17s vs 18s

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Jan 22, 2008 | 02:37 PM

#46

littlebluegt

Evolving Member

Joined: Oct 2007

Posts: 107

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From: Canada

Quote:

Originally Posted by theshadow

Some people may find that the stock calipers + upgraded pads, lines, rotors and fluids are sufficient for track work but I simply haven't found that to be true in my experience.

I track my car and my setup of PF Direct Drive rotors + PF97 pads + stainless steel lines + RBF600 fluid still gives me fluid fade before the end of a 20 minute race session without fail.

I still need to try adding some brake ducting before I totally write off the potential of the stock setup (just had the AMS kit installed) but in any case I find it misleading to imply that big brake kits are ineffective without having tried one.

It is also incorrect to state that there are no big brake kits for 17 inch wheels - AP Racing in fact have a kit to fit under the stock 17s - part number is CP5555-1032, it's a 6 pot kit that uses a 332mm rotor. That will be my next step if I don't see any improvement from my brake ducting kit.

More on topic, I prefer 17s to 18s in terms of ride and handling. Took me awhile to "downgrade" but from the moment I drove the car with a proper alignment on 17s after driving on 18s for a long time it was looooooooove

Calcutated that I saved about 30 pounds of unsprung weight - 4 x Enkei RPF-1s in 17" at 16.5 lbs each vs. 4 x 5Zigen FN01RCs in 18" at 21 lbs each

+10!

I have the AP BBK on my 3400 lb LGT. It fits under my stock 17s as well!

I have the new Mintek Motorsport Extreme pads. They are a street pad that work OK in -40, but the supposedly go to over 1300F.

Here is my review from another forum:

Started beating on the brakes now, I mean really beating on them. From the color changes on the sides of the rotors I would guesstimate that they have achieved 1000 F. (full rotor temp, not surface temp)

Last night I drove like this......WOT to 90 mph full braking down to 20 mph, repeat with no waiting, repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat!

Yes I am nuts. 18 times I did that, and my car gets from 20 to 90 mph pretty fast.

Friction of the pads remained the same, no noticeable fade at all, nothing. I was starting to get worried I would see fluid fade, but all seems good.

I really can't imagine these pads not holding up on the track, I mean how much harder can you be on brakes, unless you have 600 hp?

I stopped when I started to see sparks flying from the wheels. Maybe the rotors were glowing? Supposedly the pads can go up to 1300 F, so maybe they were getting close to that on the surface? Maybe they were glowing like F1 brakes?

I would have stopped to look at them but didn't want to leave my brakes stationary at that temp. I did fry my plastic center caps on my wheels.

Either way these pads seem to deliver, very high temps, good on the street, not loud at all, good when cold, very low dusting (even after last night the wheels were barely showing any dust!). I guess I will see what they are like for pad wear and rotor wear.

So, I like them. FWIW I got 340+ whp. I melted the center caps on my wheels (twice).

I have 10k on the pads now and they are doing well, not even noisy on the street.

I am all prepped for going to a track, but none exists where I live.