Brakes VS Hp

[Paul Workman]

Originally Posted by Meanmyz

Unless you are just wanting to spend money on "bling", I don't think you really have to do much at all for brakes in upgrading your horsepower.

For the most part, big brakes aren't going to stop your car any faster. The J55 brakes your car came with are more than up to the task. A benefit of big brakes is the ability to take more heat under hard use before having problems...not ultimate stopping distance.

I recommend a good set of brake pads such as Hawk HPS. I just put on a set of Powerstop Z26 pads last year and hardly have any dust anymore. I just haven't used them hard enough yet to comment on there ability to stop. So far I am very happy...and I do occasionally race, such as at SORC in Nebraska.

Of course, bling factor is another thing. If that is what you want, have at it.

Totally agree as one with the "510" package AND the Hawk HPS pads and prefers twisties (mountain roads) using considerable braking. The J55s work fine.
Now, for a dedicated track/competition pad, THAT is a horse of a different color, far as pads/calipers go. Those that go to the track often change pads before going on the track, and then change back to street pads when leaving the track.

I thing you'll like the HPS pad performance very much. And, HP doesn't really play into the equation: you can lock up the wheels with them on the J55s and once you do, it doesn't matter what pads/calipers you have. It won't stop any faster.

So, unless you're headed for the track, OR you just like the aesthetic appeal or some other attraction, the J55s (with good pads) are hard to beat. (And, just last weekend I threw my Z into some twisty mountain curves - got the tires into a few 4-wheel drifting situations too - and the HPS pads never faded once. Just sayin!)