Brembo Brake testing - Preview

[CSG Mike]

Everyone loves to see the value options, but what about if you get the best of the best?

This is a test that has been a long time coming, and we were finally able to get the right resources together to make this happen.

The Brembo GT setup will be tested by CSG. As usual, the testing will be performed in a variety of conditions over several months, but here is what we want to get done:

- Does the kit alter bias? If so, in a good or bad way?
- How much more does the kit increase heat capacity?
- Is the kit worthy of its price?

Test setup:

-- Brembo
--- Front
---- 355x32 2 piece disk with 4 piston calipers
---- (Also available, but not tested: 332 x 32 2 piece disk with 4 piston monobloc caliper)
--- Rear
---- 316 x 20 1 piece disc with 2 piston calipers
---- (Also available, but not tested: 345 x 28 2 piece disc with 4 piston monobloc caliper)

-- Wheels
--- Rays Engineering TE37SL 17x9.5 +45 Pressed Graphite
--- Rays Engineering TE37SL 17x9.5 +45 Pressed Double Black
--- TWS Forged T66-F 18x9.5 +45 Gloss Gunmetal

-- Tires
--- GT Radial SX2 245/40/17
--- Maxxis RC1 255/40/17
--- Hankook RS3 255/35/18
--- Continental DW Tuned 255/35/18

Tests:

- 60-0 stopping distance, intentionally utilizing ABS (How is stopping distance affected, if at all?)
- 10x back to back stops, intentionally utilizing ABS (Do the brakes fade? Is there any degredation in the pedal or peformance? How hot do the rotors and calipers get?)
- J turn testing (tests bias)
- Track testing

Setups to be tested:

- Stock brake setup with race pads
- Front BBK only with race pads
- Front and Rear BBK with race pads


A preview of the parts:

[CSG Mike]

Reserved for future results.

[bumppinKota]

excited for this!

[churchx]

Me too. Imho this will help debunking several myths. I'd love to see stock wheels & tyres added though (if this BBK fits those), to better illustrate that it's tyres that should affect braking distance most, but BBKs - heat capacity.

[nzer]

Assume you decided the TRD rebadged brembos of 6 pot front with 355mm rotor and 4 pot rear with 345mm rotor were overkill for testing @CSG Mike?
https://www.japanparts.com/parts/detail/40803

Would fit nicely inside he TWS T66-F wheels. Same track setup I have except I have T66-F in 18x9".

Very keen to see your results as I know the theory about BBK not shortening stopping distance but meaning less fade due to heat but with my BBK it does feel like I can brake later. Maybe is psychological.

.

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by nzer

Assume you decided the TRD rebadged brembos of 6 pot front with 355mm rotor and 4 pot rear with 345mm rotor were overkill for testing @CSG Mike?
https://www.japanparts.com/parts/detail/40803

Would fit nicely inside he TWS T66-F wheels. Same track setup I have except I have T66-F in 18x9".

Very keen to see your results as I know the theory about BBK not shortening stopping distance but meaning less fade due to heat but with my BBK it does feel like I can brake later. Maybe is psychological.

.

Actually, these Brembos cost a bit more than the TRD Brembos.

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by churchx

Me too. Imho this will help debunking several myths. I'd love to see stock wheels & tyres added though (if this BBK fits those), to better illustrate that it's tyres that should affect braking distance most, but BBKs - heat capacity.

Anyone using these brakes has no business ever using stock wheels and tires. In fact, they wouldn't ever be using the stock wheels and tires with these brakes. You cannot make the stock wheels and tires clear the brakes under any circumstance, short of (I kid you not), a 180mm spacer. The rotors are the size of the wheels on most entry level cars.

The other wheels we use are not listed because... they don't clear the brakes.

[smudge]

Very nice, interested to see the results

I've got a set of AP Racing brakes on the front of my 86 which are a 356mm x 32mm disc and 6 pot calipers

The rears are the Brembo's off rear of the 08+ Subaru Impreza which are 316mm x 20mm discs and 2 pot Brembo calipers - the same as what you have?

Testing has been no where near as extensive as this but 2 x 20min track sessions so far and absolutely no fade or overheating on a very brake-intensive track. Sub'd for future results

[Racecomp Engineering]

Will you post the piston sizes and effective diameter of the discs? Kudos for including the j-turn test. MotoIQ and Mike Kojima just posted an article on their testing with Stoptech that was a decent read.

Stock master cylinder I assume?

- Andrew

[churchx]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

Anyone using these brakes has no business ever using stock wheels and tires. In fact, they wouldn't ever be using the stock wheels and tires with these brakes. You cannot make the stock wheels and tires clear the brakes under any circumstance, short of (I kid you not), a 180mm spacer. The rotors are the size of the wheels on most entry level cars.

The other wheels we use are not listed because... they don't clear the brakes.

Well, if not stock, then any tire with known little grip that will fit on these wheels for braking path change test vs ones rest of tests will be done.

[nzer]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

Actually, these Brembos cost a bit more than the TRD Brembos.

So size isn't everything eh

[Shankenstein]

Originally Posted by Racecomp Engineering

Will you post the piston sizes and effective diameter of the discs? Kudos for including the j-turn test. MotoIQ and Mike Kojima just posted an article on their testing with Stoptech that was a decent read.

Stock master cylinder I assume?

- Andrew

For those curious: Link to MotoIQ's Coverage of Stoptech Testing

TL;DR - "Stock pads work while on fire. Results TBD for Stoptech BBK"

[nzer]

Originally Posted by Shankenstein

For those curious: Link to MotoIQ's Coverage of Stoptech Testing

TL;DR - "Stock pads work while on fire. Results TBD for Stoptech BBK"

Thanks for the link. Looking forward to their next instalment. Will be interesting comparing their findings to @CSG Mike's

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by nzer

Thanks for the link. Looking forward to their next instalment. Will be interesting comparing their findings to @CSG Mike's

MotoIQ has solid testing methology. I suspect results with the BBK will be similar.