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Need To Upgrade Brakes On A Budget


ravenhard

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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 you're talking about an NA BF, which I know little about, but here's my opinion on upgrading the BA (which, going by your comments, may be the same as the NA BF?). Anyway, I'm no expert and I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but my understanding is that the FTG kit uses the same rotors as are already on the car. While some folk rave about the PBR 'premium' calipers being a twin piston item, I think quite a lot of them don't understand that the standard rubbish calipers on the BAs were also twin piston calipers, just nowhere near as good as the larger PBR items.

For a cheap mid-range upgrade, my opinion is that changing the stock rotors to DBA 4000 slotted ones (I think they're a better bet than RDA) and fitting better pads is the best bet. As others have said, adding braided lines will also give a better 'feel' to the brakes (they'll feel stronger and more uniform). For even better performance, go the whole hog and change to the PBR premium rotors with the larger 325mm rotors - rear setup can be left alone as even the PBR upgrade doesn't bother changing it. Some people have, however, opted to fit the BF rear brakes to BAs as they have larger rotors.

Hope that helps. :mexicanwave:

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  • Member For: 16y 1m 28d
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I bought some front Brembo 4 pot with 355 rotors brand new on ebay for $2300. Is a lot of money but they are brilliant. I kept the standard rears on which seem to work ok. I have done 2 track days on them and out brake most other cars now and they still pull up smooth as. Only problem is getting wheels to fit them !!

I think any upgrade from the standard brakes on a BA especially is VERY important. On the track my standard rotors with Ultimate pads were warped and shaking after the first 5 laps !!

Regards

Terry

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Which DBA 4000 series discs is everyone fitting?

Is it part part number number

DBA-4504 SL & SR

DBA4504SL_websml.jpg

OR

DBA-42104 SL & SR

DBA42104sl_websml.jpg

The 42104 states that it's a premium brake upgrade option and is 325mm wide, and also says "Note: This is also the standard front disc rotor for the FPV GT & Pursuit models. Would these fit under the standard BA 17" rims then?

And I think the 4504s are only 298mm wide.

Edited by RSK
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Which DBA 4000 series discs is everyone fitting?

Well, that all depends on what brakes you have! The stock brakes on the BAs used the 298mm rotors and, as I said before, just swapping these over to the (4504) DBAs and using better pads is a marked improvement over the original setup.

If you want to go one step better, then the (PBR) 'premium' brake option gives you bigger and better front calipers and uses a larger grooved 325mm rotor (42104 in the slotted DBA 4000 series). As you might imagine, this is a significant improvement over the stock setup. And yes, I believe that those brakes were 'standard' on at least some (if not all) BA FPV models - the FPVs could be optioned up with even better Brembo brakes, but then you're getting into pretty serious money for replacement rotors, pads, etc.

I THINK the 325mm rotors fit under stock 17" rims but hopefully somebody will correct me if I'm wrong (I've got aftermarket 18s with my premium setup so can't be 100% sure).

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I THINK the 325mm rotors fit under stock 17" rims but hopefully somebody will correct me if I'm wrong (I've got aftermarket 18s with my premium setup so can't be 100% sure).

Guesstimating, I think they would fit under 17" rims, as they're the standard size as the PBR upgrade discs, but would STANDARD BA callipers fit it/be compatible? They're thicker too, 30mm ( DBA-42104 ), compared to 16mm (DBA-4504).

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Guesstimating, I think they would fit under 17" rims, as they're the standard size as the PBR upgrade discs, but would STANDARD BA callipers fit it/be compatible? They're thicker too, 30mm ( DBA-42104 ), compared to 16mm (DBA-4504).

If the premium brakes fit under 17" rims, then fitting DBA rotors would make no difference to clearance. Yes, the 325mm rotors are also thicker than the 298mm ones, and are NOT compatible with the stock calipers - you need the premium calipers to fit the larger rotors.

There are apparently some 'big brake' upgrade kits for sale on eBay that utilise the stock calipers with larger rotors, but a) I'm not sure how good they and b) they need additional brackets (supplied, I believe) to enable the stock calipers to work with the larger rotors. Personally, I'd either stick to stock calipers and put on the 298mm DBA 4000 series rotors with better pads or, better still, try and get hold of the whole premium brake front setup (the rear setup remains the same in the PBR upgrade).

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If the premium brakes fit under 17" rims, then fitting DBA rotors would make no difference to clearance. Yes, the 325mm rotors are also thicker than the 298mm ones, and are NOT compatible with the stock calipers

Ok, but this quote states (apparently so may be incorrect) that there's a DBA 4000 series 330mm upgrade (havn't found a 330mm disc in their catalogue ), that they're compatible with the stock calipers? :huh:

-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

3287_1.JPG

Apparently some guy on here was selling the full PBR upgrade kit for around 1600, don't suppose anyone can get them at that price again. Retail is 2590 :stupid:

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Ok, but this quote states (apparently so may be incorrect) that there's a DBA 4000 series 330mm upgrade (havn't found a 330mm disc in their catalogue ), that they're compatible with the stock calipers? :huh:

actually I never thought about looking inthe DBA catalogue. I just looked and couldnt find the 330mm disc in the ford section either. Could be listed in different manufacturer, so CFB looking that much.

As for using a 330mm disc on standard caliper, I questioned that too in another tread. Have a look at this thread from IH8TOADS. He has done it using the 300mm disc but using a different kit from the one I posted.

http://www.fordxr6turbo.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=45218

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