Opinions Needed on Stillen Brake Components

[2ksev6]

I'm planning to upgrade brakes in the next week or two. The head mechanic at my shop, whom I consider well informed on Toyotas, suggested that I go with stillen pads and stillen cross drilled rotors. Any opinions on that setup? This is mostly for daily city driving.

Some people may say that's over kill, but I dislike the stock brakes and want to upgrade. Besides, I drive fast and corner quick. I want something that will work great quickly, since my trips are often short. I don't want to wait for them to heat up. I also don't want dust and I want them to last a long time. I'm pretty sure I'll go with the stillens, just want to make an informed decision.

[DatSRBoi]

Wow we live 3 hours from each other. Ill be iaustin in 3 weeks with my cousin.

[Sentinel]

If Stillen pads are stickier, won't they be dustier?

I'd like to try the caliper relocation kit that uses larger Supra rotors, but they only fit w/ 17" rims, and I'm still on stock 16s'

[sydemoid]

Stillen makes great products.

But why not go for a big brake kit?

you could get an ericsol caliper relocation bracket set, and 93-98 supra tt rotors.

only fallback.... you must have 17's since the rotors are massive.

The braking response is crazy compared to stock.

I did mine a week and a half ago.... AMAZING!

Stillen is respected, and does offer awesome products...

so if you got a good price, do it.

[bluesolara]

Stillen makes great products.

But why not go for a big brake kit?

you could get an ericsol caliper relocation bracket set, and 93-98 supra tt rotors.

only fallback.... you must have 17's since the rotors are massive.

The braking response is crazy compared to stock.

I did mine a week and a half ago.... AMAZING!

Stillen is respected, and does offer awesome products...

so if you got a good price, do it.

How much did it cost you for the kit?

[Mole]

1.) learn to post in the correct forum.

2.) if he's a mechanic with years of experience under his belt, he forgot to tell you about upgrading brake lines.

3.) stillen is nice, not sure what the price is but i recommend EBC green brake pads. the best bite i ever had.

[Turbosolara]

EBC green is great, i had it on my civic and i love it.

i am pretty sure stillen's brake product just rebadge someone else stuffs.

just like mole said, upgrade brake line will make great difference

why stillen?

[krook]

Some people may say that's over kill, but I dislike the stock brakes and want to upgrade. Besides, I drive fast and corner quick. I want something that will work great quickly, since my trips are often short. I don't want to wait for them to heat up. I also don't want dust and I want them to last a long time. I'm pretty sure I'll go with the stillens, just want to make an informed decision.

i had the same attitude when buying a whole new brake upgraded system. from the general response on the board and members' feedback, i decided to go with Brembo drilled rotors, Hawk brake pads (front and rear), and Goodrich SS brake line. (roughly $600)

it's been a proven setup by members on this board and the products (as far as i know) are reliable. based on the info i gathered i'm assuming this will yield a DAMN impressive braking/stopping response! if you go with Stillens you'd be the guinnea pig, as i don't know of anyone on the board who's tried it.

[Ian]

I'm planning to upgrade brakes in the next week or two. The head mechanic at my shop, whom I consider well informed on Toyotas, suggested that I go with stillen pads and stillen cross drilled rotors. Any opinions on that setup? This is mostly for daily city driving.

Some people may say that's over kill, but I dislike the stock brakes and want to upgrade. Besides, I drive fast and corner quick. I want something that will work great quickly, since my trips are often short. I don't want to wait for them to heat up. I also don't want dust and I want them to last a long time. I'm pretty sure I'll go with the stillens, just want to make an informed decision.

My set up, and my recommendation: Go to tirerack.com and get Brembo drilled rotors, Akibono brake pads, and Goodrich steel brake lines. This set up works like a charm, very minimal brake dust (after the first week), steady braking power, and no noise. And they look decent too. Love it.

I would imagine that the only thing that is better is to get a big brake kit because of the bigger rotors. But, that is usually much more expensive.

[2ksev6]

DatSRBoi - I used to live in Arlington and went to one DFW area Camry/Solara meeting, so we may have met before. Three weeks from now is Spring Break, so I guess you've got SXSW tickets. If I'm right, you're lucky as hell. Feel free to hit me up when you get down here.

As far as brakes go, I'd love the Supra conversion, but I'd need new wheels, etc. So Sydemoid, I'm jealous. Maybe after college. Going with the Stillens won't cost as much, in fact it'll be way cheaper than the $600 for the Brembos for sure since I'm getting free install on this one. I'd like brake lines too, but that might beat my budget. Plus I'm pretty busy, so the simpler I can make this by involving fewer companies the better. With his shop it's just one and if anything screws up he'll hanlde it.

Sentinel - Where'd you hear that Stillens are stickier? If the dust is the same as the stock pads or a touch worse it's no big deal. Of course we'll see if I change my tune when I feel like I have to wash my wheels every 2 weeks.

Well, I think if there's no "My cousin got killed when his Stillen brakes failed" or "those pads are worse than the TRD's" or "Those rotors crack" stories then I may just have to be a guinea pig. Assuming nothing goes terribly wrong with them then it's easier for me to be the guinea pig timewise and anything will be better than the warped stockers I've got now. Besides Stillen didn't get to be a respected company by making crap products, and I'd assume if they rebadge that they'd do it with the right parts.

BTW, I asked about the brake lines and he said they'd make a difference, but not a huge one. That runs counter to what I've heard on here, but not ordering new lines will save me time and money and I can always get them later anyway, so it's kind of a moot point.

Thanks for your input folks.

[Sentinel]

oops: I just assumed stillen pads were stuckier because different rotors aren't really going to help stopping power... maybe fade and heat transfer. I just assumed they were stickier.

Are new lines going to help that much? I's not like the stock hoses don't have braided steel inside them.

I've also heard you can get a different master cylinder to push fluid harder. If you stomp on the pedal Solara brakes are okay, I just wish they were a little more sensitive.

[2ksev6]

Yeah, a little more sensitivity would be better, but right now I think I'd be fine with not warped.

[---CAMRAZY---]

Do some BigBrakes....

[1kdude]

I have TRD pads, reground stock camry rotors and SS lines, clear improvement over stock, but when stopping hard from 100+ I'd like more, like the big brake kit (anyone have one for sale?).

I'm not sue different stock sized rotors make much difference, pads, better brake master cylinders and ss lines do.

my 2cents

[CASTRO]

ehhh... everyone forgot the most important mod that even the rotora big brake kit doesnt have. Hahaha, am I the only one who remembers? Oh well, contact me if you wanna know. lol