pauljepson

I've just ruined another set of standard disks and pads at the Nurburgring, and so would like to upgrade my brakes to something which would be good on the road but also able to withstand 4 or 5 track days per year.

The Brembo/AP kit from ScoobySport looks fantastic but seems very expensive. Does anyone have any alternative solutions?

I am driving an STi Type R V4 with standard 16" wheels.

Thanks.

Paul.

Stef

Paul.
When did you go to The Ring? Loads of us are going over again at Easter.
As far as brakes go, there isn't really any alternative that will perform as well as a full uprgrade to AP/Brembo, etc. The most popular choice is to fit higher grade discs and pads. Most retailers sell a kit of this type, I believe SS sell a Pagid upgrade, others like Tyres Northampton sell an EBC one. Both of these will be better than standard, but neither will take the abuse that a decent kit takes.
Save your pennies, it'll be worth it.

Stef.

pauljepson

Stef,
I now work/live in Cologne so I'm only 45 mins from the Ring.
Is it normal to only upgrade the front brakes, or rear as well.
Paul

Hoppy

Paul, it isn't usually necessary to upgrade the rear brakes when you do the fronts. Arguably, the better your front brakes the less the rears have to do.

Having said that, the rear brakes are very poorly cooled and can get very hot, depending on the track. Does your car have ventilated rear discs? If not, I'd think about as pair of them (should bolt straight on) plus up-rated pads.

If you're serious about track days, as Stef says the only brakes that will take anything you can throw at them are the Scoobysport Brembo/APR kit, APR's own kit, or the Alcons from Prodrive (these require 17in wheels). But you're into serious money, there.

In additon to Stef's suggestions, I'd be tempted to try the Prodrive upgraded front discs with Ferodo DS2000 pads front and rear. Undoubtedly excellent kit for fast road, but a demanding race track (and driver) will exceed the limits of anything but the very best.

Richard Hopkins

Puff The Magic Wagon!

iTrader: (2)

Just to back up Hoppy...

I hadn't changed/upgraded rears from new until recent 21,500 service when was advised that they would "soon" need changing, so I did to be safe (with OE pads). That's after that mileage & several trackdays & I just <I>love</I> to feel the rear end squirm under braking

Spend the money on the fronts tho'

Gary Foster

Just to cast a spanner in the works, I went through a set of brand new std rear pads in 1 track day. (And unfortunately as I hadn't realised they'd worn to the metal backing - also the rear disks). Prior to that I went through a 10K mile set in half a track day.

This was with MY98 rears (ie the non vented rear).

With the MY99 Vented rear and calliper, and with Pagid fast road rear pads, almost no pad wear (ie very small, I can't tell how much) and the temparatures never went above 400 degrees C

Ps I don't believe you can just bolt on a vented rear disk, I had to purchase the MY99 rear callipers as well.

Pps I only have STI 4 Pots + pagid blues, pagid group N+ disks, + braided + Dot 5.1

Iain P

Hi Paul, if you work in Merkenich and it takes you 45 mins (60 miles I think) to get to the 'ring then you're not trying hard enough!!!

pauljepson

It's worse than you think, I live in the centre of Cologne, even closer to the ring than Merkenich.
It only takes me 40mins to come back though. It's hard to stop at junctions when your brakes are shot.

Puff The Magic Wagon!

iTrader: (2)

Gary

I think you answered your own problem there

I'm running Brembo/APs

Gary Foster

Puff

I dunno, I'm still having problems with it

Is the way to fix the rears

1) Upgrade the fronts (I am a sceptic on this)

2) Upgrade to vented rears (this gets my vote), in which case any post MY98 guys don't need to worry.

3) Upgrade the rear pad to a better pad (hmm, short term solution)

I've done 1 + 2 + 3(ish)

Don't know why I'm worrying anyway I have the rears fixed .... now just need the AP kit for the front ....