Optimizing brakes for a street car

**kugzs** · 23-04-2007, 06:16 PM

How do you set up brakes to minimize initial braking distance? (ie minimize braking distance when brakes are cold)

**oldcorollas** · 23-04-2007, 08:01 PM

use pads that have a good coefficient of friction when cold.
larger diameter discs are always helpful for braking force. calipers just provide force and change shape of the pads (roughly), but the pads themselves have the biggets effect on high/low temp performance... metal kings don't brake at low temp

**kugzs** · 23-04-2007, 09:03 PM

what about slotted/drilled/whatever discs, will these make any difference?

**rob1** · 23-04-2007, 09:13 PM

Originally Posted by oldcorollas

metal kings don't brake at low temp

no shit! but once warmed up they give great feel and are a consistant wearing pad.

the best pads you can get for cold braking are standard pads. but in reality if you push your car then this question is irrelevent

**oldcorollas** · 23-04-2007, 09:22 PM

Originally Posted by kugzs

what about slotted/drilled/whatever discs, will these make any difference?

slotted is to wipe the pad clean and allow gases between the pad and disc to escape...
probably not an issue when cold, especially compared to the pad compound itself.
for hot is ok.

drilled.. there is no need for them. slots get rid of gas enough, and holes just reduce weight of disc (less heat capacity) and increase chance of actual disc cracking...

but i don't know much about brakes..

**craigsimon** · 23-04-2007, 09:23 PM

Drilled, slotted etc discks allow the gas produced when the pads get hot to escape but care must be used as the drilled holes can alow cracks to start and have to be inspected regularly. Also by removing metal you decrease the weight of the rotor which reduces its ability to store and transfer the heat generated by braking. Slotted is probably the better choice.

CS

Edit oldcorollas beat me to it

**kugzs** · 23-04-2007, 09:23 PM

Originally Posted by rob1

but in reality if you push your car then this question is irrelevent

i wouldnt have asked a question i wasn't interested in

The car will not be see any circuit work or overly hard street driving. But i do want the car to really be able to pull up if the need arises (like at the end of a dragstrip)

**IN 05 NT** · 23-04-2007, 10:30 PM

what sorta car are we talking here?....

**kugzs** · 23-04-2007, 10:38 PM

Toyota Lexcen VL Wagon. (someday to be JZ powered)

im going to put rx-7 calipers on it.

**IN 05 NT** · 23-04-2007, 10:42 PM

VL lexcen? wtf never new toyota had vl lexcen?

you can get brake upgrade conversions on ebay that are direct swap, for round the $500-600 mark,

if you use rx7 calipers, in the end it wil cost probably near asmuch as the bolt on tested kit....

**IN 05 NT** · 23-04-2007, 10:44 PM

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/COMMODORE-VB-...QQcmdZViewItem

**kugzs** · 23-04-2007, 10:44 PM

not really relevant to the thread but i willl start a new members ride thread now!

**oldcorollas** · 23-04-2007, 10:49 PM

RX7 calipers are not very big. they have less clamping force than AE86 spoontah calipers (for a given fluid pressure)

too may options for commod.. i mean lexcens, to bother going with small calipers.

**Vios-GT_07** · 24-04-2007, 12:20 AM

i hate metal kings.. it ate one set of discs on my previous ride... under-sized and warped the disc... grr.. imo metal kings are reserved for commercial vehicles only

**JustCallMeOrlando** · 24-04-2007, 08:38 AM

I recommend EBC Greenstuff. Kick ass when they're up to temp, which thankfully for a street car doesn't take them long. You definetly notice when they're warm though!