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Depends on how you want the car to ride / handle - how you want the car to react when stopping, if you need more stopping power.
As for the struts - the can originally came equipped with KYB struts. Replacing them with KYB GR-2/Excel-G struts will be almost an identical replacement. If you wanted to stiffen up the ride a bit, enhance some of the handling - then this would be the ideal time to replace both the strut and springs. Something like Eibach and H&R performance springs will lower the car ride height slightly (1.25"-1.5") coupled with a strut like a Tokico Blue or similar, will greatly change the way the car handles.
For brakes - replacing the OEM rotors with performance ones, depends on the rotor in question. There are a number of OEM sized rotors that are cryo-treated, slotted, drilled, dimpled, specially vented, or some combination of those. Results can be mixed - depends on how and where you drive. Myself - replaced the OEM rotors with Brembo blanks (plain, vented rotors) - which also happen to be the Toyota OEM manufacturer. Coupled that with a performance brake pad - now you'll see some braking differences. For most cases, changing to a performance brake pad has a greater effect than replacing it with a performance rotor. Unless that rotor is oversized (ie, BBK - big brake kits, or caliper extenders (good and bad here) ) - you wont see much difference in most running conditions.
My car - 2002 Corolla
Suspension - running TRD springs (rebadged Eibach springs) and KYB-GR2 struts. Will be replacing those (GR-2 struts lasted 5 years! on the lowered spring) with some Tokico Blue struts. Suspension mods will have the biggest impact on the car - as it comes very softly sprung from the manufacturer. One of the best bang for your buck here.
Brakes - running Brembo blanks and Hawk HPS pads. Good for spirited driving on the street, though not recommended for track use. Rotor friendly compound, works well all year around. Couple this with a good tire and wheel package and suspension upgrade - completely transforms the car handling behavior.
If you want a good track/street pad - Hawk HP Plus is pretty popular. EBC Yellow Stuff has been reformulated - IMO, sits in between the HPS and HP Plus from Hawk, leaning more toward the HP Plus side. Akebono is OEM on Nissan, ceramic composite - low dust and noise, better bite than OEM organic pads, but not quite to the level of other ferro-composite pads out there.
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2002 Corolla S, 1.8L 1ZZ-FE VVT-i
2003 Matrix XRS, 1.8L 2ZZ-GE, VVTL-i (RIP)
2009 Matrix XRS, 2.4L 2AZ-FE VVT-i
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