So I have a set of Brembo 4 piston calipers sitting in my garage right now along with the 14 slotted rotors (along with the SS lines etc) to match but I have a chance to grab a set of Wildwood 6 pistons and want to know if I would notice a huge difference b/t the two???

I see the strip about once every two weeks and road coarse about once a month....

Please, any advice is welcome!!!!

 

Come on guys I know somebody has to have some input.......

 

The difference is two pistons.

 

No you won't really notice any difference. The single brake pad on each side in both means they work virtually the same. Most cars are tire limited not brake limited and the slightly larger caliper my take a little longer to get hot but brake ducts are a better improvement. I also don't have much info on Wildwoods for road racing they seem more aligned with drag racing. I just installed Brembo fronts and should have Brembo rears on soon as well.

 

Where are you getting the Brembo rears from??? Or Where can I take a look at a pair???

 

Wilwood are huge on road racing, just not so much with the S197 Mustangs. Lots of em where I go, though. Stoptech is bigger through their relabel with Saleen/Steeda/Roush, though, and Brembo through the GT500 (which I assume are your's).

There'd be a difference on the track, I'd guess, but likely only notice it on extended sessions at a high-braking track, and only due to the stiffness of the caliper (Wilwood are supposed to be quite good) and the increased mass as mentioned above. Maybe the pads wouldn't wear as fast as they cover more of the rotor, meaning less friction/heat per linear inch?? (I'm thinking 6-8 pot calipers on the exotics, though most of those use the separate pads per piston setup as seen on the most recent Z06).

I'd base the choice on the repair/replacement parts, myself, as I think Wilwood would be pricier, haven't looked everywhere though:

http://www.zeckhausen.com/Brembo/Consumables.htm

http://www.ebcbrakes.com/automotive/...rs/index.shtml

http://www.ctbrakes.com/performance-calipers.asp

http://www.tirerack.com/brakes/resul...oModClar=Coupe

 

Dont the 6 piston calipers apply pressure more evenly across the pad allowing for more brake torque (but 908ssp is correct, braking on most cars IS limited about the amount of traction the car has)?

Generally Brembos and other big brakes pump up the sexy. A GT with the standard calipers benefits greatly from a better brake pad since the factory units seemed to be geared to a long lasting squeak free low dust life.

 

Torque is just a matter of radial pad length (ie distance from the center of the disc), and how far that radial length is from the rotor center, ie T = F x r. 15" disc with a 2" swept surface provides more torque than a 13" rotor with a 1.5" swept area. A 6 piston will have a longer circumferential
length, spreading that force over a wider area, theoretically reducing the amount of friction under each square unit of area, and thereby lengthening pad life. But I believe their biggest effect is larger surface area for greater radiant cooling of the brake system as a whole.

 

Wow I love the above explanation; and I am not being sarcastic!!!! That does put things into perspective, THANK YOU...

Although, I have to make a correction: I have the StopTech's (you know the saleen, etc... Don't know why I said Brembo...

Also, I completely understand and agree with looking at the cost of repairs and I feel that no matter which way you slice it of coarse the 4 piston StopTech's are going to be easier an less expensive to repair (Including the replacement of the Hat and rotor). But that being said, I feel there is more to offer in a bigger brake unit than SEX APPEAL... I have seen many of times fellow racers change their stock braking components and be fine (for a little bit) but fade begins to rear its ugly head and they are no longer able to Brake later in the corners and their confidence is Decreased, so on and so forth!!!!

Anyways, I just don't know what to do???

 

But that fade is usually one of two things: inadequate brake ducting or incorrect pad temp range selection. The higher temp pad ratings let you get away with more.

The other options are way too much weight (our piggy S197s fall here) and overdriving/abusing the brakes.

For sex appeal:




http://www.ssbrakes.com/commerce/det....cfm?nPID=8247

 

Alright Alright, I give in the Sex Appeal is a bonus but not the major reason for changing them out.... And yes you could not be more right then your opinion on the diet our cars need to go on...

I feel I have put the proper consideration into the Brake cooling but I admit I haven't put the necessary thought into the Temp choices... What are your thoughts???

Also I have seen the SSBC Drag brag kit but not this set... What are your thoughts on those (By those I mean the 8 piston ones above)

 

I asked the same a few years ago, was told "don't be a jackass", basically that's it's all show, for show cars only. Probably way too heavy, too much unsprung weight. And I can't imagine the cost on those pads, definitely not a stock model. The GT500 Brembo and the StopTechs are relatively cheap pads, actually, barely more expensive than the stock front GT pads.

 

Hahahaha.... I assume the question you are discussing is your thoughts on the 8 piston setup above; correct???

 

the wider and taller the tire the more brake pad you will need?

 

Well generally that will generate more rotational inertia, so you would need even more torque from the brakes to slow them down. Wider the tire the more contact patch, though that's related somewhat to tire pressures and the amount of weight transfer.

There's been several mainstream mag reviews of upgraded wheel/tire and brake packages on standard street cars that have showed lengthened stopping distances. What they don't tend to test, though, is fade resistance which is the biggest reason for upgraded brakes.

 

I completely agree with you but if you have a wider contact patch (considering a descent tire) then wouldn't you have better grip and i.e. better stopping??? I understand the rotational mass and stopping but I guess having one doesn't compensate for the other????

 

Yes the wider tire will generate more friction with the road surface and be less likely to lock up. But the additional mass at the furthest distance from the center of the wheel will add extra inertia that you have to slow down. So wide, short tires are the best for braking, or stopping, (als IRL, F1); but a short tire limits brake disc size and torque, so it's a tradeoff. The limited brake disc size is the reason open wheel racecars still have these size wheel/tires. Sportscars long ago went larger, though I don't think any do above 18" wheels.

What it means is the boys rolling with their 24" wheels on their Sclades without upgraded brakes are gonna have a hard time stopping in time when you slam on your brakes to get them to stop tailgating.

 

Hahaha gotcha No brake checking the Homes!!!!! Lesson Learned.

In all seriousness, from what I gather above the StopTech's that I have should be good for my application???

 

I like mine!

 

What are you using???