Need To Upgrade Brakes On A Budget

[ravenhard]

Well after a recent cruise on a downhill run my brakes where shuttering really bad and at the end of the run it looked like a massive amount of smoke coming from my front wheels. Ive decided I need to upgrade my brakes. Done a heap of research on this forums and others, but basically it left me more confused and with more questions. I dont have a heap of money as spent it on power mods and still need valve springs,cat and pump done soon.

Car as per sig is BAMKII with standard brakes.

My options are:

-standard calipers with new DBA4000, Ferodo formulas and fitting- $615

-FTG BF brake upgrade kit "THE KIT CONSISTS OF 2 BRAND NEW 322MM SLOTTED ROTORS , 2 BRAND NEW GENUINE FORD PBR CALIPERS AND FORD PADS" Plus fitting $850 all up

-FALCON BA,BF 330mm FRONT BRAKE UPGRADE USING YOUR ORIGINAL CALIPERS. 2X DBA 4000 SERIES 6X6 WIPER SLOT DISCS, BENDIX ULTIMATE OR FERODO FORMULA PADS, 2X FRONT BRAIDED LINES, ALL BRACKETS & BOLTS plus fitting -$1130

Now with the last option I think my standard 17's wont fit so will probably be ruled out straight away.

The FTG upgrade looks the goods, but has anyone done it. Are the disc's any good? I presume the ford pads are rubbish and would prefer ferodo formulas so up for another $165. Being the BF upgrade am I right to assume that standard 17's will fit? Are there any other options or opinions?

[Iconic Bionic]

My options are:

-standard calipers with new DBA4000, Ferodo formulas and fitting- $615

The most senisble and practical option in my view. Just did this setup myself and loving it!

I.B.

[ravenhard]

Ok, after reading a long thread on another forum, FTG have said that their upgrade kit basically uses the same calipers. So the BA and BF standard calipers are the same? the difference is the size of the rotor and how the calipers bolt onto the rotor. Now not sure,..

....hmmm save some money and get smaller rotor(298mm vs 322mm) but better quality rotors(DBA400 vs RDA) and pads(Ferodo formulas vs ford OEM )

[RHR]

if you just want to get rid of shudder go the std rotor size in a slotted or drilled type. Get some good pads and youll be right

[Mike XR6T]

mate im running the DBA 4000 slotted discs/ bendix advance pads and its a big improvement over standard breakes. and the price is pretty good.

braided lines willl improve your pedal feel thou.

I would go with the 615 option.

[ravenhard]

so $615 is a good price for DBA 4000, ferodo's and fitting? I was going to install them myself but for $100 why bother...

Does anyone know how much braided lines should cost?

[Iconic Bionic]

if you just want to get rid of shudder go the std rotor size in a slotted or drilled type. Get some good pads and youll be right

Drilled rotors arent required anymore as better metallergy now exists and slotted rotors will out perform drilled rotors. The V8 supercars dont even use drilled rotors anymore as the slotted rotor gives longer wear life and never crack, which is the prime concern with drilled.

Though corss-drilled rotors sure do look good on the right cars.

I.B.

[brett_xr6]

Hi guys just to continue with this topic I have a BF XR6 NA and I wanted to do a brake upgarde also. I looked into the FTG kit with new front and rear calipers and slotted RDA rotors. Am I right in saying that the upgrade uses twin piston front calipers, but they are slightly larger than my originals? I know that the XR6 NA never got a brake upgrade in the BF range but the turbo and 8 did as standard.

I am a bit confused on the topic, because they have quoted $650 front and $650 rear package, but I am not sure if I need new calipers if they are they are the same or very similar to what I currently have? Do I just need new larger rotors and pads only or should I purchase the whole package for $1300?

Thanks

Brett.

Edited 23/09/08 01:12 PM by brett_xr6

[ravenhard]

well after a few months of fart arsing around and investigating different options in terms of brake setup on the budget, I finally installed some upgraded brakes. Thanks to rjs for selling me his unused standard brakes of his FG T that came with bendix ultimates for the fronts.

Went down to my local mechanic at the servo, been going to him for years, installed with just a little fiddling round. The calipers are exactly the same from BA to FG and bolt holes lined up. Disc size is larger 298 to 322. The calipers I got came with brake hoses but my mechanic said it was easier to use the old brake lines as the new calipers didnt have the right braket to mount. No dramas I thought. The only trick he said was the left hand caliper went onto the right and vice-a-versa. Bled them by the pumping method and $120 later I finally can drive my car without shudder.

Now this upgrade is not the best method for performance as I really wanted some DBA4000 rotors and ferodo pads, but money is a little tight right now so these will have to do until I wear out the pads and will change rotos and pads at the same time. But seeing as the rotors are only 3000k's old the shudder should be gone for a while.

[Guest]

The performance of the FG kit should be noticably different to the standard 298mm ford rubbish due to increased rotor size. More surface area means greater heat dissipation & more for the pad to grab onto, thus better braking

Once you get some 4000 series rotors with decent pads on the new setup it'll be like chalk & cheese comparing them to your old gear!