have I got that right?