What's the best brake setup to go with if your car is making upwards of 350-450 HP. Think the NX setup can handle this type of power if need be, cause I know the stock classic can't.

With good pads, fluid, and tires, I'm sure the NX brakes could handle just about anything. They're really thick and have nice big calipers. I cooked my stock brakes with brand new (street, bad idea) pads in about 15 roadcourse laps. Down to the backing plates. Cracked the rotors.

I'll let everyone know how the NX brakes with race pads do in a couple of months. :p

For that kind of power, I do not suggest any type of stock brake set up on the fronts.. I would do a Big Brake Upgrade from Wilwood.

Most definately worth $1000 for the complete 4 Piston Calipers and the 13" Rotors (Slotted, Crossdrilled, or both) for the fronts. Fronts need 16 inch wheels, or they do fit inside of 15" VOLK Racing TE37's.

Then, upgrade the Master Cylinder with an Altima MC, and use Maxima Rear Brake Claipers and Rotors.

That's a complete big brake upgrade.

Mike
:D

You only need more than NX brakes if you are going to be stopping from 125+mph several times in a row.

Remember larger brakes do not stop you quicker. They do, however, have a much larger heat capacity to allow you to stop from higher speeds many times without fade. That's the only reason you would need big-ass brakes.

Originally posted by UNCOMMON_SR20DE
For that kind of power, I do not suggest any type of stock brake set up on the fronts.. I would do a Big Brake Upgrade from Wilwood.

Most definately worth $1000 for the complete 4 Piston Calipers and the 13" Rotors (Slotted, Crossdrilled, or both) for the fronts. Fronts need 16 inch wheels, or they do fit inside of 15" VOLK Racing TE37's.

Then, upgrade the Master Cylinder with an Altima MC, and use Maxima Rear Brake Claipers and Rotors.

That's a complete big brake upgrade.

Mike
:D
Or you could just buy the BABK for the front and back like Russel did. Sure you might have to sell some vital organs to afford it but MAN, I've never seen such a nice setup.

Originally posted by Matt4Nissan

Or you could just buy the BABK for the front and back like Russel did. Sure you might have to sell some vital organs to afford it but MAN, I've never seen such a nice setup.

Waste of money for nice-looking brakes that won't stop you any quicker or better 99.9% of the time they're on the car, IMHO. Read Matt's reply, above.

But if you've just got to blow $1,000, then by all means, go for it.

Originally posted by SERprise In WV


Waste of money for nice-looking brakes that won't stop you any quicker or better 99.9% of the time they're on the car, IMHO. Read Matt's reply, above.

But if you've just got to blow $1,000, then by all means, go for it.
Yeah I agree, and just for the record. I believe the front and rear BABK is like $2500

That's what I'm talking about Matt, A friend of mine did a run a little after first installing the turbo system, Im not exactly sure how fast I was going because I was driving one day and my speedo cable came loose, and the speed indicator fell out. Well needless to say when it came time to stop it wasn't working like I had expected, it took a real long time and Im sure my brakes were glowing when I was done. So I do need some brakes that will have greater heat dicipation so I can stop sooner and not later wind up in the Hay barrels at the end of the track or at carlsbad against a mountain :D


Originally posted by MaddMatt
You only need more than NX brakes if you are going to be stopping from 125+mph several times in a row.

Remember larger brakes do not stop you quicker. They do, however, have a much larger heat capacity to allow you to stop from higher speeds many times without fade. That's the only reason you would need big-ass brakes.

Originally posted by MaddMatt
You only need more than NX brakes if you are going to be stopping from 125+mph several times in a row.

Remember larger brakes do not stop you quicker. They do, however, have a much larger heat capacity to allow you to stop from higher speeds many times without fade. That's the only reason you would need big-ass brakes.

I bet they will, especially from high speed. There is a weird belief that if you can lock up your brakes you have all the brakes you need. Monkey poo.

For one thing the larger rotors will allow you much better modulation, and that will make it much easier to stay at the braking threshold limit. For another thing, at high speed, the larger rotors and 4-piston calipers will heat up less in a single stop, making them more effective.

But, if you want to keep justifying smaller brakes in your own mind so you don't have to spend money to upgrade them with the rest of the car, go ahead. It's your life.

Mike, with a little research you can make your own BABK using off-the-shelf components. You will have to drill the hats and fab an adapter bracket. That stuff isn't hard. Oh, and you might have to assemble new front SS lines (you do at least has SS lines don't you?).

I bet they will, especially from high speed. There is a weird belief that if you can lock up your brakes you have all the brakes you need. Monkey poo.


Sure, if you have ass brake pads that fade after one moderate stop. But, my Classic with stock brakes and Carbotech Panther pads stop my car in the exact same distance as it does with NX brakes and Carbotech Panther pads. I cannot stop any faster. Period. End of story.

With the NX brakes, however, I haven't cracked any rotors like I did with the stock brakes. And my $130 pads last more than 1 weekend like they did with the stock brakes.

Thermal management. That's the reason for big brakes.

I would bet the deed to my house that someone with the BABK will not out brake me provided our cars are the same weight with the same tires. And Grassroots Motorsports already proved it with their project Miata.

So I do need some brakes that will have greater heat dicipation so I can stop sooner and not later wind up in the Hay barrels at the end of the track or at carlsbad against a mountain

If you actually do track events and plan on seeing 140+ mph going into the braking zones, then you have my blessing for a BABK. And you're the first, perhaps the last.

Originally posted by MaddMatt
If you actually do track events and plan on seeing 140+ mph going into the braking zones, then you have my blessing for a BABK. And you're the first, perhaps the last.

I actually race an SCCA ITS car and per the rules we have to run stock calipers and rotors. :( A BABK would be nice coming off the banked front straight at TWS at 125+ mph and diving into the second turn hard on the brakes (turn one is just flat out).

Originally posted by MaddMatt
Thermal management. That's the reason for big brakes.


It's a major reason, but certainly not the only reason. The larger diameter or the rotor will make it easier to modulate and keep the braking at the threshold.

Originally posted by MaddMatt
I would bet the deed to my house that someone with the BABK will not out brake me provided our cars are the same weight with the same tires. And Grassroots Motorsports already proved it with their project Miata.

Interesting. What issue and what speeds were they braking from? I'd love to read that article.

I think the main thing we need to keep in mind in this discussion about brakes is that the majority of the cars owned by folks on this Forum are street-duty only.

Not ITS cars, or even track whores like Matt's car is.

Most are like my '93: I autocross 16+ times a year, I drag race 20+ times a year (on a track, thank you), and once a year I race on a private road course owned by the local mega-rich Porsche freak engineer.

I found the limit of pedestrian brake fluid and Auto Zone semi-metallic pads the first time I hit that road course. 5 laps. This includes one turn that is 95mph down to 20mph (hard), then turning 120-degrees right. That turn comes up every 1.5 minutes when doing laps. My car will never see conditions like that 99.5% of the time I am behind the wheel.

The solution? Some quality fluid and some quality pads did the trick.

Point? I do not see repeated stops from 120mph+ on mulitple occasions, back-to-back, with no cool down inbetween. If your car sees that kind of duty on the street, you've got bigger fish to fry than buying a BABK, like how to get bailed out of jail, etc. :)

Street Car: Get good pads, good fluid, and good lines. The most important component? Good tires. They stop the car, as Matt said.
Track Car: Upgrade to the NX2K brakes, good pads, good fluid, and good lines. It is presumed you'll already have good tires if you drive on a roadcourse that much.

That's my point and I'm sticking to it. Along with Matt. :p

-GP-

George,

Give me some search tips on where to look for doing this type of stuff, one problem is the biggest/smallest rim I will ever run are gonna be the Rota slipstreams so Im limited to that. But the HP on my car is increasing as we speak and I dont want to wind up splattered at the other end of the track cause I couldnt stop, I lagged hard core on my suspension and Braking system, but I am making up for that now. I have the GCs coming and working on the rest of the suspension setup while Im finding out what to do about braking, and No Geo I don't have SS lines cause I was a cheap bastard and only cared about the engine :( Not for long though bro. This game is getting hot and Im not gonna be left behind in the dust.

It's a major reason, but certainly not the only reason. The larger diameter or the rotor will make it easier to modulate and keep the braking at the threshold.


Yes it will, I totally agree. But like Serprise said, the vast majority of people getting these big brake kits will never see the track. And if they plan on seeing triple digit speeds on the street, they really need to save their money for bail, lawyers fees, and insurance hikes. And the vast majority of these drivers wouldn't know what modulation means. :)

But it sounds like PSSSHHHGOESMYSR20 is making good boost AND will be at the track. 2 thumbs up. So, in that case, he's got my blessing for a BABK. I honestly don't know if the NX brakes would be up to the challenge. I suspect they might be OK, but it's better safe than sorry in that area.

Originally posted by MaddMatt
Yes it will, I totally agree. But like Serprise said, the vast majority of people getting these big brake kits will never see the track. And if they plan on seeing triple digit speeds on the street, they really need to save their money for bail, lawyers fees, and insurance hikes. And the vast majority of these drivers wouldn't know what modulation means. :)

See! We can agree!! I'm in total agreement with what you just said. Folks shouldn't be seeing triple digit speeds on the street, or certainly not very often. I've been known to do 90 on the way to work in the morning, but believe it or not, that is just flowing with traffic in the fast lane here (I'm serious).

Originally posted by MaddMatt
But it sounds like PSSSHHHGOESMYSR20 is making good boost AND will be at the track. 2 thumbs up. So, in that case, he's got my blessing for a BABK. I honestly don't know if the NX brakes would be up to the challenge. I suspect they might be OK, but it's better safe than sorry in that area.

Again we are in agreement. I was responding to Mike's questions and know he has a stupid fast turbo set-up and is looking to upgrade the car to match the performance of the engine. Good move I think.

I completely agree that the NX brakes should be adequate for almost all street use.

When I read than he was turbo and going more boost, I mistakenly assumed he was a drag racer, since I've never actually heard of ANYONE taking a turbo Sentra to a road course. So, that was the reasoning behind my initial "don't waste you're money" stance.

Originally posted by PSSSHHHGOESMYSR20
George,

Give me some search tips on where to look for doing this type of stuff, one problem is the biggest/smallest rim I will ever run are gonna be the Rota slipstreams so Im limited to that. But the HP on my car is increasing as we speak and I dont want to wind up splattered at the other end of the track cause I couldnt stop, I lagged hard core on my suspension and Braking system, but I am making up for that now. I have the GCs coming and working on the rest of the suspension setup while Im finding out what to do about braking, and No Geo I don't have SS lines cause I was a cheap bastard and only cared about the engine :( Not for long though bro. This game is getting hot and Im not gonna be left behind in the dust.

No sweat Mike. Send me an e-mail <geo31@earthlink.net>.

I was talking with someone else about 2-3 years ago about building a DIY BABK. It's surprisingly cheap (cheap is always relative when talking about modding cars). I think you have access to some fabrication facilities, so it should be absolutely no sweat for you to put this together. The fabrication required is pretty minor.

I didn't know that the hardcore mailing list guys actually cruised the board. Nice to see ya, George, Mike J... it's nice to see really knowledgable people cruise around (I'm not saying that everyone on the board isn't smart, so don't flame me, please).