If you could get either one, brand new, for the same exact price ($1200) shipped...which would you buy? I like the slotted rotors for their looks, but they are only 2 piston, vs Brembo's 4 piston. I know they say the pad on the Baer covers the same area as the Brembo, but wouldnt 4p be more reliable? Thoughts?

PS, both come with SS brake lines, and I'm upgrading the pads on either one to Hawks pads.

 

Brembo Kit ALL the WAY.... Better stopping power and you could always change to a better vented rotor if you wanted!!!!

 

where ya gettin them from??

 

This really depends on your intended use. Unless you're tracking the car pretty aggressively, frequently, you will never notice the difference between the PBR caliper and the monoblock multi-pot design of the GT500 kit.

The biggest advantage to the monoblock is it's rigidity, which translates to more consistent braking time after time without deflection. Again though...if you're just on the street, you're never going to out use the PBR caliper.

But then again if I wasn't tracking the car frequently, I wouldn't be upgrading the brake hardware at all. A set of quality rotors, a performance pad set along with a good fluid and summer tires is the ticket.

Unless you're just going for the look, in which case it's all about the monoblock calipers.

 

I have seen cars on the track, and thats some heavy freaking usage right there... but I drive pretty hard on the back hill country roads sometimes, not that hard, nor for that long, but still pretty crazy sometimes, lol. I need to read up on this "monoblock multi-pot" design you speak of... I dont even know wha tthat means. That's no good. The PBR are brakes from a c5 Vette retrofitted to the stang basically.

 

The monoblock style of caliper is like what you see on the front of the GT500's. The caliper is basically a solid block of aluminum machined to accept the pistons (pots) and pads. They certainly are more rigid than the factory calipers or the PBR calipers that we're comparing them too right now.

What this gives you is a little bit more pad pressure on the rotor as you don't have as much caliper deflection. But like I said all this really accomplishes on a street car is to lockup the tires quicker. To really take advantage of the extra clamping you also need to combine the setup with a good sticky tire.

It's the tires that are ultimately responsible for the distance you brake. They after all are what's in contact with the road. You could have the biggest set of high dollar breaks that cool well, have huge amounts of clamping force and as much braking torque as you could throw a stick at, but if you've got ****ty tires, the guy next to you with stock brakes and a set of summer radials is still going to stop faster.

The biggest disadvantage to the monoblock style caliper is the weight. They weigh quite a bit more than the comparable PBR style caliper. This is bad weight too as the load is completely unsprung. The larger rotors also add additional unsprung weight along with rotational mass which hampers acceleration and slows steering response and cornering.

That's why I always kind of question the logic for big brakes in a street car. There's a point where you want those big brakes because you need the extra clamping forces and the ability to soak and the shed more heat. But those circumstances generally involve R compound tires on a car that see regular and heavy track use.

But then again, the look is a big factor too. You may not need the brakes, but lets face it. The big monoblock style calipers with her rotors look much better behind a set of wheels. Does the car need those brakes from a functionality standpoint. No, but they do look **** good!

 

Don't forget brake feel; a mono-block design with SS lines will have a more direct feel without some of the pedal "squshyness" that you may get with a less rigid design. This helps to modulate the brakes, and also with some heel-toe driving because you potentially reduce the pedal travel for any given braking scenario.

All of these things may be helpful or noticeable on the street. (Even if it is a small change...)

 

see... I decided I needed better brakes on my street car one day when I was doing some heavy driving down some back roads and after repeated serious braking sessions if felt like I had no brakes. I stepped on them and it semi-slowed the car, but I was mashing down on the pedal, it was the scariest thing that ever happened to me. After some down time, the brakes returned to normal, but I noticed thats what they call brake fade, and I quickly learned my car's limits. I want to get rid of, or at least lessen the recovery time from brake fade on my car. My tires are pretty good Toyo Proxes, and they have a pretty good footprint. Not R compound, but great for a street car none the less. So I dont think I would lock up the tires, I need better clamping down power. So now we can say, moderate power compared to full track power. Does the lighter PBR caliper have the same amount of pad contact and clamping pressure as the Brembos? I mean, if Corvette's used them as factory brakes, they cant be that bad.

 

Actually it sounds like what you need in that situation is a pad that can handle more heat. The factory pads...suck.

The PBR caliper is going to have relatively the same clamping force as your stock calipers. Relative to that, even the monoblock caliper isn't going to have much more actual clamping force. Fade happens because of heat soak, not clamping forces.

If I was spending my money on brakes and wanted the look of a big brake kit, good functionality, great pedal feel at the cheapest possible price it would look like this.

Factory system with the following parts.

-RotoPro's slotted/drilled rotors (for racing you really want blanks, but the slotted and drilled rotors look more aggressive)
-Carbotech "Bobcat" compound pads
-Stainless braided soft lines
-ATE Suber Blu or Type 200 (same thing just different colors) or Motul 600 DOT4 fluid
-A good set of tires (which you seem to have already)

Then paint your stock calipers whatever color you'd like. You'll have a relatively custom look and a brake system that stops well, has good fade resistance and great pedal feel while not costing you an arm and a leg.

I mean, the Baer Kit or the GT500 kit is solid, there's absolutely nothing wrong with either kit. The work well. I'm just of the opinion that $1200.00 is a lot to pay for something that you can make work equally as well on the street for about half that amount.

 

you da man!

 

I'd go for these, the StopTech 14" kit:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Stopt...#ht_4258wt_939



But that's cause I got a hugely discounted identical Saleen branded kit for about $900 (this is also the same as the Steeda and Roush 4pot kit).

Or go to Zeckhausen where you can buy them as well, and look at the rebuild kits, pads, rotors, etc available. Great for the track.

If just for the street, think about just experimenting with pads, the stock rotors are super cheap and if you go through them quickly are very easy to replace, they just look crappy.

The PBR from the C5 Vettes aren't bad, but have single-sided pistons (just like your stock design), and there's a reason they were replaced for the Z51 package on the C6 Vettes with a monoblock design. Lots of pad availability for them, though.

Here's stock vs StopTech calipers:








Hope I didn't muddy the picture for you

 

Hey so does Zeckhausen Have replacement rotors for that StopTech kit??? B/c I have the same Saleen (aka. Stoptech) kit and want to replace the rotors???

 

Just to clarify, the Z51 equipped cars have the same calipers as the non Z51 cars. However the rotors on the Z51 package corvettes are slightly larger and are cross drilled from the factory.

The Z06 went to the monoblock 6 piston calipers. It's design included "padlettes" where there are six individual brake pads per piston.

The Z06 gets away with this braking system (which is incredible) in part because of the huge summer only tires that go on the vehicle from the factory.

I'm sure you were talking about the Z06, but just wanted to clarify that.

 

My 2 cents. With the 'special made' Bullitt front pads and GT500 rear pads with the 2 piston front/1 piston rear calipers that all came from the factory, I have never felt any fade. I've tried to find some so I know. And my fav 2 lane twisty drops 3000' in 30 mins (driving very aggressive) with plenty of hairpins and switchbacks, tight 180's, lousy banking, no shoulder.
On the highway I've had a van start to pull out in front of me where I had a full on slam @ 65, and no fade.
So I don't think the stock calipers are inadequte in any way.
Since your issue is heat fade, maybe get some better pads and invest in brake ducts for cooling.

If you were racing with lots of high speed braking, you might need the upgraded setup, but for weekend warrior I think its overkill - and bragging rights.

 

So here's the secret -- Roush sells the two-piece replacement rotors for their kit (again, same as the Steeda or Saleen 14" 4 pot) for $400 a piece.
http://store.roushperformance.com/detail.aspx?ID=605

Same rotor on Zeckhausen is about $500.
http://store.zeckhausen.com/catalog/...p?cPath=24_462

The one-piece rotor is about $350 at Saleen, I think Zeckhausen can get them cheaper.

http://speedlab.saleen.com/store_con...roduct_id=7072

I totally agree -- better heat range pads and a decent ducting kit like from Ford, or Kenny Brown, of JLT probably would be fine.

Oh, and you're right about the Z51, it's the Z06 that have the new 6 piston.

 

Ok I am sorry for being an idiot here but let me see if I understand this correctly...
-Roush: 2 piece Rotor is $400 a piece
-Zeckhausen: Same 2 piece Rotor is $500 A PIECE????
-Speedlab: 1 piece Rotor is $350 a piece BUT you think Zeckhausen can get them Cheaper????

I hope I don't sound like too much of an idiot...

 

I'm guessing Roush gets them at a volume discount or something, and it says it's a 'special' price on their website. I'm thinking of picking some up for the future as won't beat that price anytime soon, and I know I'll wear out these rotors on the track eventually.

The two-piece rotors are a bit of weight savings, but even better is the disc material is replaceable, so just keep the aluminum hat, the rotor sections are $260 through Zeckhausen.

I think they can also probably get the 355x32 one-piece rotors for less than $300, as they have the BMW one (same size, don't know about the bolt pattern or offsets) listed for $235 for slotted rotors. Would have to call or email and ask them.

I just slapped on some EBC yellowstuff pads yesterday and bled my system for next track day this coming weekend. The redstuff were great for street use, low dust and noise, good bite, but baked and wore away on the track.

Sorry bout the thread-jack if this info not usefull for the O.P.

 

Josh you didn't answer my Questions????

 

Uhhh, I think I did -- did my post not show up??

Roush rotors are likely cheaper due to volume buy (or closeout??), but from what I can see are the exact same as the StopTech or Saleen replacement 2 piece rotors, so I'd get the Roush ones while that price lasts.
Zeckhausen has the 2 piece rotors listed for the price everyone else does, or about $500 a piece ($1050 for the kit that fits the Mustang BBK at their store site). Also notice the price difference between any of the rebranded kits 2-piece rotors packages and the 1-piece rotor packages.

Saleen lists replacement one-piece rotors for $350 a piece ($699 for the set). I think the Roush 2-piece is a much better buy at $400 each rotor. BUT, Zeckhausen lists the very similar one-piece rotor for the BMW kit (same size, don't know about the bolt pattern or the offset) for less than $250, so maybe can get the one-piece Mustang ones for the same price? I didn't see a specific listing for them, though...

Hopefully that does it.

 

Josh I am so sorry buddy you did answer the question for the most part but what I was asking was if the Prices were representative of just ONE rotor or if it was for the set... I am sorry I should have explained better that was my fault!!!!

Thanks Josh...