Hawk Performance Brakes for the Acura RSX: Which Parts Fit

By Core Brake Parts Tech Team — Circleville, OH warehouse

Hawk makes two different front pad shapes for the Acura RSX, and which one fits depends on your trim. The RSX Type-S takes the HB361 pad (.622 inch thick, shared with the S2000 and 2008-2011 Civic Si), while the base RSX takes the HB418 pad (.646 inch thick, shared with a long list of Civic and Fit models). Pick the shape for your trim first, then pick the compound for how you drive.

This guide walks through both pad shapes, the Hawk compounds we stock for each, how they compare, and the rotor and big brake kit options that pair with them.

Type-S or base: why the RSX needs two different pads

Acura built the RSX Type-S with a larger front brake package than the base car, so the pads are not interchangeable between trims. Hawk lists the HB361 shape for the front of the 2002-2006 RSX Type-S, and the same shape also fits the 2000-2009 Honda S2000 and 2008-2011 Civic Si. The HB418 shape is listed for the front of the non-S RSX, and it also shows up on the rear of the Civic Si and Civic Hybrid, which is why some listings describe it as a "rear" pad. On an RSX, it goes on the front.

The quickest way to confirm your trim is the badge on the tailgate, but if the car has been swapped or rebuilt, look at the caliper itself or measure the old pad. A .622 inch pad is the Type-S shape; a .646 inch pad is the base shape. If you order by year alone, you can easily end up with the wrong box.

Hawk compounds for the RSX, from street to race

Hawk sells the same pad shape in several friction compounds. The letter after the shape number tells you which compound is in the box: B is HPS 5.0, F is HPS, N is HP+, W is DTC-30, and G is DTC-60. Here is what each one is built for, based on Hawk's own compound descriptions.

Two rules apply to every Hawk compound: they are made for iron rotors only (not carbon ceramic), and they need to be bedded in before you lean on them. A race compound on a street car is not a free upgrade. Pads like DTC-60 are designed to work hot, so on a cold morning commute they can feel less responsive than a street pad, and they tend to be noisier and dustier. Choose the compound that matches the temperatures your brakes actually see most of the time, not the hottest they might get once a year.

Which Hawk pads we carry for each RSX

RSX Type-S (HB361 shape)

• Hawk HPS 5.0 front pads HB361B.622 for the RSX Type-S - the one we would put on most street-driven Type-S cars. More bite than HPS without going to a race pad.
• Hawk DTC-30 front pads HB361W.622 - for owners who run track days. Hawk rates it for street and motorsport use and highlights its cold effectiveness, which makes it a reasonable drive-to-the-track pad.
• Hawk DTC-60 front pads HB361G.622 - a motorsports pad for dedicated track cars. Hawk describes it as having superior release and torque control with very low abrasive rotor wear.

Base RSX (HB418 shape)

• Hawk HPS street pads HB418F.646 for the base RSX front - smooth pedal feel, easy on rotors, and the right choice for a daily driver that sees the occasional back road.
• Hawk HP+ pads HB418N.646 - Hawk's crossover street and autocross compound. Good for a base RSX that runs autocross on weekends.
• Hawk DTC-60 race pads HB418G.646 for the non-S RSX - race use only.

You can browse every pad we stock in our brake pads collection.

Rotors and big brake kits that pair with Hawk pads

A new set of performance pads should go on a fresh or freshly machined rotor surface. Pads bedded onto a grooved or uneven rotor never get full contact, and they can pulse or glaze early.

EBC BSD blade-slotted rotors. The EBC BSD7126 front rotor pair for the RSX 2.0L uses EBC's bi-directional blade slots, which EBC says help clear hot gases from the braking zone, keep the pads flatter and run the brakes cooler, while the overlapping slot pattern reduces wind noise. Because the Type-S and base RSX use different front brake packages, confirm the rotor diameter against your old rotor before ordering. More options are in our brake rotors collection.

Wilwood Forged Dynalite big brake kit (Type-S). If you have outgrown what pads and rotors can do, Wilwood's 140-7014 front kit replaces the factory calipers and rotors with forged four-piston Dynalite calipers (4.12 square inches of piston area) over 12.19 inch by .81 inch drilled and slotted rotors on aluminum mounting hats, with BP-10 pads included. Wilwood lists this kit for the RSX Type-S. We carry it with drilled rotors and black calipers (140-7014-D) or drilled rotors and red calipers (140-7014-DR). Two things to plan for: Wilwood says the kit needs at least a 15 inch wheel and may only fit some 15 inch wheels, so check the clearance diagram in the instructions against your wheels, and the flex lines are not included. Wilwood calls for its 220-6860 line kit, sold separately; see our brake lines collection.

What to replace at the same time

• Rotors - replace or resurface whenever you change pad compounds, so the new pad can lay down its own transfer layer.
• Brake fluid - performance pads generate more heat, and old fluid that has absorbed moisture boils sooner. Flush with the fluid type listed on the RSX master cylinder cap or in the owner's manual.
• Hardware - new abutment clips and fresh caliper slide pin grease keep the pad moving freely and quietly. See our brake hardware kits.
• Flex lines - required for the Wilwood kit, and a sensible upgrade on a track car still running original rubber hoses.

How hard is the job, and how to bed in Hawk pads

A front pad swap on an RSX is a beginner-friendly job with basic hand tools: remove the wheel, unbolt the caliper, slide the old pads out, compress the piston, and reverse. Adding rotors means also removing the caliper bracket. Torque every fastener to the values in the factory service manual. The Wilwood kit is a bigger job, a solid afternoon for an experienced home mechanic, followed by a full brake bleed.

Bedding matters as much as compound choice. Hawk's street pad procedure is 6 to 10 stops from about 30 to 35 mph with moderate pressure, then 2 to 3 hard stops from about 40 to 45 mph, then about 15 minutes to let the system cool. Hawk is explicit: do not drag the brakes. Do not sit with your foot hard on the pedal after the last hard stop, or you can imprint pad material onto the hot rotor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Type-S and base RSX brake pads interchange?

No. The Type-S uses the Hawk HB361 shape (.622 inch) and the base RSX uses the HB418 shape (.646 inch). Order by trim, not by year.

Which Hawk pad is best for a daily-driven RSX Type-S?

HPS 5.0 (HB361B.622) is the usual pick. Hawk designs it for aggressive street driving with good rotor and pad life and smooth, predictable control.

Can I run DTC-60 pads on the street?

Hawk classifies DTC-60 as a motorsports pad. It is built to work hot, so on the street it can feel less responsive when cold and is typically louder and dustier. Use a street or crossover compound for daily driving.

Why does an HB418 pad say it fits the rear of a Civic?

The same pad shape is used on the front of the base RSX and on the rear of some Civic Si and Civic Hybrid models. On an RSX, the HB418 is a front pad.

Will the Wilwood big brake kit fit my base RSX?

Wilwood lists the 140-7014 kit for the RSX Type-S. It also requires at least a 15 inch wheel, may only fit some 15 inch wheels, and needs a separate flex line kit.

Do I need new rotors with new Hawk pads?

If your rotors are worn, grooved, or below minimum thickness, yes. Otherwise have them resurfaced so the new pads bed evenly.

Sources

1. Hawk Performance - HPS 5.0 HB361B.622 - Type-S, S2000 and Civic Si fitment, .622 in thickness, compound traits
2. Hawk Performance - HPS HB418F.646 - base RSX front fitment, .646 in thickness
3. Hawk Performance - HP+ HB418N.646 - HP+ crossover and autocross description
4. Hawk Performance - DTC-30 HB361W.622 - DTC-30 street and motorsport use, cold effectiveness
5. Hawk Performance - DTC-60 HB361G.622 - DTC-60 motorsports classification and rotor wear
6. Hawk Performance - Street compounds - HPS and HPS 5.0 temperature ranges, iron rotors only
7. Hawk Performance - How To - street pad bed-in procedure
8. Wilwood - Front Brake Kit 140-7014-D - caliper, piston area, rotor size, BP-10 pads, wheel size, line kit
9. Wilwood - 140-7014-DR for 2004 RSX Type-S - Type-S only fitment
10. EBC Brakes - BSD rotors - blade slot function, noise reduction, material