rear disc conversion

[SEVEN]

Originally Posted by kngrsll

This should be done before anyone even considers any brake job. Big brake kits have their place, but if you haven't done this set yet, how do you know you are using the full capacity of the braking system??! now cars that carry more weight (not us), race for hours on end (definately not us lol), or carry alot more speed (turbo cars, some of us!) could use more brake material.

Do you guys know the purpose of a big brake kit? no big brake kit will make you stop FASTER. The brakes are limited by the grip of the tire. What is the best brake upgrade then? TIRES!!! if you can lock up your tires while braking, the brakes are at FULL stopping capacity!! Does this make sense?

So why do people do big brake kits? well, i know i did it bc i thought it would make me stop faster, but i learned better. What a big brake kit really does is allows you to absorb more heat!! brakes are heat sinks! If you are tracking and using up all your brakes, and they cant cool quickly enough, you need to increase the air to them, or increase their heat capacity. So you can use more metal, or ducting. So big brake kits have a significant advantage in heat capacity, and that is ALL. that is their only advantage. They typically weight more (unsprung none the less), which slows you down if you are not overheating your stock brakes (doubtful.) They also cost alot. That money would be better spent at a track school and autoxes where you learn to drive what you have FASTER and then you are quicker no matter the car or equipment you own.

The list garm just posted will satisfy 99% of the braking needs for guys on this forum. I have tracked my car, autox'd it, and have had no brake issues (with stock pads and fluid with 60k miles on them!!) The car is so light, they are gentle on the brakes. This car is very easy on its brakes. In fact, i would almost worry that some of the high end temp pads that carbo tech offers through micro image could be tough to keep heat in! I may test this at the next event, do brake temps during a 20 min session and see what they peak at.

Now a rear disc upgrade, i would do that. Drums suck.

I knew that brake capacity is only as good as the tires you use but this made things even clearer!! THANKS A LOT!!