Help Gmookher decide AP racing Vs Stoptech BBK vs Essex SPRINT KIT

[nix]

What would you (Dave) and others suggest for a BBK upgrade as close to possible oem NVH, with dust boots and ebrake etc. but with a decent upgrade from say a ferodo 2500 pad and fluid swap on the stock calipers?

[Hanakuso]

If you research the CP8250/8350 (that the Essex Comp kits use) you will find out the pads are identical to the Wilwood Superlite. I wouldn't be surprised if the pad selection is around the same as OEM pad size

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by Hanakuso

This. If you research the CP8250/8350 you will find out the pads are identical to the Wilwood Superlite. I wouldn't be surprised if the pad selection is around the same as OEM pad size

If not better - AND CHEAPER!

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by nix

What would you (Dave) and others suggest for a BBK upgrade as close to possible oem NVH, with dust boots and ebrake etc. but with a decent upgrade from say a ferodo 2500 pad and fluid swap on the stock calipers?

I'd run the smaller StopTech or smaller Stillen kit up front. In the back I'd honestly just leave it alone, but run a matching pad as the front and then change compounds based on experience and preference.

Unless you want 14" rotors, then the AP Formula kit, StopTech large kit or Stillen large kit. IMO that's overkill though. I've driven big setups like that.. on 500hp, 3,800lb built cars on r comps and they are more than enough brake even then.

It's worth noting I couldn't care less about the appearance of my brakes though

[Vracer111]

Originally Posted by nix

I am well and truly on the fence on this as well, and a bit of a brakes noob. I was going to do a ~$2k STI brembo + Dba rotor build, but starting to lean towards a more dedicated bbk upgrade.

But my requirements as with all my mods are... long durability and performance without sacrificing ride quality in this case, noise and dust.

I'll be seeing mostly quick, ~50km spurts of canyon/hill style runs most weeks with track days every month or so. I am not racing it though so can do a few laps and peel off for brakes to cool...

Lots of reading ahead of me I think.

The Essex Sprint kit will drop 10lbs of unsprung mass per corner and provide much improved braking ability over stock system while costing the same. Always drop unsprung mass when you can if you want to improve handling/performance with the most efficiency. That the Sprint system provides such a good capable brake system while dropping 20lbs of unsprung mass makes it extremely hard to ignore. Choosing the same braking ability with another system that has an increased unsprung mass just makes no sense...

I still have stock brake system, but dropping 4+lbs of unsprung mass a corner with my wheel tire combo resulted in a very noticeable difference in suspension performance daily driving. I'll say it again, drop unsprung mass wherever you can if you care about performance and increasing the cars agility and planted feeling, especially daily driving. The suspension is much more compliant to the road surface and quicker in response with less mass to control. I look at any increase in mass, especially unsprung, as the wrong direction to go and a degrade in ride quality...

[JoeBoxer]

Originally Posted by nix

What would you (Dave) and others suggest for a BBK upgrade as close to possible oem NVH, with dust boots and ebrake etc. but with a decent upgrade from say a ferodo 2500 pad and fluid swap on the stock calipers?

http://www.project-mu.com.au/en/

Give them a call for the 4 pot front kit, they are in Australia also so that may help you. I have had some delays getting my pricing on these but I would check pricing at least.

[OrbitalEllipses]

Originally Posted by nix

What would you (Dave) and others suggest for a BBK upgrade as close to possible oem NVH, with dust boots and ebrake etc. but with a decent upgrade from say a ferodo 2500 pad and fluid swap on the stock calipers?

Stay away from 2 piece rotors. The big boy BBKs are the most streetable but 14" discs are stupid. You want thermal mass? A street oriented BBK will get you the fronts and people say you don't need the rears; for that price you can get OEM Brembos at all four corners for lots of thermal mass with around the same size rotor as a normally sized BBK (13" ish). Alternatively it's possible to use Legacy GT front calipers and rotors for a pretty cheap increase in thermal mass, but they're sliders so pedal feel won't be like a BBK. Either the Legacy or Brembo setup will be enough thermal mass given the weight of this car; they were made for cars 500lbs heavier. And if you go the Brembo route I have rotors to sell you!

I wish my car wasn't my year round car; I'd drop money on the Essex sprint kit in a heartbeat.

[Captain Snooze]

My thoughts are that one wants the smallest (read lightest) brakes that will do the job. According to pcasso87 and Dave-ROR the Essex Sprint kit is up to the task with a 10 pound per wheel weight saving. That is my pick.

[BRAWL]

How daily driver friendly is the Sprint kit though? I like the look of them and that they drop the unsprung weight, but if they need servicing more regularly they might not be suitable. Thoughts?

[Supermassive]

Ok after reading most of the brake threads on here, I have to say I'm still kinda unsure as to what I should be looking at for my application. I plan on running my car as a DD, with the occasional track day thrown in. I am about to install my turbo kit, and aiming for around 350-400 whp so I am hesitant to go with 4 pot calipers and smaller disks, sure I don't expect that during DDing that 4 pots would have much of a challenge hauling this car down from normal street driving speeds...I'm more worried about hauling down from 120+ mph and not feeling the brakes get heat soaked and fade. I will be running brake ducts sometime in the near future as well.

I am asking for a real unbiased opinion here because I am treading into unknown territory with this car...I used to track bikes but that was always just as simple as braided lines and race pads...here, I'm looking at full brake systems, calipers, pads, rotors, etc. and it's all kinda overwhelming because i have no frame of reference since I haven't tracked my own car ever.

Also before someone says i need to drive the stock FR-S on a track, to learn how to drive around a track, before throwing a ton of power at the thing. I know my limits, and did Skip Barber's racing school...but that was in 2000 so I may be rusty but the principles are still rattling around in my brain from tracking the bike.

[Captain Snooze]

Originally Posted by LazyZed

How daily driver friendly is the Sprint kit though? I like the look of them and that they drop the unsprung weight, but if they need servicing more regularly they might not be suitable. Thoughts?

Pad choice would be the main criteria for daily driving. If you are tracking the car then of course they will require more frequent attention.

From http://www.essexparts.com/brake-caliper-strips.html
"Calipers that regularly run at up to 392°F - Re-seal every other event. Calipers that run intermittenly from 392°F to 428°F - Re-seal as soon as possible."

[JoeBoxer]

Originally Posted by Supermassive

I am asking for a real unbiased opinion here because I am treading into unknown territory with this car...I used to track bikes but that was always just as simple as braided lines and race pads...here, I'm looking at full brake systems, calipers, pads, rotors, etc. and it's all kinda overwhelming because i have no frame of reference since i haven't tracked a car ever.

I have been modding cars for years myself and have never tracked or did anything but a simple rotor/pad upgrade. I'm not an expert on bbk's at all but I would be concerned with going with a 6 piston front without doing a rear kit also. The Essex sprint systems don't seem very dd friendly regarding noise and no boots. The formula kit is nice but wish it was a 4 piston closer to sprint pricing. The larger stoptech kit sounds like a good option for you, I may have a set coming in real soon.

[Supermassive]

Originally Posted by JoeBoxer

I have been modding cars for years myself and have never tracked or did anything but a simple rotor/pad upgrade. I'm not an expert on bbk's at all but I would be concerned with going with a 6 piston front without doing a rear kit also. The Essex sprint systems don't seem very dd friendly regarding noise and no boots. The formula kit is nice but wish it was a 4 piston closer to sprint pricing. The larger stoptech kit sounds like a good option for you, I may have a set coming in real soon.

I keep hearing good things about the Essex Sprint kit, and now am intrigued, it may be enough for my car and honestly as a dd my car already is not ideal with my KW's on Vorshlags, it's stiffer than a porn star on viagra, not to mention the 6 puck stage 4 clutch going in...I guess dd is a loose term for my build.

[JoeBoxer]

Haha, I'm partial to the project mu that is on Evasive's car but am waiting on my credit app to be completed with mackin but I'll see if my rep will give me the pricing for it.