Originally Posted by Cerrenus,Oct 11 2007, 03:41 PM

I've asked this question in the racing forum and most agreed that an upgrade isn't necessary. Unless you're making huge HP that the stock brakes can't handle, you won't notice a difference with a BBK. Using racing pads will suit you fine on the track.

Originally Posted by sean2sean,Oct 11 2007, 12:50 PM

i dunno about you but i notice a difference with the bbk. now i driving both a s with stock calipers and ss lines and my car.... the brake has a firmer feel and shorter pedal travel.

when i installed willwoods on my corolla... there was a night and day difference....

*shrugs*

Originally Posted by 1AP12NV,Oct 10 2007, 07:24 AM

They do not stop better than stock. There is no noticable improvement in braking distance due to BBK's. This topic has been covered ad nauseum in R&C.

The benefits you see from upgrading to a BBK are generally threefold:

- Reduced unsprung mass (assuming that the BBK you choose is lighter than stock which it may not be unless you shell out the big bucks for Endless, AP, Alcon, etc...)
- Increased resistance to fade in extreme use situations (long races or endurance events)
- Ease of pad changes (in some cases) because some of the racing calipers are made in such a way as to make pad changes quicker

What everyone is saying is that those benefits, while present, are extremely small when compared to the price associated with the BBK "upgrade". When you factor in the fact that once you've gone the BBK route you're now also locked in to buying more expensive rotors as well. On a track car rotors are a wear item. You end up replacing them often and that cost factors into making big brake kits even more expensive.

All of the above boils down to OEM rotors are the best choice when used with race pads and race fluid (with the unspoken caveat "for the price"). The point everyone is making is that if you're fast as hell (as a driver) and you've tuned every ounce of speed out of your car possible, then sure lightening your brakes will give you that last bit of weight savings and endurance. If you're not running long events and you're not at wits end trying to loose more weight and you don't have a very steep budget, stick with OEM you'll be better off.

Also someone mentioned slotted and drilled rotors cracking. ALL rotors crack. Rotors are a wear item when tracking / racing your car. Steve split 2 or 3 OEM rotors in one weekend at the Redline Time Attack at Summit Point this past weekend. With that said, slotted and drilled rotors crack more easily than solid OEM's.

-J

PS> A good compromise with all of this if you feel strongly about "upgrading" your brakes are the Spoon Calipers. You'll save a little weight, gain a little resistance to fade, and still be able to use OEM rotors (and not pay for a full BBK). Best of all worlds IMHO.

Originally Posted by s2kforlife,Oct 12 2007, 05:22 AM

not to jack the thread, but are the spoon calipers more for show? I really wanted to pick up a set, then i read oem pads are good enough? Now after reading that comment above i want to pick a set up. I was planning on doing some autox or hpde days in the future too.

Originally Posted by Spec_Ops2087,Oct 12 2007, 07:10 AM

They are not just for show, kinda. Unless your doing endurance racing (hpde isn't anywhere near endurance racing) ALL BBKs are just for show since simple track pads will do the same job at 1/20th the price (in some cases).