Brakes Wheels 1st Gen Tires Most liked posts in thread: R53 Front Brakes: A Detailed Look

If you need parts from the dealer I'd recommend calling eminiparts.com they are most helpful folks.

http://www.eminiparts.com/

So will this upgrade fit under a 15 inch OEM wheel?

 

One of the advantages of the BBK is that the brake pads are cheaper.

 

It depends on your BBK. The JCW kit is an outlier, I would toss that one out for comparison purposes, or at least add other BBK's, but otherwise your first post and comparison are nicely done. The reason the JCW pads/rotors are so expensive is they're a one-trick pony--about as small a brake niche as you'll find, whereas Wilwood, Outlaw, etc. are universal--the calipers and rotors can be used on many different cars, the only thing that needs to be changed is the dogbone, which is pretty simple to manufacture on a vehicle to vehicle basis.

For me, I get 2-3 days out of my rotors, 3-4 days out of pads, so it adds up quick, and cheaper rotors and pads help. It all depends on what you're using the car for. Ben (BThayer) is on the track a ton, and is approaching more from this angle than from a daily driver angle, in which case over the life of your car, the BBK pays itself off and then some if your car sees heavy track use, and that doesn't even take into account the improved performance.

A couple of other points: If you want to talk about BBK's, or any kit hitting the track, it's time to talk cooling.

Also, Motul 600 is a great fluid--it's what I use--but not so much for a Daily Driver, unless you're changing it every couple of months, or bleeding before each track session, which is a must (at least for me). It absorbs water and breaks down quicker, exactly what you don't want, it's not recommended for long-term use--not the type of stuff you want to leave in for a year or two (although that doesn't seem to stop people from doing it), that's not what it's designed for.

 

Excellent article. Thanks for sharing.

 

This is great and answers a lot of questions.

If I understand right I could go stage 3. Then if I want more I get a bigger rotor and the different carrier.

 

Real nice write up.....

 

Thanks for getting back to me with that info. Very nice write up. Hope it finds its way into the library here.

I think brackets might be able to be sourced from a wrecking yard.

 

It will be added soon.

 

One minor errata: OEM caliper slide bushings are rubber, not plastic. You'd never be able to pull them out if they were plastic. Also, gray anti-seize works well as a lubricant. I'd recommend re-lubing every fall and when you change the pads.

I'd also suggest adding a section on various reasons why one might upgrade the brakes; certainly some kits achieve different objectives better than others.

 

This is great. Thank you for such great information. I'm planing for the stage 3 right now.

Chuck maybe this would help you stay out of the water.

 

No, Bthayer is right--you're only looking at the JCW kit, where the pads are horrendously over priced. A wilwood kit, or one of the TSW kits, the pads are cheaper, I think the street pads I ran were like 50 or 60 bucks, and held up better than stock. I now run a VERY expensive BBK--my track pads are 85 bucks a set, street pads, even less. They hold up much better than Hawk, although I haven't tried the newer Hawk compounds, never tried EBC and never will.

EBC reds aren't perhaps the best example, they've fallen out of favor big time. Think good pads, like carbotechs, PF's, Rabestos offerings, Poly compounds, brakeman pads, etc., something people use on the track, that'll give you an idea.

And Rotors, mine are 100 bucks a rotor, 2 piece design, internal vanes, that's also a consideration.

 

To the OP, thanks for putting this together.
Its still very relevant for all of us who are picking up used R53's.

Note that nowdays you can find:
Reman R56 S calipers w/carriers for 160 to 200 for the pair at AZ/ Advance. Takes some of the clean up suffering out of the rebuild.
Plain 294mm rotors can also be had for under 100 for the pair at the same stores.

Turns this into a Level 4, for approx. $400 cost.

 

Just don't drink the OP's Kool-Aid.