HT-Spec Brake Package: Stage 4 Performance Package, 04-10 Acura TSX / 99-08 Acura TL (non-Brembo) / 01-03 Acura CL

This kit is designed for the:
Street Performance Enthusiast and the Track or Competition Racer
We also have kits for the Grocery Getter and the Spirited/Stylish Commuter. See our other stages for your specific needs!

HT-Spec brake packages are formulated by HeelToe Automotive through concentrating on the most popular and successful customer upgrades sold. By focusing on individual customer concerns and needs, sensible upgrade packages are assembled, packed, and shipped right to your door or your installers shop.

For more specs please visit this link to the Pitboard Blog!

Fitments currently available:
• 04-08 TSX
• 09- TSX
• 99-03 TL
• 04-08 TL w/o Brembo
• 01-03 CL

Certified HeelToe HT-Spec parts!

Factory Honda/Acura brakes cannot cope with the higher demands of sports or street performance drivers, even on the street. :
• The factory recommendation is to change the fluid every 3 years with no mileage interval. HT-Specs dictate this is too long and interval, as it can allow contamination to build up in the system* which will result in Type-2 brake fade*** and less confident braking. The factory recommended fluid is Honda Genuine DOT3, which inherently has a low boiling point****.
• Honda Factory Brake pads are mild in compound and only work marginally well in panic-stop situations. Repeated moderate-to-heavy braking will result in a lack of friction due to overheating. In short, with stock brake pads you are good for one panic-stop, and the more you press the brakes after that the less the car brakes until the system is let to cool down for a long period.
• The brake rotors used by the factory are heavy (about 18 lbs each on a TSX or TL) and relatively small in diameter when used for performance purposes. Rotor diameter dictates the amount of brake-torque a car is capable of producing. The 11.8” standard rotor diameter is not adequate for producing maximum stopping when used with HT-Spec wheel and tire packages on the track.
• Upon pressing the brake pedal firmly, rubber brake hoses will expand and reduce brake fluid pressure acting on the pads and rotors. The situation gets worse as the rubber deteriorates with heat and the elements, and the result is reduced braking ability. Higher performance driving will increase the heat in the lines from the inside, further exacerbating expansion. Even with high performance fluid, brake line expansion can contribute to brake fade in sport driving situations.

HT-Spec Stage 4 Brake Packages provide a "Track Package" brake upgrade that could easily be used for moderate or extended track use. Aggressive situations such as spirited canyon or mountain driving will be more confident and safer with an HT-Spec Stage 4 Brake Package:
• HT-Specs recommend a complete flush of the brake fluid to maintain safe braking operation every 1 year or 15,000 miles, which greatly exceeds the inadequate factory recommendation. The Stage 4 brake packages include 3 half-liter bottles of Motul RBF600 Brake Fluid for more aggressive applications where high heat is experienced. This is enough to completely flush the hydraulic system in your Honda or Acura car, taking into account the possibility of additional bleeding processes to evacuate all the air out of the new calipers provided. The wet boiling point of RBF600 is 420°F, significantly higher than the Honda fluid, preventing issues with boiling if sustained high performance driving is encountered.
• Front brake rotors are increased in size to 12.8” (a 1.0” increase over stock) RB Performance slotted rotors. The new rotors are EDP to eliminate unsightly rusting. Factory single-pot calipers are replaced with new RB Performance forged aluminum 4-piston calipers.
  Brake Kit options in ordering this kit:
  • Option 1 includes a 12.8" Front BBK with RB Performance calipers and ET300 Street Performance Pads
  • Option 2 is the same as option 1, only with ET500 Brake Pads for higher friction force on the up-sized rotors and better ability to shed heat.
  • Option 3 is the same as option 1, only with ET800 Brake Pads for the ultimate in street performance braking.
• HT-Spec Stage 4 brake packages include upgraded RB Performance ET300 front brake pads which are specially formulated produce improved braking over stock pads with a general resistance to overheating.

   

  ET300 Features:
  • Increased stopping power over stock
  • Good friction/torque hot or cold
  • Very gentle on rotors
  • Extended pad life
  • Very Low Dust
  • Noise-free
• HT-Spec Stage 4 brake packages introduce optional ET500 and ET800 front brake pads.

   

  RB ET500 & ET800 Pad Features:
  • Extremely High Friction Output
  • Highly Fade Resistant (ET 800 build on the ET500 heat-fighting improvements over the ET300)
  • Worthy for Autocross & Club Racing Events
  • Can be used on the street in varying temperatures safely (expect minimal noise and rotor wear when compared to stock)
• The factory rubber brake hoses are replaced with DOT Certified Fastbrakes Stainless Steel brake lines. These lines are not prone to deterioration as factory rubber ones are; Fastbrakes brake lines provide a firmer, more confident brake pedal feeling that gives the driver a real sense of control. These brake lines will also eliminate expansion during high-temperature situations experienced during performance use. Another benefit of these Fastbrakes brake lines is the extra measure of safety they promote, as they are highly resistant to being cut by flying debris or vandals.

*Brake fluid pulls molecules of water out of the air since it is “hygroscopic;” Water is a dangerous contaminant in brake fluid. It builds up as sludge in the system and reduces the function of the brakes in warm temperatures. Also, heat cycling of the fluid can cause it to lose it’s resistance to compression and lubricity, which in turn can also cause the pedal to become soft. Lastly, dirt and debris can collect in the fluid reservoir that can promote the wear of seals in the master cylinder and calipers. This can lead to costly premature replacement of these items.
** Common situations of hill decent, freeway exit or panic-stop can induce a high-heat buildup in the braking system that will cause factory brake pads break down, and this causes an unsafe shimmy in the steering wheel while braking, primarily from speeds of 60 mph or more. The shaking is disconcerting and prevents drivers from taking full advantage of the car’s braking ability.
*** Fading: The reduction or loss of braking power. There are two main causes of fade as a result of persistent enthusiastic driving: Type-1, the pads are too hot and are unable to provide friction needed to stop the car (the pedal feels relatively firm but does not stop the car); Type-2, the brake fluid has overheated and begun to boil, reducing it’s ability to withstand pressure without compressing (the pedal will feel soft or spongy).
**** Boiling Point of Honda Genuine Brake Fluid (08798-9008) has a non-specific boiling point, stated only to "exceed...SAE specifications" of 284° wet (containing a small percentage of water, for a "worst case scenarios" comparison of hydrated fluids). In fact, Honda fluid ONLY states claims of wet conditions, indirectly assuming drivers will not change their fluid regularly, which trivializes listing a dry fluid point that new fluid would have. ***** Rear rotors are optional on this kit as they are not required for a comprehensive upgrade, however the higher level of brake pads used in this package justify our recommendation to get the rear rotors to prevent excessive wear or noise.