Modifying the braking system on your Acura RSX is one of the most frequently overlooked areas by car enthusiasts. First and foremost it is a safety issue, if you are adding power to your car it is important that your upgrade your braking system to handle this. It also offers aesthetic improvement, will reduce track or autocross times considerably and can sometimes be a cheap alternative to replacement factory parts.
The next thing to consider is your goals. Are you doing this to improve street performance, purely for looks, or are you building a dedicated race car It is hard to make a decision as to what parts to buy if you haven’t first considered this.
Brake pads are the most important component in any braking system, upgrading them will offer a considerably increase in stopping power when compared to the standard parts. It is best to read other people’s reviews when choosing which pads to buy as the manufacturer’s websites are often filled with technical data that no-one besides an automotive engineer can understand. The only thing to remember is that most of the pads that will stop your Acura RSX the quickest are not effective when cold and are therefore not suitable for the street.
Upgrading the rotorsdisks on your RSX braking system is less important, but still should be considered. Many drilled or slotted rotor designs allow for improved brake cooling ensuring that your brakes don’t overheat under heavy use. Considerable weight savings can also be achieved by using two piece rotors.
The standard RSX brake lines will flex a little under hard braking. It is therefore important to upgrade to stainless steel brake lines if your want to maintain that firm pedals feel. This tends to help when modulating the brakes.
A big brake kit is just a fancy way of saying an all in one kit, and is the most expensive option when upgrading your Acura RSX brakes. It consists of calipers, rotors, pads and often upgraded lines. Often the calipers will have 2 or more pistons offering an increase in clamping force, and therefore braking power. The disks will also be larger which means that they can take more abuse before they overheat. A good set of matched brake pads and brake lines are also usually included.
In the end it is up to you which method you choose for upgrading your RSX brakes. The best way to start is usually to upgrade your pads and see if you are happy with the performance, but some people like to buy the most effective parts right from the beginning. It is important not to forget your original goal; if you do it is likely that your braking system won’t be nearly as suitable as if you kept it in mind.
Tags: acura, acura rsx, aesthetic improvement, automotive, automotive engineer, brake, brake line, brake lines, brake pad, brake pads, brake system, brakes, braking system, car enthusiasts, engine, most expensive, Parts, performance, piece rotors, race car, rsx, safety, stainless steel brake, stainless steel brake lines, steel brake lines, stopping power, street performance
