Some builds start with a big plan. This one started with a guy who just did not like his stock wheels. Kevin Herszer picked up a 2019 Honda Civic Type R to be a daily driver, swapped the wheels because they were not doing it for him, and from there the whole thing snowballed into one of the cleanest FK8 builds around. Today it makes about 550 horsepower, sits on air, stops on a dime, and turns heads everywhere it goes. Here is how it all came together, brakes included.
From Daily Driver to Full Build
Kevin used to build cars, then life happened. He set up his family and stepped away from the scene for a while. With his kids grown, he got back into it, and the Type R became the project. He describes it perfectly: it just kept snowballing. New wheels led to performance, performance led to suspension, and suspension led to brakes. One upgrade always makes the next one look necessary, and that is exactly how a daily driver turns into a 550-horsepower statement car.
550 Horsepower on a Full Bolt-On Setup
The heart of the build is a full bolt-on turbo upgrade paired with a fuel system upgrade, and the result is roughly 550 horsepower out of the 2.0-liter. That is a serious jump over a factory Type R. To put the power down and dial in the stance, Kevin went with S3 coilovers running air cups up front, so the car can sit low when it is parked and lift when it needs to clear a driveway. It is the best of both worlds: show-car stance and street-car usability.
The R1 Concepts Civic Type R Big Brake Kit
Once a Type R is making 550 horsepower and carving corners, the factory brakes have their work cut out for them. That is where we came in. Kevin upgraded to an R1 Concepts Civic Type R big brake kit, front and rear, and the difference shows. In his words, they stop on a dime. Big power deserves big stopping power, and a matched front and rear kit keeps the braking balanced so the car stays planted no matter how hard he pushes it up a canyon road.
A Gold and Teal Combo That Stands Out
Kevin did not just pick a big brake kit for the performance. He built it into the look of the car. With the hood open, the gold and teal on the valve cover flows right into the brake setup, giving the whole car a theme he wanted to contrast and still stand out. He says he has gotten a ton of compliments on the color and wheel combo, and it is easy to see why. A big brake kit is one of the few upgrades that performs hard and looks incredible sitting still.
Bolt-On Fitment With Room to Spare
One of Kevin’s favorite parts of the upgrade was how cleanly it went on. No spacers, no shims, and plenty of clearance. It fit, it cleared, and he has not had a single issue since. That is the goal with every R1 Concepts kit: engineered fitment that bolts on and works, so you spend your time driving instead of fighting the install.
Build Your Own Civic Type R Big Brake Kit
Whether your Type R is a clean daily or a 550-horsepower canyon carver like Kevin’s, the brakes are what let you enjoy all that power with confidence. Head to r1concepts.com to find the big brake kit, rotors, and pads that fit your build and give your Type R the stopping power it deserves.
