Big Brake Kit Users

[supradjza80]

So the mk4 I purchased came with an AP Racing big brake kit using 13.5" diameter, 36mm thick rotors and CP5555 6 piston calipers. I have looked into the cost for replacement pads and rotors and found that for each rotor the price is about 350$, and pads are between 200-400$ depending on brand and material qualitys.

My question to other guys who actually track their car with BBK's do you find that the pads and rotors last a lot longer then stock stuff? There is no way I can afford to replace this stuff constantly at these prices where OEM stuff is a lot cheaper. I love the brakes but want to know if I am looking at having to spend $1k every couple of track days just for front brake components.

Any opinions or testimonials appreciated. And if you have found a cheap place to purchase AP rotors that would also be great information to post up.

[tracksupra]

I run Rotora 6 piston fronts with Hawk race pads dtc70, I have 2 full race weekends on them with no real sign of wear same with the rotors. I don't think you'll be replacing pads or rotors that often with track days here and there. Definitely the stock stuff would not put up with the same punishment. Colman makes rotors of many sizes for different brakes, look them up.

[AtlSupra]

I have the same AP BBK kit on mine with brake ducts to cool the rotors. if you track a lot, you will be changing the pads frequently. I have the slotted rotors and Ferodo DS3000 pads, and haven't changed mine after about 10 track days. I know my friend with stock brake and change his brake pads and front rotors quite frequently.

[Mr Ree NZ]

My race pads have lasted 8 track days so far, and still have alot of meat left.

I think the key thing is to have brakes you use at the track, and brakes you use on the street.

I mean its not exactly hard to swap out your pads and rotors when you get to the track, and it means you will get optimal performance everywhere

[supradjza80]

Excellant information guys. I was really hoping for the responses above. I am just used to OEM garbage brakes on previous cars that needed a couple replacements per season, and knew if my AP's were like that I was in for a world of hurt.

Atlsupra - What do you think of the DS3000's on the track/street? Are they aggressive at wearing the rotors down?

MR Ree - I likely will be doing this and switching pads before and after track days.

Again thanks for the help and reassuring me on the service life for the brakes. I currently do not have cooling ducts on the car for the front brakes but plan to do that at some point this summer using the lower outside openings on the Wings West lip on my car.

[Steve Jarvis]

I have the Rotora 4 wheel kit (6 piston front and 4 piston rear). I believe this kit uses the same front brake pad as your kit.

I'm not sure how you guys get your brakes to last so long (maybe I'm slowing down to much).

A set of front track (HT10's) pads last approximately 4 track days and a set of front rotors need to be replaced after approximately 6 track days (one cracked on my 8th day, so I wouldn't push them that far).

Of course I'm running large "R" compound tires and 500rwhp in a full weight Supra at the track.

Later, Steve

[supradjza80]

I have the Rotora 4 wheel kit (6 piston front and 4 piston rear). I believe this kit uses the same front brake pad as your kit.

I'm not sure how you guys get your brakes to last so long (maybe I'm slowing down to much).

A set of front track (HT10's) pads last approximately 4 track days and a set of front rotors need to be replaced after approximately 6 track days (one cracked on my 8th day, so I wouldn't push them that far).

Of course I'm running large "R" compound tires and 500rwhp in a full weight Supra at the track.

Later, Steve

Steve,

Were you running brake cooling ducts?

[sks]

I have the Rotora 4 wheel kit (6 piston front and 4 piston rear). I believe this kit uses the same front brake pad as your kit.

I'm not sure how you guys get your brakes to last so long (maybe I'm slowing down to much).

A set of front track (HT10's) pads last approximately 4 track days and a set of front rotors need to be replaced after approximately 6 track days (one cracked on my 8th day, so I wouldn't push them that far).

Of course I'm running large "R" compound tires and 500rwhp in a full weight Supra at the track.

Later, Steve

I'm seeing similar usage (a bit longer) on a K-sport 14inch BBK with carbotech XP12s. Maybe Supras driven by a Steve drive harder and/or are harder on their brakes. I'll get 4-6 days on a pad and ~12 days on the rotors. However, I might like to take a higher risk of a rotor fatal cracking than SJ.

[KenHenderson]

Atlsupra - What do you think of the DS3000's on the track/street? Are they aggressive at wearing the rotors down?

Dave, I have no Supra experience with the DS 3000s, but some Evo track time with these pads. For my money, they are the best pad available, albeit somewhat aggressive with rotors (not my personal experience but from guys whose judgment I trust). For the street, I have the Ferodo DS 2500s on both of my cars. I think these are the best pads available for our cars. They dust a LOT, but if you can handle that, get them and you will not look back. Based upon my DS 2500 experience, non-Supra track experience with these pads and research, I believe you will really like these pads. AtlSupra has direct, on-point, Supra track time experience with these pads, so his opinion will be much more useful to you than mine. Best of luck.

EDIT: No information on how many track days you can expect from the DS 3000s.

Ken.

[AtlSupra]

Ken, you are pretty much right on the points. DS2500 is a great street/occasional track pads. I had those before I moved to the DS3000. DS3000 provides more bite and last pretty long for me. They are a bit more harsh on the rotors, but I have yet to change both the pads and rotors yet. I run mostly Road Atlanta and the track doesn't require that much hard braking than most other tracks, except turn 10B and my car is lighter than most other supra. I might be running with Carbotech XP12s on the next set of new pads and rotors, not 100% sure yet.

[Steve Jarvis]

Steve,

Were you running brake cooling ducts?

Yes, but only 2" hose.

[Dynomite]

Ferrodo DS3000 are great in terms of stopping power, BUT thet are VERY harsh on the rotors.

You guys must be cruising around the track, Mine last 3 Track days max. But then this is at a small tight track. On a bigger track, it may last 4 track days.

I run Project Mu ClubRacer pads in my GReddy 6 Pots.

[DanSupraTT]

Let's say you guys don't get around to doing any track days in a year - and you are running street pads on your BBK daily driver car, how long do the rotors and pads last then? As long as OEM stuff?

[AtlSupra]

Let's say you guys don't get around to doing any track days in a year - and you are running street pads on your BBK daily driver car, how long do the rotors and pads last then? As long as OEM stuff?

Your question lacks too much info and it is a very subjective one. How many miles each person drive a year is different. What brake compound, and how hard do you actually get on the brake? But most importantly, why do you upgrade to a BBK and don't track it.

[supradjza80]

why do you upgrade to a BBK and don't track it.

This. OEM brakes are more then capable of slowing the car on the street even from high speeds. Its repeated high speed stops that they are at a disadvantage to the BBK's.

[DanSupraTT]

Your question lacks too much info and it is a very subjective one. How many miles each person drive a year is different. What brake compound, and how hard do you actually get on the brake? But most importantly, why do you upgrade to a BBK and don't track it.

I don't want to sell my BBK after I installed it, and I recently got pretty busy with other stuff in life - I might not make it to many track days this year. I will probably make it to a couple, but not as many as I would like. I daily drive my car about 15k miles per year. I'm not really that hard on my brakes when I daily drive - in fact, I'm pretty easy on them. I had the money to upgrade, so I did in anticipation of possible track days in the future.

I'm on AP racing BBK and using Mintex Xtreme pads - which are a good middle ground aggressive street/track compound with 1300 MOT.

[Dynomite]

Then just treat it as you would if you have OEM.

This is what I do...

Street poads for street, track pads for track.

My OEM setup was awesome. Never had issues. In 3 years of racing, and street driving I only machined teh OEM rotors once.

I "Upgraded" to GReddy 6 pots (only because I found them cheap) and to be honest the OEM stop just as good...its just the 6 pot will keep on stopping for more laps.

My Greddy rotors cracked aswell, where as OEM never did...but of course there are so many variables in why they did.

[DanSupraTT]

Then just treat it as you would if you have OEM.

This is what I do...

Street poads for street, track pads for track.

My OEM setup was awesome. Never had issues. In 3 years of racing, and street driving I only machined teh OEM rotors once.

I "Upgraded" to GReddy 6 pots (only because I found them cheap) and to be honest the OEM stop just as good...its just the 6 pot will keep on stopping for more laps.

My Greddy rotors cracked aswell, where as OEM never did...but of course there are so many variables in why they did.

Ya but they cracked during a track day yes?

[Dynomite]

Yep thats right

[Steve Jarvis]

Before I upgraded to a BBK, I was cracking 3 rotors per weekend on average (not stress cracks, thump, thump, thump cracks ).

I would take a spare driver side rotor and a spare passenger side rotor to the track. When one side would crack, I would replace it. When the other side cracked I would replace it. When anothor rotor would crack, I would call it a weekend and drive home and order more rotors.

At that point I was spending $900 ($750 on rotors and $150 on brake pads) for 2 weekends with the stock setup and having to do a lot of rotor changes at the track.

With a big brake kit, I was spending $825 ($550 on rotors and $275 on brake pads) for the same 2 weekends with no rotor changes at the track. Financially, it would never makes sense, but it was definitely worth it for me.

Of course this was with larger than stock "R" compound tires, 600hp, full street weight, track pads and only 2" brake cooling hoses. High HP, high weight and sticky tires are the worst combination on brakes.

Later, Steve

[AtlSupra]

Steve, that's a lot of rotor crackings for a weekend!
Which track did you go? I assume it was a small track with a lot of hard braking required? I know if I kept going to Talladega Grind Prix, which is rather small track and requires many hard brakings, I would most likely replace my tire/rotors/pads every other weeks or so.

[Steve Jarvis]

Steve, that's a lot of rotor crackings for a weekend!
Which track did you go? I assume it was a small track with a lot of hard braking required? I know if I kept going to Talladega Grind Prix, which is rather small track and requires many hard brakings, I would most likely replace my tire/rotors/pads every other weeks or so.

Carolina Motorsports park and Virginia International Raceway.

[choua01]

anybody know where i can get some brake pads for my brembo big brake kits, I post thread on MVP and Titan, got no responses. it's a 13" 4 piston caliper.

[KenHenderson]

anybody know where i can get some brake pads for my brembo big brake kits, I post thread on MVP and Titan, got no responses. it's a 13" 4 piston caliper.

Here's a place I've used very successfully in the past: http://www.zeckhausen.com/. David Zeckhausen knows his stuff. I would also contact Atl Supra up above as well. Between the two, you should be able to get exactly what you need.

Ken.

[AtlSupra]

Carolina Motorsports park and Virginia International Raceway.

CMP eats up the tire, rotors and pads badly for sure.

anybody know where i can get some brake pads for my brembo big brake kits, I post thread on MVP and Titan, got no responses. it's a 13" 4 piston caliper.

Here's a place I've used very successfully in the past: http://www.zeckhausen.com/. David Zeckhausen knows his stuff. I would also contact Atl Supra up above as well. Between the two, you should be able to get exactly what you need.

Ken.

Send me a PM or email with your caliper number, I will match up brake pads for you from different brake pad manufacturers. Chinchi@speedforsale.com