lord flashheart
03-02-2015, 11:33 PM
For those of you who are not familiar with MaxBrakes, they are a brake company based in Canada. They sell on eBay regularly. I couldn't find any in depth reviews on them so here I am making one.
As you may know my car suffered brake failure and had a brief yet profound meeting with a Honda.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/03/0c18cfc80ad092d955eb313e7479befb-1.jpg
So after replacing the front end of my car I decided it was time for brakes.
DRIVING HABITS AND VEHICLE
So my car is a 95 legacy with a swap, the brakes are upgraded from the dinky factory ones to the 03 outback H6 brakes front and rear. Which if I'm not mistaken is nearly 2 inches bigger in rotor diameter. As for my driving habits mostly aggressive daily driving with track days around once per month.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/03/f4e76fb2ede7163ec21549ead9781d8f-1.jpg
SELECTING THE BRAKES FROM MAXBRAKES.COM:
I was surprised by the wide selection of options for as many applications as they do. (Not many companies make performance brakes for a 03 outback)
They offered a great deal of options including
Color: silver, gold or black zinc
Rotor type: OE, drilled, slotted, drilled and slotted (and I'm sure a few others)
Pads: organic, performance ceramic, semi-metallic, and carbon metallic.
After a great deal of research I decided to order the carbon metallic pads with silver vented, drilled and slotted rotors, since they seem to be all the rage with enthusiasts.
PRICE:
I was actually fairly impressed with their prices. Their carbon ceramic pads run $31.99
Compare with O'Reilys brake brand brakebest organics of $22, ceramic of $36 and carbon metallics of $70±.
I was left feeling intrigued, but also I had some low expectations for them.
The carbon metallic pads and slotted rotors for all 4 corners plus the E-brake shoes was well under $200 leaving room in the budget for red caliper paint and beer LOL.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/03/0f3b9dc4c8e9c01289b0c2ddf3d91f37-1.jpg
CUSTOMER SERVICE:
after checkout I received a email from them to thank me for the purchase and to verify the application and fitment. I was a dummy and ordered the wrong pads and they were very helpful and responded to my emails within 15 minutes most times. Absolutely outstanding customer service... You know for Canadians.
SHIPPING:
I was expecting to wait forever for shipping since it was out of the country. But I was surprised how quickly it arrived. From Ontario Canada to salt lake city Utah was just 4-5 business days.
QUALITY:
Much to my satisfaction the quality seems to be pretty good. I was expecting thin rotors or poorly machined padsand was pleasantly surprised when I couldn't find anything poor about them. There is nothing I have found to indicate that these are from china. I must say I am impressed so far.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/03/6e8c7e4be6f4177d4b178a44619c3900-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/03/1aa081d76c794a7713bafd63ff024a56-1.jpg
FITMENT:
Aside from me ordering the incorrect product I had absolutely no issues what so ever.
Before
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/03/49a8b186da7fb1e3022fee7ef877b276-1.jpghttps://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/03/9d5cab9f12ccf003f46723392989a16b-1.jpg
After
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/03/97add04f39ac54dfbd5f9f1a0d4711db-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/03/5bb4c401b77f1a5daa928bbc48c33196-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/03/f5dc5dc2856469dfac756960aa121bea-1.jpg
OVERALL
I am really impressed so far. I haven't taken the car to the track yet this year but the brakes feel firm, with good bite and maybe I'm typical ricer but I like the looks of them.
I will update this as time goes on, with how the longevity and track day performance turns out.
I will definitely buy again tho
Hope this helps.
As you may know my car suffered brake failure and had a brief yet profound meeting with a Honda.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/03/0c18cfc80ad092d955eb313e7479befb-1.jpg
So after replacing the front end of my car I decided it was time for brakes.
DRIVING HABITS AND VEHICLE
So my car is a 95 legacy with a swap, the brakes are upgraded from the dinky factory ones to the 03 outback H6 brakes front and rear. Which if I'm not mistaken is nearly 2 inches bigger in rotor diameter. As for my driving habits mostly aggressive daily driving with track days around once per month.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/03/f4e76fb2ede7163ec21549ead9781d8f-1.jpg
SELECTING THE BRAKES FROM MAXBRAKES.COM:
I was surprised by the wide selection of options for as many applications as they do. (Not many companies make performance brakes for a 03 outback)
They offered a great deal of options including
Color: silver, gold or black zinc
Rotor type: OE, drilled, slotted, drilled and slotted (and I'm sure a few others)
Pads: organic, performance ceramic, semi-metallic, and carbon metallic.
After a great deal of research I decided to order the carbon metallic pads with silver vented, drilled and slotted rotors, since they seem to be all the rage with enthusiasts.
PRICE:
I was actually fairly impressed with their prices. Their carbon ceramic pads run $31.99
Compare with O'Reilys brake brand brakebest organics of $22, ceramic of $36 and carbon metallics of $70±.
I was left feeling intrigued, but also I had some low expectations for them.
The carbon metallic pads and slotted rotors for all 4 corners plus the E-brake shoes was well under $200 leaving room in the budget for red caliper paint and beer LOL.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/03/0f3b9dc4c8e9c01289b0c2ddf3d91f37-1.jpg
CUSTOMER SERVICE:
after checkout I received a email from them to thank me for the purchase and to verify the application and fitment. I was a dummy and ordered the wrong pads and they were very helpful and responded to my emails within 15 minutes most times. Absolutely outstanding customer service... You know for Canadians.
SHIPPING:
I was expecting to wait forever for shipping since it was out of the country. But I was surprised how quickly it arrived. From Ontario Canada to salt lake city Utah was just 4-5 business days.
QUALITY:
Much to my satisfaction the quality seems to be pretty good. I was expecting thin rotors or poorly machined padsand was pleasantly surprised when I couldn't find anything poor about them. There is nothing I have found to indicate that these are from china. I must say I am impressed so far.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/03/6e8c7e4be6f4177d4b178a44619c3900-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/03/1aa081d76c794a7713bafd63ff024a56-1.jpg
FITMENT:
Aside from me ordering the incorrect product I had absolutely no issues what so ever.
Before
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/03/49a8b186da7fb1e3022fee7ef877b276-1.jpghttps://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/03/9d5cab9f12ccf003f46723392989a16b-1.jpg
After
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/03/97add04f39ac54dfbd5f9f1a0d4711db-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/03/5bb4c401b77f1a5daa928bbc48c33196-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/03/f5dc5dc2856469dfac756960aa121bea-1.jpg
OVERALL
I am really impressed so far. I haven't taken the car to the track yet this year but the brakes feel firm, with good bite and maybe I'm typical ricer but I like the looks of them.
I will update this as time goes on, with how the longevity and track day performance turns out.
I will definitely buy again tho
Hope this helps.