Brake upgrade

[lotusstv]

I am thinking of a brake upgrade & there seem to be a few different options that are out there,

1. Baer
2. KVR from Reinhart
3. TCE

I do not know which package is the 'best' overall upgrade. Any thoughts?

LotusStv

[darebren]

personally, I'm waiting for someone to have a full front and rear kit.

Baer, has great front kit, but just rear rotor no rear caliper..
KVR has both front and rear rotors only
TCE is similar to Baer, front only.

rumor is that Wilwood has something too.

[Directedby]

I am also waiting for a full front and rear kit.

[Marauder57]

WHen you say full front and rear...do you mean Calipers included? That would be cool...

[TAF]

Originally posted by Directedby
I am also waiting for a full front and rear kit.

Although, I agree that a front and rear caliper kit would be nice...80%+ of your braking is at the front. Frankly, the only reason to upgrade the rear rotors is more of an aesthetic choice to match the fronts. All of the KB cars have the front Baer kit only and leave the stock rears. And...once you paint the rear calipers (I did black)...they virtually disappear.

[lotusstv]

Taf,

On your Baer upgrade what would you say the % increase in stoppng power is?

Lotusstv

[TAF]

Originally posted by lotusstv
Taf,

On your Baer upgrade what would you say the % increase in stoppng power is?

Lotusstv

Don't know...I've only driven her for about 10 miles home last night...but I can tell you...with mild pressure on the pedal...she'll throw you through the windsheild if you're not buckled...

[Marauderman]

Now that is what I call "squatting" power!!!

[SergntMac]

Don't forget the all important braided brake lines, controlling the brake pressure with consistency is half the job. Kenny Brown has a great kit, under 90 bucks too!

[TAF]

Originally posted by SergntMac
Don't forget the all important braided brake lines, controlling the brake pressure with consistency is half the job. Kenny Brown has a great kit, under 90 bucks too!

Yes sir...I've got 'em. (and forgot to mention them)

Thanks Mac!

[looking97233]

The TCE kit is nothing like the Baer kit. The Baer kit uses a floating caliper like OEM pistons on one side. This works just like your stock brakes.. the piston pushes the inside pad which contacts the rotor, then pulls the caliper to the inside until the outside pad makes contact with the rotor, then it starts to clamp.
The TCE kit is using Wildwood parts, it is a fixed caliper with pistons on both sides. It works by pushing in on both sides and the caliper stays put. This will provide much more stopping power and better control. However, getting them set just right upon install may require shimming and such. Also they will wear faster, there are many different pad compounds available though.

I don't mean to flame or attack anybody, so don't take it that way. Just wanted to point out they are totally different animals.

[GordonB]

More food for thought:
Question1: Are the Stock FRONT MM brakes bigger/better than the REARs? I believe that they are.
Question 2: Can we upgrade the rear to use the Stock Fronts?
Question 3: Does any vendor offer an IMPROVED Front/Rear Bias Spring for the Panther platform to force the Rears to do a little more work? Many have done this with the C5 Vette.
Then, add to this the Braided SS Brake Line upgrade and you have a really neat Low-Cost Mod that works very well.
GordonB.

[darebren]

TCE says their rear kit will be ready soon, using wilwood parts. they sound like 14 inchers.

[Todd TCE]

A follow up to clarify please:

The Front kit in 13.1" is all that is done at the moment.

The 14" Front kit WILL be worked on as soon as I have the new calipers from WW. The kit price will be SUBSTANTIALLY higher. I'd guess maybe $500 more or more. (not worth it in my mind but I'm the builder, not the buyer)

**And I repaet: They will NOT fit the stock wheel.

The Rear kits are being worked on as we speak. It's messy and time consuming. They are likely to be 12.2-12.5" and carry four piston calipers. There is no valid reason for the car to use 14s in the rear. I may be able to push it in my design to 13 but that's it.

Thanks for the info on comparing of the two kits as stated above. You are correct they are apples and oranges in many ways. Both good, but different criteria.

I might add that folks who are waiting around for any of the larger kits are really short changing themselves on 13s. The overall performance difference in the extra inch is about zip in the real world. Yes, they look nicer behind the wheels, after you buy the new ones, but for all but the serious track car you'll do fine with 13" rotors. I've done about 120 Impala SS kits over the years, nobody has called to say they need more rotor....

[RCSignals]

ToddTCE, so the current 13" kit will fit the stock wheels, but the 14" kit won't?

[Todd TCE]

That is correct sir.