328 BRAKE UPGRADE

Are you speaking of an ABS 328 or non-ABS?

 

Step 1: fatter, stickier tires. If your brakes can lock up the tires, then you have enough brakes.

 

Not necessarily so. The bigger brakes also dissipate heat and allow you to run longer and harder on the track without brake fade, which you WILL get with standard brakes even if you use high-temp fluid.

 

Agree with MikeC here - exactly correct.

Additionally, greater swept area of the pad will allow more precise modulation of brake pressure lessening the tendency to lock. Similarly, greater swept area will speed up the thermal transfer into the rest of the rotor and surrounding areas allowing for faster heat dissipation and less chance of boiling the fluid. The four and six piston brembo calipers have these very large pads and swept areas for precisely these (and other) reasons.

Even a Ford Focus can lock its brakes. The reason why testers rave about the brakes on an Enzo or a GT3 porsche is because those cars have highly engineered systems which typically include large calipers/pad/rotors. So, net, it's definitely not a matter of just being able to lock up the brakes....

 

Agree with CliffBeer and MikeC. Have seen what stock 308 brakes do on the track and the expensive outcome... ask Fchatter Verell. Like ClifBeer said, the Brembo brakes allow for more precise modulation. My local New England track is VERY HARD on brakes and have never had brake fade <knocking on wood>, and this is without brake ducts. Still, this past week Fchatter Scott was kind enough to help me install front ducts (they go in place of the fog lights).

If you are going to have GO, you had better have WOE.

 

Before you spend money on a brake upgrade, try it out on a track day first with stock brakes. Just make sure you have fresh DOT 4 or better fluid. I have run my 328 quite bit with stock brakes and I have never had them fade. They are not as powerful as new cars for sure, but moduualtion is good and the 328 is not capable of reaching very high speeds on track day anyway. If you could get it to 140-150 on a straight, then you would want bigger brakes for sure.

Dave

 

To clarify: if you can lock up your wheels with the brakes hot then you have enough brakes.

I have the big Brembos on the EVO and the stock ATEs on the 328. The EVO does stop faster, but the tires are fatter. The ATEs are maybe a hair marginal, but they're adequate. (I use synth fluid). If I upgraded the rubber, I might have to upgrade the brakes, too.

 

DGS, it's not a matter of having enough brake pressure to lock the brakes....warm or cold.

It's a matter of a) having the ability to modulate the brake pressure precisely, and b) having the ability to dissipate the heat quickly away from the fluid in the caliper. The larger type calipers and rotors with big swept areas and pads do these two things more effectively than the stock calipers. That's why you don't see Enzos or other cars with very high performance characteristics rolling around with the same brakes as a 308 or Mondial.

 

They also weigh more, generating more unsprung weight, unless you go with exotic materials, like the Enzo.

Sometimes, good enough is good enough.

But then, there are people who swear by putting 93 octane in an econobox with an 8:1 compression engine, too.

 

Steven,

I think "WHOA" would be preferable.

 

1. Apparently you're unaware that even with the exotic materials, the brakes from the Enzo are still heavier.
2. The two points I make are the heart of the matter whereas "good enough" is a vague statement that makes no sense in this context.
3. You analogy is a poor one because better brakes do actually provide a marginal benefit

 

Sorry, bud, you're speaking with having facts in hand. I changed from stock 308 brakes and rotors to the big Brembo kit on the front and it was LIGHTER than my stock setup. The aluminum for the caliper housings and floating hats on the rotors SAVED weight. I've since then also changed out my rear rotors to floating hat, keeping stock size and stock calipers.

 

You're right... if you don't have "WHOA" *THEN* you'll have "WOE".

 

You're talking about a 308 in the Southern US. The original poster has a 328 in Belgium: last time I was in Amsterdam (in the same region), I had to wear a coat outside in June.

Yes, I'm comparing pasta to rice: the Brembos I have are on the EVO.

And driving style also affects brake temps, so your mileage may vary.

If you're experiencing fade, then by all means, upgrade.

But if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

The real test is in the driving. Heck, if you go by numbers alone, the EVO should be quicker than the 328. But I know which one has better feel, and which one I can push harder.

 

I have tracked stock 308's and 328's. While the brakes are pretty much the same, the 328 defintitely has a better feel/modulation. I actually prefer the feel to my subie STI with the big Brembos although the Subie's brakes are very powerful. As soon as you change something, it generally necessitates another change and so on. The 328 is a well designed package right out of the box.

Dave

 

I believe the boys at QV London can do something for the 328 at the Front end using some 360 parts - call them & have a word.

I.

 

Like, whoa dude...

PS: Spent today and the the next 3 days at Watkins Glen. STILL have more brakes than most others

Like, whoa dude
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Mike is right. The Brembo kit is much lighter. You actually notice it when you pull the old ones off and pick up the new Brembos to install them.