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Thread: Better Brakes? (mountain driving)

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    Better Brakes? (mountain driving)

    Haven't been able to find good info so I'm just gonna ask. I live in a very mountainous area and am constantly on steep grades. No problem going up but coming back down is another story. My brakes constantly overheat and aren't very good at stopping the car even with new (supposedly high quality) pads. Anyone found a bigger brake system or better rotor pad combination that works good? I've seen the sedan brakes should be compatible but nothing about anyone actually using them.
    Thanks in advance for any info.



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    Administrator Daox's Avatar
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    Hello Joe. Welcome to the site.

    Just starting with the obvious, but are you using engine braking to slow yourself vs just brakes?

    I assume since you're talking about the 'upgraded brakes' you have 2017 Mirage?
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    Moderator Eggman's Avatar
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    Not knowing what year Mirage you have makes a difference. The 2017 brakes are bigger than the 2014s and 2015s. Which do you have? Make a garage entry here on the forum and tell us more about yourself.

    Welcome to the forum.

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        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2015 Mirage ES 1.2 manual: 49.6 mpg (US) ... 21.1 km/L ... 4.7 L/100 km ... 59.5 mpg (Imp)


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    It's a 2015 manual and yes I use engine braking. I try and keep the rpms lower then 4500, in the steepest area I have to use 2nd gear to keep it under 35 and it's a 25mph zone and trust me its hard to come to a dead stop at the bottom.

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    Eggman (10-21-2017)

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    Moderator Eggman's Avatar
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    That stinks. I guess I'm lucky to not have those problems.

    Yeah, aftermarket support is pretty slim for these cars. I recall some here found some aftermarket rotors, but I think if you really want to improve braking you ought to look at 2017 hardware, either from salvage or maybe from your dealer.

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        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2015 Mirage ES 1.2 manual: 49.6 mpg (US) ... 21.1 km/L ... 4.7 L/100 km ... 59.5 mpg (Imp)


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    Moderator Eggman's Avatar
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    I forgot to ask - does your ABS activate during your hard stops? And what tires are you using? The little factory Enasaves might not help.

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        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2015 Mirage ES 1.2 manual: 49.6 mpg (US) ... 21.1 km/L ... 4.7 L/100 km ... 59.5 mpg (Imp)


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    Abs use to kick on going down any steep hills so I disabled it by unplugging the wheel speed sensors because the fuse for abs is tied into other systems. Helps not having it on in the snow and rain(don't slide as much). The tire size I'm running is 175/70r14 if I remember correctly. Had a hard time finding them in the factory size and found that the wider tires wear more evenly .

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    Where's the leak ma'am? Marklovski's Avatar
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    Senior Member Cobrajet's Avatar
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    Better pads and better tires will help A LOT. I recommend the Raybestos Element EHT for the pads. I noticed quite an improvement in stopping power when I switched to these on my 2015 manual.

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    Senior Member MightyMirageMpg's Avatar
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    By your description I'm picturing smoke rolling out from your brakes at the bottom of the hill?

    If your heat soaking your rotors no matter what pads you use the problem won't go away.

    Few thing that comes to mind would be too run some duct and direct it at your rotors like race cars do, a larger diameter rotor, or some of the "grooved" or "slotted" rotors would help because of the increased surface area, they cool better.

    If your baking your brake fluid regularly get it changed out for high quality fluid, too

    Edit: i seen you specifically asked about larger rotors and the 2017 brakes are larger, and *presumed* an easy swap if you get the brake hangar and rotor but nobody here has done it far as I'm aware


    Last edited by MightyMirageMpg; 10-21-2017 at 12:13 PM.

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