Brake upgrades

[mclemens]

Has anyone done a brake upgrade to a Stop-Tech or Brembo kit? If you did what has been your experience with the upgrade? Do you do just the front or both the front and rear?

Did anyone put the Stop-Tech 380mm kit on with 18 inch wheels? It's my understanding that the Stop-Tech 380mm kit will fit with Apex ARC-8 18x10 wheels but the Brembo 380mm kit won't fit. Can anyone confirm this?

Thanks

[MDORPHN]

Originally Posted by mclemens

Has anyone done a brake upgrade to a Stop-Tech or Brembo kit? If you did what has been your experience with the upgrade? Do you do just the front or both the front and rear?

Did anyone put the Stop-Tech 380mm kit on with 18 inch wheels? It's my understanding that the Stop-Tech 380mm kit will fit with Apex ARC-8 18x10 wheels but the Brembo 380mm kit won't fit. Can anyone confirm this?

Thanks

I don't have any experience with any of the BBKs and suggest you check the E9x M3 message boards for info.

FWIW, I've added brake cooling to my front brakes. Along with stainless steel brake lines, good brake fluid and titanium shims, I'm very happy with my brakes.

If I were to upgrade, I'd keep the calipers and go with the Performance Friction direct drive rotors -- a true floating rotor design.

Should also have mentioned that I run PFC-08 or 01 pads

Neil

[mclemens]

I've got the steel brake lines and PFC-01 pads already.

I'm looking for a solution that doesn't eat brake pads at the rate I'm using them. I'm getting 10 to 12 30 minute sessions at Road America on a set of front pads. I'm getting to 150 3 places on the track.

Maybe some brake cooling would help with the pad wear.

It would also be very nice to be able to change the pads without taking the caliper off. When I had Brembo brakes on my E46 M3 I could change the pads in about 5 minutes per wheel even when they were hot.

[MDORPHN]

Originally Posted by mclemens

I've got the steel brake lines and PFC-01 pads already.

I'm looking for a solution that doesn't eat brake pads at the rate I'm using them. I'm getting 10 to 12 30 minute sessions at Road America on a set of front pads. I'm getting to 150 3 places on the track.

Maybe some brake cooling would help with the pad wear.

It would also be very nice to be able to change the pads without taking the caliper off. When I had Brembo brakes on my E46 M3 I could change the pads in about 5 minutes per wheel even when they were hot.

Yes, brake cooling and PFC-08 pads.

PFC-08 pads last way longer than PFC-01s.

Neil

[sparoz]

My Brembo kit is sitting at customs at the moment. I will let you know how I go, hopefully have them installed next week. I am pretty sure you need 19s to fit the 380mm, and you have to take the callipers off to fit new pads in.

[redux]

Take a look at the PFC BBK. I've ran through just about all of the kits on the market, and the PFC kit is my favorite by far. Plus running 18's is a non issue due a smaller rotor.

[mclemens]

Originally Posted by redux

Take a look at the PFC BBK. I've ran through just about all of the kits on the market, and the PFC kit is my favorite by far. Plus running 18's is a non issue due a smaller rotor.

I've heard that the PFC kit is great but the drawback is the price. About $7,800 for both front and rear kits at Bimmerworld. The StopTech kits are on sale (10% off this week) at Zeckhausen for just under $5,400 for both front and rear.

Can the PFC kit be $2,400 better than the StopTech kit?

[MDORPHN]

You might consider getting front BBK only and dealing with any brake bias issues by running different pads in the back.

Neil

[///M1]

Originally Posted by mclemens

Has anyone done a brake upgrade to a Stop-Tech or Brembo kit? If you did what has been your experience with the upgrade? Do you do just the front or both the front and rear?

Did anyone put the Stop-Tech 380mm kit on with 18 inch wheels? It's my understanding that the Stop-Tech 380mm kit will fit with Apex ARC-8 18x10 wheels but the Brembo 380mm kit won't fit. Can anyone confirm this?

Thanks

Take a look at member 'plautos' posts, he runs a StopTech BBK and often tracks his car on 18s

[redux]

Originally Posted by mclemens

I've heard that the PFC kit is great but the drawback is the price. About $7,800 for both front and rear kits at Bimmerworld. The StopTech kits are on sale (10% off this week) at Zeckhausen for just under $5,400 for both front and rear.

Can the PFC kit be $2,400 better than the StopTech kit?

Are the they $2400 better than the StopTech kit? No, I'd be lying if claimed they were. it's hard to beat a Stop Tech Trophy kit in the bang for your buck category.

[Plautos]

The brakes are more precise and they fit the 18" arc-8 wheels.

If you are a track racer and like to do several laps without stoping for cooling, the bbk kit is what you need.

I´m using the Hawk DTC-70 and PFC01, both very good pads.

I recommend you install with any pad a heat shield.

The StopTech pads have this heat shield and it is removable... use it with the performance pads.

[HP Autowerks]

Stoptech 380mm will fit within the ARC8 wheels.

Hawk DTC-70 and PFC01 are excellent pads. The new PFC06 and 08 will last longer and give up very little in overall bite.

[HP Autowerks]

Originally Posted by sparoz

My Brembo kit is sitting at customs at the moment. I will let you know how I go, hopefully have them installed next week. I am pretty sure you need 19s to fit the 380mm, and you have to take the callipers off to fit new pads in.

Yes, with Brembo 380mm 19" wheels minimum.