Upgrading Brakes

luke667 · 04-13-04, 03:25

Hey guys,

was considering gettin new brakes, something like big cross drilled Brembo brakes for my X-trail, mainly cos it looks better more than anything else.

Is it stupid to spend X amount of money on getting these brakes, especially since the car is less than a year old?

whats your input on this?

thanks

2wheelsx2 · 04-13-04, 03:37

If you can use them, no, I don't think it's stupid. But if you are doing it for looks, I don't think it's good bang for buck. I ride motorcycles, and our motto is you have never have enough traction, brakes, or HP.

luke667 · 04-13-04, 03:47

well i am aiming to upgrade my rims from 16'' to 20'' within the next 6 months, so i guess i'd need extra stopping power, but i'm scared of having TOO much brake power....
if that makes sense...

IanO · 04-13-04, 04:15

You mentioned looks and stopping power... they are two different things generally

While the cross drilled rotors look cool, rarely are they done properly and they usually end up cracking prematurely (this applies to the ones that most 'performance' shops are likely to have).

If you want to stop better, pads make a huge difference. Problem is that grippy pads leave lots of dust behind but this can be looked at as a good thing because it gives you an excuse to clean your new wheels more often

luke667 · 04-13-04, 04:31

well, as for the cracking of the rotors, i don't drive that fast, and i don't go to track days or anything, so for everyday drivin, they should be ok i guess. i'd like to have big calipers too, as they would look really nice thru the spokes....

hate saying that i'd buy a performance part for the looks...sounds stupid. sorry

2wheelsx2 · 04-13-04, 04:34

I don't think you'll have to worry about excessive power. However, if the big brakes have poor "feel" that could be a problem. Might look into a master cylinder and brake line upgrade to go with the big brakes. Might as well make it perform better as well as look good.

I wouldn't worry about the looks vs. performance thing. It's not like you're going to put a big wing in the back on a front wheel drive. As long as it's safe and functional, and you can afford it, all the power to ya.

Accumulator · 04-13-04, 05:03

luke667-I've always found "big brake kits" to be a worthwhile upgrade, even on "babied" street cars. You won't have a problem with "too much braking", rather, it'll give you a better sense of what the brakes are doing and they won't fade on you. It's really a good idea, IMO. People spend a bundle on things that aren't nearly as important as stopping.

But as IanO said, you gotta watch it with the cross-drilled rotors, they DO sometimes crack (and I'm NOT talking about track-type abuse, just regular driving). A number of the aftermarket brake suppliers I've dealt with do NOT recommend drilled rotors, at least for some applications. Hey, you don't want anybody dying over this

2wheelsx2 has the right idea- you gotta find a setup that has the right "feel", that is, right for YOU. And everything has to work in concert, from the master cylinder to the pads and rotors. If you're gonna do this, do it right so you don't waste time, effort, and money (or make your ride unsafe). Find out who makes good kits for your vehicle and get what they recommend. Get the right pads for your driving conditions, too (rain?). And make sure your chosen rotors/calipers and wheels are gonna work together. Sometimes it's surprising what does NOT fit (it's not just a matter of wheel diameter).

uk-will · 04-13-04, 07:00

my $0.02 worth is that if you arent going to be using your car for track events then you really dont need to upgrade the calipers or the brake rotors. I would focus on upgrading the pads/brake fluid and brake hoses (change to alloy braided). These changes alone should give you a whole better experience.

I used to track my 911 so I changed all the components - here are a couple of brake shots (I upgraded to a 993TT setup - the x-drilled rotors porsche use are holed during the forming process, to help prevent cracking)

uk-will · 04-13-04, 07:02

through the alloys (17" front)

One thing to make sure if you do decide on a big brake kit, is to check that its setup correctly with respect to the existing ABS bias (if your car has ABS).

medic · 04-14-04, 12:22

what about just getting slotted rotors. it will help with teh heat and from what I've read they don't crack nearly as often

you may htink you have too mcuh braking power at first, but you'll just have to get used to the feel of it - you won;t need to use as much pressure as before

as far as if this is stupid to do on a one year old car, that's your call. I know people that have driven from the dealer to a performance shop the same day and let it sit in the shop for a month while upgrades are done. personally, I'd wait until what I have wore out unless the cash is buring a hole in your pocket. if that's the case, you can send some to me

luke667 · 04-14-04, 12:25

hehe i think i'll just wait for the warranty to run out, and then see whats available when that time comes. thanks for all your help guys, makes me proud to be an autopian citizen

Lowejackson · 04-14-04, 02:32

To allow the (uprated) brakes to work you would also need to upgrade the suspension. Big calipers and suspension work is going to cost a lot of money if you do it right