What are the Pros and Cons of switching to a bigger set of Brakes?

[STi88]

Hey guys,

So I've been wondering are there any cons or disadvantages relating to performance after installing a bigger and more powerful brake system?

I think having a nice big red Brembo brake caliper would look awesome, but of course the biggest con would be the price.

As much as I want the cosmetics improvement, is hard to justify the cost solely base on that. I understand there are many pros to getting a bigger set of brakes and roter, but is there any cons other than price that would offset the pros?

Thanks for any tips and advises!

[chantaiman51]

Bigger brakes = more unsprung weight and more rotating mass. To offset that, you'll need need lighter aluminum calipers and carbon ceramic rotors. It actually looks silly to have big brake kit on such a light weight low power car, its much better to go with lighter wheels and tires.

[dori.]

the main reason race cars have big brakes is for heat dissipation

unless you're racing or building a show car to look good, you should be fine with pads and line upgrades if you just drive on the street and do occasional high performance driving

[WRXGuy1]

It sounds like he wants them mainly for the look, which I can't argue since big brake kits do look awesome!

[random]

In addition to what's already mentioned, bigger brakes may also mean bigger wheels and tires. Bigger wheels and tires generally mean more unsprung weight, as well as increased cost (and even more so if you go with lighter weight wheels at the increased size).

I think it really comes down to this: unless you have a need for greatly improved stopping power, how much are the aesthetics really worth to you?

[dyim]

Originally Posted by chantaiman51

Bigger brakes = more unsprung weight and more rotating mass. To offset that, you'll need need lighter aluminum calipers and carbon ceramic rotors. It actually looks silly to have big brake kit on such a light weight low power car, its much better to go with lighter wheels and tires.

^this

I would hold off brakes upgrade until you start modding the engine or you found brake fade on the track.

Unless it is just for looks.

[Captain Snooze]

Originally Posted by chantaiman51

its much better to go with lighter wheels,tires,upgraded pads and brake fluid.

fixed

[Captain Snooze]

Originally Posted by STi88

I think having a nice big red Brembo brake caliper would look awesome,

Yeah, you should get them. Then you can have the fastest car in the pub.

[Black Tire]

Originally Posted by random

I think it really comes down to this: unless you have a need for greatly improved stopping power, how much are the aesthetics really worth to you?

Also, you can get better stopping power by just changing the brake pads and upgrading the brake fluid and lines. You would not really gain much in performance by going to a big brake kit unless you put on some serious track rubber and really hit it hard continuously for many laps on a track.

I agree that big brake kits can look really cool however.

Another option is to go for a "big brake kit" that has a rotor that is only slightly larger than stock with an aluminum hat and a good lightweight aluminum caliper. That way you would not be increasing the unsprung weight or rotating mass significantly (the weight may even be lower), and you would get the benefits of greater heat capacity and a better caliper.

[Mitch]

Form follows function. If you want a car to look fast, build it with parts that you prove to make you faster. Then the car can't help but look good to some extent.

[STi88]

Thanks so much guys for the feed backs. Many of you made great point with the unsprung weight. It wasn't the first thing that came to mind, but it makes a validate argument. I think I'll probably take the suggestion of holding out on the brake upgrade until I see the need.

I think daily driving and the occasional annual auto cross is the most I'll throw the car into, doesn't make any sense in terms of doing the brake upgrade for performance reason.

Does anyone have suggestion of a nice, cheap aesthetics upgrade for brakes? Or would it be wiser to stick with the stock look for the meantime?

Also, I plan on bumping the wheels size to 18 or 19, so I was afraid the stock brakes might look a little too small in reference. But personally I agree with most of you that the stock look is already pretty awesome.

[LS13]

I would suggest tht you start by painting the caliper with briht color; maybe red or yellow. Tht might satisfy yr asthetic needs and it is cheap without any weight penalty. I would think in not so distance future most owners will upgrade the engine to higher hp, and then maybe it justifies to get bigger brakes n rotor to match the increase hp.

[D4ng3r]

4-wheel lockup is still 4-wheel lockup, doesn't matter how big your brakes are.

[chulooz]

Get 06-07 wrx brakes... look em up, I think its what you will want.