Soarer Central: Progressive brake upgrade

Soarer Central Brakes Progressive brake upgrade

Previous Next

Author

Message

Callum Finch
Goo Roo
WA
Soarer TT

Posts: 1507
Reg: 09-2005

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 11:31 am, by: Callum Finch (Sigeneat)

Hi gang.

I'm starting to research brake upgrades for my TT.

My rotors are currently warped so at the least i plan on changing these, however i am also interested in the big buff man Supra 4pott brake upgrade (which increases manliness ten fold!).

I dont do any track days like some of the more exciting and skillfull members *wink wink * but i dont like driving through the hills and after two corners finding i have to break an extra 100m before i would normally (Damn brakes keep heating up and losing grip!)

I have read a couple of threads that i was able to find relating to the topic (http://soarercentral.com/sc-forum/messages/30604/40453.html) and the helpful article on Planetsoarer.com (http://planetsoarer.com/suprabrakesII/SupraBrakeUpgrade.htm) however i am still left with a few questions which i would appreciate any input on.

I'm a bit of a tightwadd, so i dont want to go out and spend the 3.5grand or whatever it is on doing the Supra brakes outright. Would it be possible to properly do the upgrade in a series of stages?

ie, Start by changing the rotors. Then do the front calipers and pads. Then the front cylinders. Rinse and repeat on the rears.

Or would this be like trying to build a prison and housing inmates before the fences go up?

I have also read that the Celsior 4pot brakes offer a very similar high braking power as the Supra 4pots and weigh significantly less; would this be a more appropriate setup for a road car?

Any input or suggestions on more appropriate upgrade paths are greatly appreciated!

Cheers. =)

Peter Nitschke
JunkFilterer
South Australia
GT4.0 V8

Posts: 5264
Reg: 11-2004

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 02:14 pm, by: Peter Nitschke (Pen)

If it's just for hooning, get some decent brake pads that don't fade and flush/replace your brake fluid.

Big brakes with crap pads or low grade fluid will still fade.

However the good pads do tend to be dusty, eg Lucas and Ferodo DS2500.

Tim Appleton
TryHard
QLD
Soarer UZZ31 V8 GT-L

Posts: 220
Reg: 07-2005

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 03:04 pm, by: Tim Appleton (Timbo)

What he said ^^^^

And you have to change a whole brake assembly, ie. you can't just upgrade the size of the rotors, then later down the track change the calipers as the calipers are designed to fit a certain diameter rotor.

You can do just the front caliper/rotor/pad assemblies then the rears at a later date, but if there's too much of a difference then you will get brake bias issues and may have the back end step out on you under brakes.

Celsior 4-pots are slightly cheaper by a few hundred dollars than Supra 4-pots so take that into consideration as well. Celsior calipers are normally around $400-$500 with new rotors costing around $300. Supra front brakes tend to go for around $1k for calipers and standard rotors.

Michael Marchant
Tinkerer
Victoria
Soarer UZZ32 V8

Posts: 30
Reg: 04-2006

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 03:58 pm, by: Michael Marchant (Mavric)

Tim Appleton wrote on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 03:04 pm:
Celsior 4-pots are slightly cheaper by a few hundred dollars than Supra 4-pots so take that into consideration as well. Celsior calipers are normally around $400-$500 with new rotors costing around $300.

Jeff Harper had three sets of Celsior calipers for sale here > http://soarercentral.com/sc-forum/messages/1812/79697.html?1152055329 of which I purchased one set. For $375 they are a bargain so if he has any left it would be a good place to start.

Callum Finch
Goo Roo
WA
Soarer TT

Posts: 1512
Reg: 09-2005

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Wednesday, July 19, 2006 - 08:02 pm, by: Callum Finch (Sigeneat)

Thanks for the posts ^_^

Sounds like the Celsior 4pots would be a better upgrade route with decent rotors and pads.

Cheers =D

Michael Marchant
Tinkerer
Victoria
Soarer UZZ32 V8

Posts: 31
Reg: 04-2006

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Wednesday, July 19, 2006 - 10:48 pm, by: Michael Marchant (Mavric)

While we are on the topic, can anyone tell me the model number for DBA slotted rotors to suit the celsior 4-pot calipers? I have been all over the DBA website and I can not find the model i'm looking for. Any help would be appreciated.

Michael Keen
TryHard
NSW
JZZ30

Posts: 339
Reg: 07-2005

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Thursday, July 20, 2006 - 08:56 am, by: Michael Keen (Jzz30man)

Michael, I bought a set of those callipers as well, so if you find out where to get those rotors let me know.
Maybe we can do a bulk purchase for a better price.
If you use those front callipers and don't have abs, then the brake bias is likely to make the rear brakes lock up under heavy braking, so you will need a brake bias valve in the rears. I think the valve is called a Willwant? or something like that. Cheers

Michael Marchant
Tinkerer
Victoria
Soarer UZZ32 V8

Posts: 32
Reg: 04-2006

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Thursday, July 20, 2006 - 09:05 am, by: Michael Marchant (Mavric)

Michael Keen wrote on Thursday, July 20, 2006 - 08:56 am:
Michael, I bought a set of those callipers as well, so if you find out where to get those rotors let me know.
Maybe we can do a bulk purchase for a better price.
If you use those front callipers and don't have abs, then the brake bias is likely to make the rear brakes lock up under heavy braking, so you will need a brake bias valve in the rears. I think the valve is called a Willwant? or something like that. Cheers

Thanks for the advice Michael I will keep that in mind. I will post back here once I have figured out which rotors suit the calipers.

Shaun Stephenson
Tinkerer
Vic
Jzz30 TT

Posts: 93
Reg: 04-2006

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Thursday, July 20, 2006 - 09:38 am, by: Shaun Stephenson (Neonasty)

I always thought that if you upgrade the front brakes and keep the rears stock, it wouldn't lock up the rears first. If anything the fronts would be much better and you would barely use the rears, and what ever effects that may have.

Or does it work by the front with their supreme stopping power grabs, the weight transfers to the front and the rears with no weight lock up?

Is this really THAT much of an upgrade to make it such a problem?

Tim Appleton
TryHard
QLD
Soarer UZZ31 V8 GT-L

Posts: 223
Reg: 07-2005

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Thursday, July 20, 2006 - 11:07 am, by: Tim Appleton (Timbo)

Shaun Stephenson wrote on Thursday, July 20, 2006 - 09:38 am:
Or does it work by the front with their supreme stopping power grabs, the weight transfers to the front and the rears with no weight lock up?

That one. Also, the rear, with less stopping power is likely to want to overtake the front of the car.

I think the brand you're looking for is Willwood (??) for the brake bias valves.

Michael Keen
TryHard
NSW
JZZ30

Posts: 341
Reg: 07-2005

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Thursday, July 20, 2006 - 12:39 pm, by: Michael Keen (Jzz30man)

Tim your right. I looked it up after i posted last time. There is a link on this website.
http://www.austrackmotorsport.com.au/products.html

Michael Bagshaw
Tinkerer
Victoria
V8

Posts: 55
Reg: 08-2005

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Thursday, July 20, 2006 - 11:29 pm, by: Michael Bagshaw (Bajor1)

Michael & Michael, the DBA catalog says the rotor for 1999 - 2000 LS400 is the 745. RDA rotor part number is RDA7517. I wasn't able to find a slotted or any other type of performance rotor. Looking at the RDA website, they might create slots on standard rotors on request.

Michael Marchant
Tinkerer
Victoria
Soarer UZZ32 V8

Posts: 34
Reg: 04-2006

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Thursday, July 20, 2006 - 11:57 pm, by: Michael Marchant (Mavric)

Michael Bagshaw wrote on Thursday, July 20, 2006 - 11:29 pm:
Michael & Michael, the DBA catalog says the rotor for 1999 - 2000 LS400 is the 745. RDA rotor part number is RDA7517. I wasn't able to find a slotted or any other type of performance rotor. Looking at the RDA website, they might create slots on standard rotors on request.

Boy its just Michaelpalooza in here, couldn't swing a cat without hitting one!

Thanks for the info Michael. Steve Latimer called me today to let me know about the RDA rotors (thanks Steve) and I have since found this site http://www.brakesonline.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1187 which sells them and the specs seem spot on.
The DBA catalogue says the 745 are "Also available in: standard slotted." I would be happy with either brand but if the RDA are not available slotted I will go with the DBA745.

Thanks again for the help mate

Damien Smith
DieHard
NSW
Manual UZZ31

Posts: 687
Reg: 07-2005

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Friday, July 21, 2006 - 12:47 pm, by: Damien Smith (Damien)

I have RDA slotted rotors with the Celsior calipers and they're great. I don't know if that's the correct year model for the brakes we have - I'm sure it's 95-98. When I was looking for DBA rotors a year ago I couldn't find any so best to double check that they're for a UCF20.

Michael Marchant
Tinkerer
Victoria
Soarer UZZ32 V8

Posts: 35
Reg: 04-2006

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Friday, July 21, 2006 - 08:24 pm, by: Michael Marchant (Mavric)

Damien Smith wrote on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 12:47 pm:
I have RDA slotted rotors with the Celsior calipers and they're great. I don't know if that's the correct year model for the brakes we have - I'm sure it's 95-98. When I was looking for DBA rotors a year ago I couldn't find any so best to double check that they're for a UCF20.

Which model RDA rotors are you using Damien? Are they the RDA7517 and if so did you have to special order them slotted?

Damien Smith
DieHard
NSW
Manual UZZ31

Posts: 689
Reg: 07-2005

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Saturday, July 22, 2006 - 09:02 am, by: Damien Smith (Damien)

I believe they were and from memory the part number just had SL at the end for slotted. I just ordered them over the phone from a local brake & clutch place.

James Harris
DieHard
QLD
TT

Posts: 754
Reg: 07-2005

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Saturday, July 22, 2006 - 01:14 pm, by: James Harris (Haro)

after speed reading the thread -

Have you thought about braided brake lines ? From what i hear from others who have / are using them they seem to do a pretty decent job.

Is it really THAT obvious when changin to braided brake lines ???

They seem like smart upgrade for $250 or so.

Add some slotted rotors and some nice (dusty) pads and i think you would be stoppin pretty bloody well.

Michael Marchant
Tinkerer
Victoria
Soarer UZZ32 V8

Posts: 37
Reg: 04-2006

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Saturday, July 22, 2006 - 01:45 pm, by: Michael Marchant (Mavric)

Damien Smith wrote on Saturday, July 22, 2006 - 09:02 am:
I believe they were and from memory the part number just had SL at the end for slotted. I just ordered them over the phone from a local brake & clutch place.

Thanks Damien, I will check with my supplier. Cheers.

Administration

Log Out

Previous Next