Gimme a Brake! Your Guide to Better Stopping Power
Stop right there! Between break-ups, break-downs, & brake upgrades this Valentine’s Day, I think there’s an obvious choice. However, it is a good idea to educate yourself because some brake upgrades are easier to install than others. Let’s take a look at some of the brake kits available so that you can find the best brake upgrade for your vehicle.
Why Upgrade?
There are many different reasons why someone might want to upgrade the brakes on their car, truck or SUV. For some drivers, it is all about the appearance. Adding a large diameter wheel with open spokes gives a clear view of the brakes sitting behind the rim. Stock brakes may work fine, but they will look tiny inside a big, fancy wheel. A set of big rotors and calipers fills the space and stops traffic at the same time. If you tow or haul cargo with a truck, van or SUV, then upgrading your brakes gives an extra measure of safety when you hit the mountains or need to stop in a hurry. This is especially true if you are towing a trailer that isn’t equipped with trailer brakes. Of course, anyone who spends time at the racetrack knows the importance of having brakes that can handle hard stops over and over without fading. In almost every case, choosing a brake upgrade will improve your vehicle in some way.
Easy Brake Upgrades
Installing a set of brake caliper covers is one of the easiest brake upgrades you can do. Caliper covers hide your boring brake calipers and give a pop of color to your wheel wells. They clip on easily for a cool look with minimal fuss. Prefer to dress up your factory calipers? Give them a coat of eye-catching paint for a drool-worthy custom look.
Another easy brake upgrade is simply changing to performance brake pads. Brands like EBC, Hawk, Maxim, Power Stop and StopTech make brake pads that fit your factory calipers and greatly enhance your stopping power. Just pick the friction material that best matches your needs and application. Installation is as easy as any other brake job and no modifications are required. You can also upgrade your disc brake rotors with a performance set from EBC, Maxim, Power Stop or StopTech. Get rotors that are coated for corrosion resistance or that are made from a different material. Of course, everyone loves the looks of cross-drilled and slotted rotors, but know that these aggressive rotors may wear down brake pads faster, so you will need to check your brake wear more often.
Need another easy win with upgrading brake lines? Factory rubber brake lines work fine for normal driving, but their construction inherently allows for a small amount of lost braking pressure. Rubber brake lines expand ever so slightly during braking (like a balloon), which is fine for normal driving. However, when the moment calls for using every bit of braking pressure, a set of braided stainless steel brake lines can deliver fast results. These brake lines are a direct replacement for stock rubber brake hoses. Braided stainless steel brake lines have superior brake pressure handling ability, while also looking stellar.
Brake Upgrade Kits
Turn your next brake job into a brake upgrade with a disc brake rotor and brake pad kit. If you’re replacing your pads and rotors anyway, why not step up your braking performance? Pick up a brake kit from StopTech, EBC or Maxim for an easy brake enhancement. These kits include matched brake pads and rotors designed to work together, so no guessing which brake compound works best with which brake rotor design. Each disc brake and rotor kit are matched to your vehicle to help maximize braking performance without breaking the bank.
Full Brake Kits
For the serious stopper, step it up to the big boy brake kit – these performance pieces are not kidding around. Brembo brake kits are very popular among Ford Mustangs – you can also choose a StopTech big brake kit, which also includes stainless-steel brake lines. Whichever of these big brake kits you pick, you can bet that not only will your vehicle stop better than ever — it can also help shave seconds off your lap times.
