AP Sprint BBK - The cost/benefit review
 

So after 6 months of running the BBK, I want to provide some insight on my consumables of the AP Sprint Kit (what you can use to justify to your wife/significant other why you "need" this kit!)

Before the AP Sprint Kit, I was running OEM calipers and rotors with SS lines, Cobalt Friction XR2 pads, Torque RT700 brake fluid with the Touge Factory brake cooling kit.

Tracking the car for about 2 years in that configuration, I was going through pads every 3 days on track (sometimes 4 if I was easy on it), and rotors every 7 days on track.

I installed the AP Sprint Kit back in March, along with fresh Torque RT700 fluid, and now have 23 track days on the AP Sprint Kit in the past 6 months (6 days at Road Atlanta, 10 days at Sebring, 2 days at Homestead-Miami, 1 day at MSR Houston, 2 days at VIR and 2 days at Barber).

UPDATE: Now at 40 days, and the rotor has finally cracked to the edge. Chart has been updated!

So far I have gone through 1.5 set of pads (first set Cobalt XR2s, second set that is currently installed - Hawk DTC-60s) and am still on the original rotors.

So, to compare and break down the numbers....

The OEM setup was costing me approximately $85.76/track day, while the AP kit costs me $23.52/track day

Including the initial cost of the AP Sprint Kit at $2,099, the AP Sprint Kit LITERALLY pays for itself after 27 track days in my case (wear/costs of consumable may vary depending on track, experience level, etc). For me, that's less than a year of track days. That is taking consideration for initial cost of SS lines, TF Brake Cooling kit and Titanium shims for the OEM setup.

Here are some numbers and a chart to give to your wife to justify your purchases :D.

I also included the # of track days this car sees each year, between 45 and 50. Just a single season can save me $1,000.

Thanks again to Jeff @JRittand the Essex Parts team for their support throughout the purchase and installation process, as well as checking in with me routinely post-sale. Great group of folks, and I highly recommend them.

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haha, I like your style...give the guys the ammo to get those parts.

Another added benefit of this kit is the install it and forget it mentality..knowing they are capable of getting that many track days on rotors and pads although you still need to be on top of monitoring their wear not worrying about your brakes making it through a weekend or not is a huge plus in my book, I would much rather drink beer with my buddies on Saturday night at the track than change brakes.

My car is getting finished up today...Sebring this weekend with it for its inaugural track weekend.

Yeah, absolutely, good point, AND not to mention the performance difference... These numbers don't count the constant brake service, cost of band aids & gauze, beer, caliper rebuilds, brake cleaner, and the headache of constantly servicing the OEM brakes!

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That's great to see...congrats on your savings! Thanks so much for taking the time to perform such a detailed analysis. As I've been saying for years, the kit pays itself off in 2-3 years tops for the average customer. The more you track, the faster it pays for itself, and you get to enjoy all of the kit benefits during that time!

Also, keep in mind that your analysis doesn't even take the residual value of the AP brake kit into account! If you pull the kit off the car after 38 track days and sold it, I'd be shocked if you couldn't get at least $1,000 for it. That definitely can't be said for the OEM brakes or other lesser BBK's on the market.

Yeah, good point! Looks like the going rate for an AP Sprint Kit is around $1,500...

Thanks for the info! I was expecting someone asking for this stuff instead of providing it.

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Now imagine if you were on E85, or FI, or both.... :)

Or perhaps sticky tires.

Great writeup!

Nice, but your chart is flawed. The 'OEM Brakes' setup should not start with a 0 cost, there is a cost involved to get it to the configuration used which includes the "SS lines, Cobalt Friction XR2 pads, Torque RT700 brake fluid with the Touge Factory brake cooling kit"... You're not tracking on the OEM setup as it came stock from the factory right?

So it works even better into the Essex AP racing Sprint Kit's favor.... :)

One of these day's I will get the Sprint Kit! Just been focusing on higher priority things for the car since I really don't track it much at all. My reasons for wanting the Essex Sprint Kit is mainly for the 10lbm drop in unsprung weight per corner to improve the ride quality and for the easier pad changes...once the car is paid off I will have the funds...less than 2 years to go!

38 track days seems like a lot to me but then again I'm a purely recreational track driver!

Good point! Although not required to track the car, the TF brake cooling kit I believe helps with pad life from my experience.

I tracked the car with just pads and fluid at first.

I put the AP Sprint kit on my car as well. I'm on pace for 40+ track days this year. I've driven the car 1300 miles to get to an event. I'm usually teaching class and coaching during the event as well so my car just has to work. In addition to the pad life I will add one thing. I shared this with a buddy of mine too. The brakes are without a doubt the best brakes on any car I've ever driven on track. The pedal is at the same point of engagement every time I put my foot on them.

On of the things I factored into my decision to purchase these was the potential resale value should the time come that I replace the BRZ with a different track car. When you buy the good stuff, it's easy to sell when your done with it.

I'm not a big fan of the J hooks though. They make a noise on the street like a playing card in the spokes of your bicycle. I have some deep grooves that formed at the points on each end of the J's. Smooth rotors for me when it finally comes time to replace them. Fortunately, Essex has both available.

That's OK, I still had the first set at a Florida Chin day ;) The Essex kit is still my favorite BBK.. I just need to convince Jeff that he really wants to make brackets for my other cars too....

Jim, you still rocking those RPF1s?

@smbstyle I'm curious, how many track days do you get on your RT700 before pedal feel is compromised?

If I drove his car, one...


;)