Sharpen up my brakes?

[Pete McCue]

Good morning all. I'd like to sharpen up the feel of my brakes. They work fine but I prefer a firmer pedal and a little more bite. I've ordered some braided hoses already but is it worth upgrading the pads too? I used to use EBC pads on my bike and always found them good but the car will only be subjected to a bit of "spirited" driving on the road. The main thing is the feel. Thanks

[MrChris]

I had this a while back with my other 2 and the thing that improved feel the most was:

• Clean and free moving sliders on all calipers.
• Calipers in good working order (basically, refurbished).
• Fresh pads.
• A good bleed with fresh brake fluid.

Unless there is something wrong with your brake lines, in my opinion they don't cause bad brake feel. I'm only putting braided brake lines on my 2zz MR2 because I'm fairly certain the existing ones have degraded and I just happen to have some braided brake lines.

[Topdownman]

I assume that you will be changing the brake fluid too. I have been happy with plain discs and EBC Ultimax pads.

[Pete McCue]

I assume that you will be changing the brake fluid too. I have been happy with plain discs and EBC Ultimax pads.

Yes, the fluid will be fully flushed due to having to bleed the system anyway. The fluid looks very clean and fresh as it is but new fluid will be going in. Calipers / sliders all in really good clean condition. The brakes work fine, I just want a firmer feel.

[tets]

I use grooved discs with yellowstuff, braided lines and dot 5.1 fluid in the hillclimb car with no complaints at all

They don't get too hot as it's only short runs but the pedals always great

[Ardent]

Yes, the fluid will be fully flushed due to having to bleed the system anyway. The fluid looks very clean and fresh as it is but new fluid will be going in. Calipers / sliders all in really good clean condition. The brakes work fine, I just want a firmer feel.

I hear you.
This got raised a while back. Might even have been me.
If i ask it to stop, it stops. But I, like you would like a firmer pedal.
For me especially at the top. Just feels soft. Not spongy or anything.

I wondered if it was designed that way. Soft n progressive for the bulk of the time and people.
I have braided lines. For weekend warrior b road bandit probably not required, but they are pretty.

[Pete McCue]

I hear you.
This got raised a while back. Might even have been me.
If i ask it to stop, it stops. But I, like you would like a firmer pedal.
For me especially at the top. Just feels soft. Not spongy or anything.

I wondered if it was designed that way. Soft n progressive for the bulk of the time and people.
I have braided lines. For weekend warrior b road bandit probably not required, but they are pretty.

Yeah, there's a bit of that too! 

[Beachbum957]

We have a 2003 MR2 that had a slightly softer pedal and longer travel than another 2002 that has a very firm pedal.  Both had SS lines, stock pads, and fresh fluid and been pressure bleed multiple times.  Lots of things were checked and the one thing that made a noticeable difference was adjusting the parking brake using the procedure in the shop manual. It is possible the rear pads were getting kicked back a little, adding a tiny bit of travel. 

We have found the stock pads and rotors work very well on the street with very progressive feel.

[shnazzle]

- Air in fluid
- rear brake auto-adjuster
- master cylinder spring wear
- brake booster spring wear


Stock lines are fine. Plenty stiff. If they're still in good nick. The rubber is already super stiff. Have a look at the lines with someone pressing the pedal hard... I'll send you cash if you see the line move at all.

people who have experienced a eureka moment when changing to braided lines think it was the lines when it fact the fluid change was the hero.

Get the right fluid for your purposes. Racing brake fluid like RBF600 is designed to be replaced after every race. It's more hygroscopic. Just get any ol' DOT4 and do a good thorough flush. The bottle can't be stored for long once you've opened it, so might as well use it all for a flush and fill. Chances of you using the bottle again is nil. 

[Pete McCue]

- Air in fluid
- rear brake auto-adjuster
- master cylinder spring wear
- brake booster spring wear


Stock lines are fine. Plenty stiff. If they're still in good nick. The rubber is already super stiff. Have a look at the lines with someone pressing the pedal hard... I'll send you cash if you see the line move at all.

people who have experienced a eureka moment when changing to braided lines think it was the lines when it fact the fluid change was the hero.

Get the right fluid for your purposes. Racing brake fluid like RBF600 is designed to be replaced after every race. It's more hygroscopic. Just get any ol' DOT4 and do a good thorough flush. The bottle can't be stored for long once you've opened it, so might as well use it all for a flush and fill. Chances of you using the bottle again is nil.

I may have given the impression that the brakes are bad, they're not, they work just fine, it's just that I like a firmer pedal than it has at present if that is possible, (and without a complete replacement of discs, pads etc).

[Beachbum957]

- Air in fluid
- rear brake auto-adjuster
- master cylinder spring wear
- brake booster spring wear

Those are the mostly likely reasons for a softer pedal.  But 2 cars apparently set up the same, like our 2003 and the 2002 may still be slightly different.  The last puzzle pieces that might be differentiate between the cars is pad wear and differences in the brake booster or the vacuum available at the booster.