A Deep Dive into the Civic Type R & Integra Type S Braking System - Part 1
FL5 OEM Brake System
Alright Honda friends, family, and everything in between, let’s talk about the OE brake system on the Civic Type R, as well as the Integra Type S.
As you know here at 27Won we take our stopping power very seriously, and we love a good BBK. We’ve aimed to develop and run a BBK on every Honda platform we touch. That includes the 10th and 11th gen Civic, as well as a complete four-wheel kit for the S2000.
With a history like ours, it’s only natural this would be one of our first areas of focus as soon as we had a Type R in our shop. Because before you can improve a system, you have to know exactly what you’re working with. Without further ado, let’s jump right into the OE brake system!
When Honda introduced the FK8 Civic Type R back in 2017, you guys immediately praised its out-of-the-box track readiness. But if there was one area that caught heat from track junkies, it was the brakes.
Mind you, this wasn’t something people griped about on day one. Early reviews and casual drivers were all about the strong initial bite and solid stopping power. But after enough laps (and plenty of cooked pads) folks started to wonder if the stock setup was really up to the task. Is the OE solution enough for real-world drivers who push the limits? That’s exactly what we set out to find
From FK8 to FL5: What's New in OE Hardware
Honda stayed loyal to Brembo for the front setup on both the FK8 and FL5 CTRs, featuring 4-piston calipers paired with 350mmx32mm rotors. On the surface, not much changed—but dig deeper and you'll find:
Improved pad compound on the FL5 with better fade resistance, a higher friction ceiling near 600°F.
Enhanced brake cooling via updated ducting and revised front bumper airflow management.
Slight rotor venting geometry tweaks, improving heat dispersion on longer stints.
FL5 OEM Rotor Veins
Whether you're carving canyon roads or running a 20-minute HPDE session, the FL5 still suffers from familiar issues: pad glazing, soft pedal feel due to rubber brake lines, or in extreme cases rotor cracking from heat saturation.And let’s not forget the calipers—after a hard track day, those bright red Brembos have a habit of turning into “brownbos.”
With that in mind, let’s break things down piece by piece and see where the strengths, and weak spots, really are.
The Brake Calipers: The 4-piston Brembo calipers that come standard are some serious hardware. These bad boys have four 42mm equal pistons and a rigid monoblock design. Nice and rigid, with a simple consistency that lets you be creative with your pad compound. Weighing in at 11.5lbs per caliper, these beasts speak for themselves, but we think there’s still plenty of room for improvement…
FL5 OEM Brembo Calipers
The Brake Rotors: All three of these platforms (FK8, FL5, & DE5) run the same size front rotors: 350mm x 32mm, two-piece iron discs with internal vents to help shed heat. Honda did update the vent geometry between the FK8 and FL5 to improve airflow and reduce cracking, but they’re still prone to serious heat soak when driven hard. And at just over 22 pounds each (About as heavy as a microwave per corner) We found an obvious place to start improving this system.
FL5 OEM Rotors
Brake Pads: The stock pads on these cars are fine for daily cruising and the occasional blast through your favorite curves, but let’s be real, they’re not exactly track heroes. The FK8 came with a lower-temp compound that has a bad habit of fading out once you got the rotors hot and glazing over after a few hard laps. Honda knew it was an issue, so the FL5 got a bump to a higher-friction material that holds up better under serious braking and doesn’t give up as quickly. Even with the upgrade, these pads still tap out way before most drivers are done having fun, leaving a ton of performance on the table.
At the end of the day, brakes don’t just stop the car, they build confidence. When you know your system can take the heat lap after lap, you drive harder, brake later, and get more out of every session. Not to mention feel safer while you’re doing it.
So, there you have it, a brake system that’s pretty solid right out of the box but still has some big gaps if you’re serious about pushing your car to the limit.
Honda gave us a great foundation with the Brembos and the updated pads, but when you look at the heat management, rotor weight, and long-term consistency, there’s plenty of room to level up. Whether you’re tracking every weekend or just want more confidence on the street, upgrading these components can completely change how your Type R or Integra Type S feels under your foot. Stay tuned, because we’ve got something in the works that’s going to take stopping power to a whole new level for the FK8, FL5 and DE5 platforms.
REDEFINE the Aftermarket
-Jake Self