Brake upgrades

[anicorsa]

Had a look at my brakes today. The pads are starting to wear thin. :shock: Only after 18000k's aswell....

Im pretty new when it comes to brakes, so i need some advice. I have a few Q's.

1. What kind of brands should i be looking at for aftermarket pads?
Obviously, stopping power is important, and low noise and dust would be great.


2. Going through the posts, it seems that EBC and Race Brakes are popular. Any others? which pads are good?

3. Should i go all out and do a full rotor/pads upgrade? How much would i be looking at paying? pads and rotors?

Any info would be great! :wink:

[Degen-Astra]

If you can afford it...replace the rotors as well. BUT...if its a "NEED TO DO IT ASAP" job. Just go the pads.

My personal experience -
I found my new set up very nice - EBC Greenstuff pads are nice. Although some have raised their concerns about the dust that it does leave on your wheels. I havent experienced this as yet.

If its all your brakes that need replacing and your wanting to go the race/street type brakes (Slotted/drilled) - my advice is to stick with solid rear rotors and maybe a better rear pad. As for the front - personal choice - but i have found that with the current EBC Turbo Groove rotors and G/Stuff pads work VERY well together.
I bought all my stuff from Autospeed - and then got them fitted from the brake place down the road. All up cost me around 1k for all supplied and fitted - (Holden was going to charge me just for the standard rear pads supplied & fitted - $250!!)

[George Costanza]

I got DBA rotors and Bendix Ultimates fitted on all fours yesterday.

They need to be worn in, but the mechanic told me that they'll perform great.

It cost me $1000 supplied and fitted. This included him fixing the clunking and grinding noise from the back brakes. I also gave him some silver paint for the calipers, and they look brand spankers. :wink:

[Turblue]

Big brakes are great. But remember your tyres. Huge brakes with no rubber on the road is kinda defeating the purpose. :oops:

It still amazes me how much bite the brakes have in my car. It pulls up for me almost too hard if I stand on the pedal. But at least I know that it will stop if I ever need it to. :P

Only real problem I have is trying not to slide off the seat and end up under the dash...!!! :shock:

[anicorsa]

$1000 is a alot. :shock: I'll wait for my rotors to wear out then.

I think i'll just get some new pads. So greenstuff is the s#$@ ? I'll check them out...

Anyone know anything about Race Brakes? are they good?

[Degen-Astra]

Only real problem I have is trying not to slide off the seat and end up under the dash...!!! :shock:

Do we now have to organise a group buy on 6 point racing harnesses.

[frankie9fingers]

Had a look at my brakes today. The pads are starting to wear thin. :shock: Only after 18000k's aswell....

not being a smat@rse (which i'm surprised Samvac hasen't beaten me to it) but, you could try braking a little earlier.

that amount of k's is extreme!!

[anicorsa]

Had a look at my brakes today. The pads are starting to wear thin. :shock: Only after 18000k's aswell....

not being a smat@rse (which i'm surprised Samvac hasen't beaten me to it) but, you could try braking a little earlier.

that amount of k's is extreme!!


:) Thats the funniest thing about it, i dont brake that hard. Well, some times i do. :P

I reckon i'll get another 3-4 months out of them, so its not that bad. I'll be surprised if i make it another 5 months.

[sunny]

Anyone know anything about Race Brakes? are they good?

race brakes are good if they are warmed up ... also i believe they produce much less brake dust

heard RB74 are quite good ... dunno they price though

[anicorsa]

Had a look at my brakes today. The pads are starting to wear thin. :shock: Only after 18000k's aswell....

not being a smat@rse (which i'm surprised Samvac hasen't beaten me to it) but, you could try braking a little earlier.

that amount of k's is extreme!!


Thats actually making me think now, maybe im checking them incorrectly... :?

How do you check brake pads? Just to make sure im doing it right, i didnt take the wheel off, i just visually inspected.

[frankie9fingers]

have they started to make annoying sounds yet? or how much pad is actually left. The best way i find to check is to take the wheel off and inspect each end of the pad, just to be sure it hasn't tapered. to check the rotor. by law it has to be thicker than 22mm (front). any feel for grooves in the rotor, fine are ok its the big ones that are bad. Finally if there are grooves don't just change the pads, machine the rotors or you'll ruin the pads.

[anicorsa]

Cool, thanks Frankie. :) So theres no way to check them without taking the wheel off? i must be doing it wrong then. :oops:

I'll have to thoroughly check them sometime soon.

[frankie9fingers]

if you can see the pad tru the wheel and its got a bit (say 5mm thick) you should be fine for a while.

[Aus-SRi]

Out of curiosity geroge how much was it just for the Bendix ultimates on all 4 corners??

[anicorsa]

if you can see the pad tru the wheel and its got a bit (say 5mm thick) you should be fine for a while.

Cheers, i had a look, i think i should be fine for a while. :)

[anicorsa]

How thick are pads when they are new?? :?:

[BUGEYE]

I'm running Bendix Ultimates on my rex and reckon there da bomb!!! Have had them on for about 3 months now and really can't complain - a bit dusty maybe but who gives a sh*t - just make sure you wash your wheels once a week :wink:

[George Costanza]

Out of curiosity geroge how much was it just for the Bendix ultimates on all 4 corners??

Heya Gianni,

Unfortunately he didnt give me individual prices. Just one big FAT BILL!! :P

[tyrone]

what are the DBA part number for the Astra coupe Turbo and what are the prices??

[Degen-Astra]

http://www.dba.com.au/rotors_passenger.asp?id=6866
DBA Website...

[tofo]

Will changing rotors have any effect on ESP or ABS?

[Jass]

I wouldnt think so, specially if you going for the same size rotors but just in slotted on cross drilled.

If your going bigger then it might. like a 350mm disc at the front, probobly wouldn't fit in the astra T