Help deciding what to do with brakes...

acr2002 · Post by **acr2002** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 12:43 am

Hey guys I have a few questions and would like some opinions...

I have been putting off doing this for a while, but I think the time has come. One of my rear drum cylinders blew not long ago and the shop that replaced it didn't bleed the brakes correctly, I guess, since my brakes suck now. Instead of getting the car up and bleeding them, I think I am going to do some upgrades since my car's power is a little more than the brakes can handle anyhow...

I have the SRT-4 rear brake swap sitting in my garage, but made my mind not to do it since most people on here say the difference isn't that great. I don't care what the drums look like, my car is a sleeper, anyhow. Honestly though, is this worth doing, or should I sell the brake swap and invest in something else? It seems kind of time consuming for minimum improvements, but ???

In the front, I was thinking about just doing the ATE PremiumOne Slotted rotors (tirerack.com) with Hawk Street pads. Does that sound like a good idea? Or is there something better out there? $ is an issue!

Also, is anyone using the Russell Stainless Brake Lines like Modern Perf. sells? They are only $100. Seems worth it to me. Will they work with the SRT rear brakes or the drums? Their website right now says: " PLEASE NOTE: This brake line kit listing is for the 00-05 Neon with FRONT AND REAR drums" Kind of confusing since no one has front drums!?

Like I said any opinions are welcome!! Thanks!!

patiofurnituregt · Post by **patiofurnituregt** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 2:11 am

I would say for the rears its worth it to have disc...but you could sell the SRt's and buy regualar neaon discs. There the same diameter so youll get the same brake lever/ stopping power as the SRT, there just not as thick...so they wouldn't be as good for endurance.

and you could just get an SRT steel braided line kit, which if I recall threads just the same, but SRT brakes have a lil tab for the square fitting, if I remember correctly.

Otherwise just going with good Hawk pads and power slots..or whatever should be fine....unless you plan on doing some auto-x or just like more brake feel there really isnt any reason for the lines..

excon · Post by **excon** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 10:58 am

If you've got the rear brake swap sitting in your garage, do it. Use as much of your original equipment as possible (spindles and bearings) because you know where it came from; not a junkyard.

The SRT rear brake swap does provide more stopping power, and if you feel like sliding "tokyo drift style" you can now...

patiofurnituregt · Post by **patiofurnituregt** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 2:03 pm

riiiiighhhhht...lol
drift........
tokyoooo...
style......
3 words I though I would never see on 2gn in the same sentence...

dodgeneonzl · Post by **dodgeneonzl** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 5:56 am

Hey, i did the rear brake swap about almost a month ago, and i said that it didn't have much of a difference compared to drum... Well, i'll tell you, i was wrong... it does make a big difference!
I changed all rotors and pads during the time i did the swap... new 4 slotted rotors, and all 4 new hawk pads... I think i might've been because of the break in of the pads that i didn't see much of a difference. But now that i've been on it for about almost a month i'm actually seeing a lot of improvement. You'll most likely see big improvement during high speed. In the past when i tried to slow down fast during the high way it slows down slowly especially that i have to hit the brake real hard to slow down, but now... it stops easily and i can lock up the wheel if needed, but yeah i'll say it's worth it as far as performance for braking. Even just for the look alone is worth it

Good luck and if you have any question let me know. Also, go with what others said... Use the existing knuckle... because it's gonna rust and it'll be hard to get it off and like me you might have to end up spending hours trying to dremel it off...