Pads, Rotors, and Calipers

[slaughterj]

I'm needing to replace my rotors soon, as well as my pads, and have been considering Tom Hayden's rear calipers at the same time as well, and thought I'd get some input.

I'm probably going with stock rotors, based on previous threads (not interested in getting little cracks from drilled rotors and don't know that I need special slotted rotors) - any reason to reconsider?

I've been using EBC greens all the way around for nearly 60k miles, and while they do good on lack of dust and no squeal, I wonder if I'm losing much street braking power? Will Tom's calipers compensate for this? Will his rotors work fine with EBC greens in the rear? Or should I go with stock pads for the street, or am I just forgetting the annoying squeal since it has been 3 years since I've had stock pads?

 

[Janni]

If your current setup has been working well, then get Tom's upgrade and you'll just get more rear brake. I wouldn't introduce too many variables into your brake system at once. Tom's rear caliper mod will improve your overall performance with less front dive, i.e. better balance. Other pads DO stop better, but if you've been reasonably happy so far, and your wheels are happier, then stay with the EBC greens.

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

Are you sure you need to replace your rotors? I've got 98K on mine and they're still going strong. Anyway, you should be able to get some stockers for free.

You'd probably get some benefit from Tom's rear calipers but the weak link is still the EBCs. Do you have steel braided lines?

 

[Tomcat]

I have a set of StopTech Aero rotors for the front that I got from JonB that are made for the stock system. They are belms (cad plating is discolored)and might be just what you want. PM me if interested.

 

[slaughterj]

Chuck, how do I get stockers for free?

I don't have steel braided lines, how will they help?

Thanks for the offer Tomcat, I'll think about it.

Janni, sometimes I feel I don't have enough braking power, but I can't be sure it's the EBCs. And, I get front lock up more often then I'd like, getting that annoying feeling of no control (typically on a slick surface, some rain, etc.), but I don't know that's the EBCs either.

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

Chuck, how do I get stockers for free?

I don't have steel braided lines, how will they help?

Ask around. Tator might have some laying around.

Steel braided lines don't flex.

 

[Andrew2KRT10]

for what it's worth, I have Stop Tec slotted, not drilled, braided lines, and pads from Archer, yeah I think green. I am ******* the brakes, no problems track or street, still some squeal, but I live with it.

AC

 

[andrew8896]

Andrew2KRT10- Squeal with the greens...hmmm... did you bed them in correctly?

You might take some sandpaper and lightly clean the brake pads (they may be glazed) and try to bed them in again.

 

[Tom F&L GoR]

Just to clear up a typo - I don't supply rotors, only rear calipers.

Pardon my overly dumbed-down explanation: The larger rear caliper will help in the braking power, front lock up, and the no control feeling. Think of the pads as a separate issue, in that the pad material will affect how "sticky" the pads seem to be when rubbing on the rotor.

Perhaps you noticed the reduction in "bite" of the brake pads when going from the OEM pads to the Greens. There are pads that go the other way and increase that "bite" above that of the OEM pads. An example of this would be the Brakeman#3 pads.

But, using a B#3 pad is not a "grabby" feeling that accidentally makes you over-brake, it's a "right now" feeling in that the brakes are doing something the instant you hit the pedal. In the same vein, the stainless braided lines will add to the "right now" feeling since you don't have to account for the rubber lines to balloon as the brake fluid pressure applies the pistons against the back of the pad.

 

[slaughterj]

Tom, can you elaborate more on the grabby / right now stuff?

 

[Tom F&L GoR]

In my opinion, when I had the Greens, relative to the OEM pads, I would step on the brake pedal and it seemed to take a moment of rubbing the pads on the rotors before any braking action happened. In autocross, this was really uncomfortable, since I had to plan ahead too much for my brain to process. And if I stabbed the brake at the right moment, well, the brakes were going to think about it for a bit before applying any whoa and I'd be a half car length past the cone.

In the other direction from the OEM pads are the Brakeman #3 pads. To me, as soon as the pad hits the rotor you had 100% braking action (of course, proportional to the pressure on the brake pedal.) That moment of waiting for something to happen went away. Also, the pressure on the pedal was less (although this may be because of the rear brakes I already had on the car.)

Maybe another way to describe it is that with the Greens, it brakes like a heavier car, while with the B#3s, it brakes like a lighter weight car. Help any?

 

[2002_Viper_GTS_ACR]

Dude, you have been talking about pads and rotors for like 3 months, shut up already and get it done. Geeze, can we expect another post in 3 more months about you thinking about it agian? So 2 posts down about the same thing, how many do we need to get to, until you actually do it?

U Poser...


Jon

 

[SammyV]

I run Brakeman 3's all four corners with Roe Racing two piece slotted rotors(and braided lines)for agressive street and this setup is awsome! I have that right now feel that Tom talks about! They DO squeel and make a lot of dust. I consider that a small price to pay after nearly slamming into the back of a truck at yield sign when my EBC pads would not bite!!! SammyV

 

[slaughterj]

Dude, you have been talking about pads and rotors for like 3 months, shut up already and get it done. Geeze, can we expect another post in 3 more months about you thinking about it agian? So 2 posts down about the same thing, how many do we need to get to, until you actually do it?

U Poser...


Jon

Dude, stay out of my threads if you don't want to read them - it's that simple!

 

[slaughterj]

The Brakeman 3s do have some bite, but also allegedly need to warm up, so I'm not sure they are the best for the street...

 

[AG98RT10]

I consulted Tom and Jon B, among others, when I got my Viper. It was immediately apparent, coming from the Vette's excellent brakes, that my RT was seriously lacking... Tom's rear upgrade took care of the F/R balance, Brakeman 3's fixed the pads' lack of bite, and the slotted StopTech rotors avoided a "glazing" problem when running performance pads on the street too much (thanks Jon B!). I also put on stainless lines and Motul (came with the rotors) - couldn't be happier, on the street, or the limited tracking I do.

Brakeman 3's do not need to warm up in my experience, but I really think you should use slotted rotors to keep them ready. The Stoptech rotors also save you a few pounds on each front wheel...

Total cost here: Tom's rears, around 600 IIRC, StopTech Stage II, around 800, BM3 pads, around 300. Knowing I can probably stop when that whitetail darts in front of me - priceless.

Well spent money, imo.

 

[2002_Viper_GTS_ACR]

Dude, you have been talking about pads and rotors for like 3 months, shut up already and get it done. Geeze, can we expect another post in 3 more months about you thinking about it agian? So 2 posts down about the same thing, how many do we need to get to, until you actually do it?

U Poser...


Jon

Dude, stay out of my threads if you don't want to read them - it's that simple!

Wanna Cry 4 me? The point is, you talked about getting these rotors months ago, and yet the job still isnt done? You just stopped it, and now are considering it again, and are expanding it to whether or not your going to do the brake upgrade. Sure great system... maintance is one of those things you just keep putting off on a viper....

 

[slaughterj]

Er, *******, previously, I was checking into rotors well in advance of needing to maintain them, rather than waiting too late. Now I'm going to do something in the next month or so, so I'm checking on those, but also other brake related matters. Apparently you aren't so smart, if you are waiting to ask RIGHT before you do something. And again, you don't like my thread, so get the hell out!

 

[2002_Viper_GTS_ACR]

Er, *******, previously, I was checking into rotors well in advance of needing to maintain them, rather than waiting too late. Now I'm going to do something in the next month or so, so I'm checking on those, but also other brake related matters. Apparently you aren't so smart, if you are waiting to ask RIGHT before you do something. And again, you don't like my thread, so get the hell out!

Yeah, glad to see you read too, where did I say try to get all your stuff at the last minute then do your maintenance? Yeah, guess I missed that somewhere, please point it out. But months in advance of doing something? hmmm.. w/e do what ya want with your maintenance.. has no impact on me.. Just seems like you are procrastinating... kinda like you do with actually getting your car to the drag strip, or VIR for actual track use.... Go be you...

Later.

Jon

 

[slaughterj]

Nice grammar and spelling, try an ESL class before you respond next time. You think it's procrastination, while I was checking on things in advance. Clearly, since I'm doing it for me, I know what's up, and I know you're wrong. Wow, pretty simple, maybe simple enough for you to understand, but I doubt it.

 

[2002_Viper_GTS_ACR]

Thx for crying some more....


See ya at the track (of course you on the side lines) pansy..


Jon