My car is going to need some brake work soon (pads, fluid, probably resurface rotors) and I was wondering if anybody was running a factory J65 disc brake setup but with improvements - in other words, it looks stock, but performs better.

If we dissect performance into acceleration, handling, and braking, the stock thirdgen does the best in the first two and the worst in braking. The brakes get the job done, but they lack in pedal feel, initial bite, and the performance isn't as good as you'd expect for such a light car.

So what brake mods can improve braking without going to an obvious aftermarket solution? Or, are the J65 (non-1LE) 4 wheel discs simply limited and maxed out in their original form?

Edit - my car is a lowish mile survivor B4C that I use mostly for spirited weekend driving on fun roads. No racetrack brakes needed.

 

Probably the best all-around way to go would be the LS1 brakes. You already have the modified spindles, which makes it that much cheeeeeeeper and eeeeeezier.

 

You could refresh everything and put on a set of "sticky" pads.


Here's what I did and it helped a lot compared to the "old" stock pieces .It's single caliper but the general idea = https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/brak...brake-job.html
I like Ceramic pads but there not as sticky as lets say a set of these = http://www.hawkperformance.com/perfo...ormance-street

 

Here's are links to my review as well as Reid Fleming's review of Dean's "ultimate stock set up".

Mine: https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/brak...setup-aka.html
Reid's: https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/brak...-ultimate.html

 

Thanks for the link - very interesting info.

I'd also consider an aftermarket setup that does not change factory offset (i.e. - push the front wheels to a wider track).