kinchu007

iTrader: (1)

See? OEM Brembo **** sucks ***! It's just true.

ROCKSTAR RX8

I upgraded my rotors to KVR slotted ones and changed all pads to Project Mu carbon-ti plus MOTUL racing fluids, it stops just as well as my STi with AP BBK. RX8 is not a heavy car at all, and I track my car every month, the upgrades that I've done is more than enough! The only way that I'd change my breaks to BBKs is if I have extra $$ and I want it to look good!!

RoXanneBlack8

everyone here has valid points and i agree with basically all of them. the benefits of BBKs are best realised on high speed road circuits. if ur not racing there then a BBK is not needed. even in autox a BBK will not get to temps where ud NEED a BBK. even the fastest autox courses wouldnt see half the speed ud need to repeatedly reaching in order to need BBK.

how would i kno? ill let ya kno in the middle of june when i go to pocono raceway and put my BBK to the test....

PhotoMunkey

And the 350Z weighs, what, 500 lbs more? You don't think that's a significant enough weight differenct to say that the Brembos are excellent? Heavier car matching the distance (in just one magazine, Car and Driver list 117 ft for the RX-8). Jon from JIC-Magic told me they changed the tires on a 350Z Track to Hankook's best, and stopped in 98 ft! Stock suspension. He also said they did the same with the RX-8 and ran through the slalom at 79 mph! Again, with a stock suspension. Tires, brakes, and suspension are all intertwined in performance.

Guys, most BBK calipers weigh less than our cast iron calipers. Cast iron doesn't shed heat as fast as aluminum, and transfers more heat into the fluid with repeated hard stops. Reducing unsprung weight means that the spring and shock will do a better job of keeping the tire pressed down onto the road surface. This equates to better cornering, no matter what tire you're using.

Personally, I KNOW I don't need a BBK on the street. That's not why I'm working to have one developed. I NEED lighter rotors for acceleration. I WANT lighter calipers for better suspension performance. When I go to a track event, and I'm 15 minutes into a 20 minute session, I don't WANT to go into a corner too hot and NOT have enough brakes to safely slow the car. With better heat dissipation from a larger rotor, I'll be able to use a better pad compound to generate eye-popping brake force even late in a track session, and THAT'S what BBKs are meant to do!

Do the photos of my car below count as "track use"? Um, I think they do. BTW-wasn't me driving... I wanted a "shakedown" by a track instructor to see if I'm headed in the right direction with my suspension. 20 minute session, he started from the front, circled the entire 2.5 mile track, then started passing all but about 3 or 4 cars which were behind him at the start. But sure, yeah, a Civic's gonna hang with us... Riiiiiiiiiiiight!

SouthFL

I've done 60 minute sessions with no fade on OEM calipers and Hawk HP Plus compound (even with going into ABS repeatedly- so I was braking pretty hard- and short). Did have to come back in for gas though.

PhotoMunkey

Insufficient information: what tires were you using? There's a big difference from stock Bridgestone RE-040 or 050As to the RE-01Rs I'm using. There's a big difference again from the RE-01Rs to something like a Kumho or Hoosier slick too. Were you on a track with long fast straights (and big heavy braking zones) or on a tighter twisty track where you're braking briefly and not reaching high speeds?

Also, Hawk HP Plus isn't a bad street compound, but it's not fantastic, like some others which are available.

SouthFL

I'm in stock trim on 8090's. HP Plus pads. ATE Super Blue fluid bled the day before every lapping event.

So far, have yet to encounter fade (and I've encountered fade on other cars) at the track. I've run the 8 at: Homestead, Moroso and Sebring road courses since I bought the car in December. The brakes are stellar (one of the main reasons why I bought the car). Haven't run on a stickier compound tire yet, so can't comment on that.