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Big Brake Kit

Discussion in '348/355' started by Roth, Apr 9, 2016.

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  1. Roth

    Roth Formula Junior

    Apr 1, 2016
    433
    Pepsi Generation
    Hey guys, I've been looking to upgrade the stock brakes on my 355. Brembo and StopTech crossed drill big brake kits look great. They are identacle in appearance except for the price. What is your experience with these brakes. And in spite they being much bigger than the stock ones I take it they fit nicely behind the stock rims?


    By the way how often and when do the 355 meet up in Los Angeles area? Love to see what upgrade everyone has in their ride.
     
  2. ///Mike

    ///Mike F1 Veteran

    Dec 11, 2003
    6,097
    Bugtussle
    Brembo. AFAIK, Stoptech is currently owned by Centric and their quality is not what it once was, at least when it comes to consumables like replacement discs. Not that it matters to me-- I would always choose Brembo over Stoptech since they're an OE supplier to Ferrari.

    Be aware that cross drilling significantly shortens disc life if the car is tracked.
     
  3. Jon Von Bon

    Jon Von Bon Formula 3
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    #3 Jon Von Bon, Apr 9, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Hey Roth,

    I have a hybrid brembo big brake kit and it really completes the performance of the car. I highly recommend the upgrade.
    My set up is made up of a 14.5" stop tech front front rotors with the required riser and four piston calipers
    The rears are 13" four piston

    I prefer this set up as it cools fast if really pushed, Keeps weight down, doesn't require any upgrade to the stock power system and is easily reverseable.

    The rears are
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  4. Jon Von Bon

    Jon Von Bon Formula 3
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    #4 Jon Von Bon, Apr 9, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  5. Jon Von Bon

    Jon Von Bon Formula 3
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    #5 Jon Von Bon, Apr 9, 2016
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  6. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
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    May 29, 2001
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  7. SoCal1

    SoCal1 F1 Veteran
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    I have brembo on one of mine

    Nice if the system had a parking brake


    Hard to push the stock brakes to the limit unless your doing serious tracking with slicks or DOT race tires
    YOu will get a better "feel" with upgraded brakes on a street car. With maintained stock brakes 90% of the people here will not use all of it.
    Yes big brakes look cooler to the owner but IMHO money better spent elsewhere.:)

    I have 4 f cars 2 track and 2 street. Stock brakes soft suspension on street cars, race cars solid EVERYTHING :)

    We just had a stooge event at my place and sure will have another soon somewhere
     
  8. Jon Von Bon

    Jon Von Bon Formula 3
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    Agreed Tim. Love your x- gator race car. THE ultimate. Fortunately, mine has the parking brake hub setup.
     
  9. Roth

    Roth Formula Junior

    Apr 1, 2016
    433
    Pepsi Generation
    Jon, those fill the void and look much better than stock brakes. And since I will be getting 19 inch possibly 20 inch rims (if they fit) to replace the stock wheels, bigger rotors is a must. I'm debating between Brembo and StopTech.
     
  10. Jon Von Bon

    Jon Von Bon Formula 3
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    I'm a brembo man. I just combo'd mine because the stop tech set I had in my shed had the larger rotors and were the old stop tech.

    As far as rim changing, I caution you. you can find tons of beautiful 18" wheels.

    In my opinion, you sacrifice too much in performance and ride comfort going to a 19" wheel on the 355. It depends on what is most important to you and there are tons of guys on here with some beautiful cars with drop dead georgeous 19" wheels but if you want uncompromised performance with a great look, buy some beautiful 18's to your liking and lower the car to accommodate the look you want.

    Of course, this is my suggestion, it is your car.
     
  11. fatbillybob

    fatbillybob Two Time F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner

    Aug 10, 2002
    29,272
    socal
    Totally NOT true! Stoptech is better than ever. They have entered the marketplace as OEM supplier for some cars meaning they met all kinds of new requirements that they did not have to meet before. ST has expanded not really bought out. The founder Dino is still there. One of our own 355 owners is high in ST management too. They have superior quality control on all fronts even making their own brake lines to control the quality. You would be surprised to know what dot brake lines have to go through.

    When I raced my Z06 and had to race on stock brakes we cracked stock rotors every 3rd day, pads every 2 days,new calipers every year. When SCCA allowed big brakes, ST developed the SCCA T1 race break kit on my car not only on paper but took my car to the race track for their drivers to test before they completed the kit. Now it takes 3 race weekends to wear out pads on the most brake intensive tracks like daytona braking from 160mph or Autoclub speedway from 140mph to infield entry. Rotors last over 1 year of racing and I have never cracked one. It took 4 years before I had to rebuild caliper seals and I really did not have to do that. ST is a real racing brake system that works. Produce support is easy ,everything is available for instant delivery. ST made me SS braided lines for the marranello in 1 working day from their cache of existing data!

    For us Roth. Best thing is ST is only 15mins from Torrance! Read some of taz threads he used movit calipers and had ferrari silk screened in and they look factory gigantic ccm
     
  12. ///Mike

    ///Mike F1 Veteran

    Dec 11, 2003
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    I'm not sure how the sucky stock Z06 brakes factor into this discussion. I would expect better braking performance from *any* of the BBK makers. Having experience with a number of racing brake manufacturers, Stoptech is about mid-pack at best, although there are some instances where their bolt-on kits offer better performance than others for various reasons. Regardless, I cannot imagine a time when one of my cars will sport Stoptech brakes... unless they start giving them away for free.

    But each to his or her own. Just stating my own opinion based on many years of track experience.
     
  13. fatbillybob

    fatbillybob Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Me too. Racing since the 90s at national championship level but not winning one. Tracked for years before that. My friend is a brembo dealer. Even he got so so support from them with brembo bbk on his track nsx. Guess who he got to solve his problems? Me and I'm no pro. When I raced my ferrari had brembos and it was difficult to get a caliper rebuild kit out of brembo. In fact last rebuild kit I could not get from brembo but girodisc knew what I needed for the brembo calipers. If martin is still at girodisc he is very helpful.
    I call Stoptech for parts and they ask when can I pick them up!
     
  14. Jon Von Bon

    Jon Von Bon Formula 3
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    Gospel baby.

    I didn't think that you used brakes on the track!!!

    Race safe my friend.
     
  15. ///Mike

    ///Mike F1 Veteran

    Dec 11, 2003
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    It is true that Brembo rebuild kits are often very difficult to find. It is also true that Girodisc offers some great products-- I was skeptical at first but I have proven their discs firsthand on the track, so I'm a believer.

    It is very rare indeed to see Stoptech brakes on any highly prepared pro level car. As stated earlier, they are better than stock but a far cry from AP or Brembo. And anecdotal reports indicate that their consumables are no longer lasting as long as they used to. It's of no concern to me which brand anyone chooses, but if you think Stoptech is a "better" brand than Brembo you could not prove it by the brakes on the grid at LeMans.
     
  16. Jon Von Bon

    Jon Von Bon Formula 3
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    Agreed Mike.

    It is why my Apprilia RSV4 wears Brembo. It is basically a superbike (same engine and NOT detuned) which doesn't have a second rate part on it. I only put the best after market gear on my kits and its brembo for me.
     
  17. Roth

    Roth Formula Junior

    Apr 1, 2016
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    I must admit the knowledge and experience on this forum is amazing. Unlike the posers on the the bimmer forum, someone here is always willing to help. Anyhow, I don't race. I'm a weekend cruiser. Bettween 70 and 80mph on 5th gear is all I'll do. Why 5th? Cause it doesn't sound as good on the 6th at that speed.

    Fattybillybob, where is that place near me you're talking about. I like to check out their products. Thanks,
     
  18. SoCal1

    SoCal1 F1 Veteran
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    #18 SoCal1, Apr 9, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  19. plugzit

    plugzit F1 Veteran
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    Dec 1, 2004
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    I recently added a Brembo BBK to my street treecar and have enjoyed the feel, but haven't tracked the car yet, so can't give an opinion. I do like the look.
    19" wheels on 348/355s DO NOT like potholes. Ask me how I know.
     
  20. KingSteve

    KingSteve Karting

    Jan 16, 2015
    55
    Maranello
    Bigger brakes = extra weight and can mess up the ABS system, so as said before not always a good idea on a street car.
     
  21. F355Bob

    F355Bob Formula 3

    Bigger brakes are much lighter than stock. I have the Stoptech big brake kit front and rear and love it. It is much lighter than stock. I have tracked my car at Road America and they were great. Great on the street, no noise and you can use a parking brake. For what we use our cars for, which is not endurance racing, they are a big improvement over stock in looks and performance.
     
  22. KingSteve

    KingSteve Karting

    Jan 16, 2015
    55
    Maranello
    I'd like to see them side by side on the scale's, I guess it depends on the kit and size. I know the larger Brembros fitted to my GTR are heavier, but thats a totally deferent animal!
     
  23. ///Mike

    ///Mike F1 Veteran

    Dec 11, 2003
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    It's not uncommon to lose weight, or at least break even, with BBKs. However, the rotating weight is often higher due to heavier discs further outboard from the axis of rotation. On occasion that can be offset by lighter wheels/tires, but oftentimes bigger brakes are accompanied by heavier wheels/tires, so the net effect is much heavier rotational weight. Free lunches are not all that easy to come by. :)
     
  24. taz355

    taz355 F1 Veteran
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    Feb 18, 2008
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    I was going to buy a set of bigger brakes and other than the look. Am glad i did not. When tracking my car they were not needed. If i was racing and being competitive then i may need them, this was not really my goal.

    That being said though the big brakes do look awesome.
     
  25. ShineKen

    ShineKen Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Stoptech calipers + Girodisc rotors. Maintain e-brake. Stoptech calipers are also lighter than Brembo calipers. Maybe 4-5 lbs per corner.
     

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