Wilwod calipers.
#1
Race Director
Thread Starter
Wilwod calipers.
Do I need these. I was looking at them on E bay and was thinking of getting them. I need calipers for my car Are they worth the difference.
i am not racing this car at all it is just a street car..with a 502.
i am not racing this car at all it is just a street car..with a 502.
#2
After fighting with leaking calipers I got some. No issues and save a ton of weight.
#3
The leak problem I faced is with track heating the seals failed much quicker than they would with normal street driving.
Last edited by cagotzmann; 01-04-2018 at 07:54 PM.
#4
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only if you want to spend more money
#5
Le Mans Master
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This is a test by forum member Jim-AKA "427Hotrod"
Wilwood vs Originals
Here's the numbers- not perfectly scientific...
STOCK Calipers-
•151 ft., 2 in. - Nice quick stop to get an idea of how hard I could push it on that surface.
•123 ft., 7 in. - Worked it much harder. No brake lockup or drama.
•118 ft., 3 in. - Back to back. Now I knew I could work it harder.
•109 ft., 5 in. - Hit it hard and kept it right on the edge of lockup. Never could repeat it.
•135 ft., 1 in. - Real hard and locked up front wheels early and rears near the end.
•111 ft., 4 in. - Very similar to test four.
•113 ft., 2 in. - Another good one!
Wilwood-D8-6 and D8-4 calipers
•130 ft., 9 in. - Good feel but sliding at the end.
•129 ft., 6 in. - Nearly identical.
•115 ft., 5 in. - Finding the “sweet spot”.
•109 ft., 4 in. - Maybe the pads are getting “bedded”?
•107 ft., 8 in. - Bang! Best ever!
•109 ft., 11 in. - Still working great!
•109 ft., 3 in. - Did it again!
Wilwood vs Originals
Here's the numbers- not perfectly scientific...
STOCK Calipers-
•151 ft., 2 in. - Nice quick stop to get an idea of how hard I could push it on that surface.
•123 ft., 7 in. - Worked it much harder. No brake lockup or drama.
•118 ft., 3 in. - Back to back. Now I knew I could work it harder.
•109 ft., 5 in. - Hit it hard and kept it right on the edge of lockup. Never could repeat it.
•135 ft., 1 in. - Real hard and locked up front wheels early and rears near the end.
•111 ft., 4 in. - Very similar to test four.
•113 ft., 2 in. - Another good one!
Wilwood-D8-6 and D8-4 calipers
•130 ft., 9 in. - Good feel but sliding at the end.
•129 ft., 6 in. - Nearly identical.
•115 ft., 5 in. - Finding the “sweet spot”.
•109 ft., 4 in. - Maybe the pads are getting “bedded”?
•107 ft., 8 in. - Bang! Best ever!
•109 ft., 11 in. - Still working great!
•109 ft., 3 in. - Did it again!
#6
I like the Willwoods. Lighter and new. Nothing not to like there.
#9
#10
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#11
That was not my experience.
Every season I would discover a leak. I bought rebuilt calipers and also I rebuild calipers and every season there would be a new leak.
If time is money and throwing away brake pads soaked in fluid is money and the $50-150 I spent in parts every year fixing the leak is money, then the last 4 years of leak free (and far lighter) Wilwood calipers have been priceless to me.
Last edited by Dynra Rockets; 01-05-2018 at 08:20 AM.
#12
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That was not my experience.
Every season I would discover a leak. I bought rebuilt calipers and also I rebuild calipers and every season there would be a new leak.
If time is money and throwing away brake pads soaked in fluid is money and the $50-150 I spent in parts every year fixing the leak is money, then the last 4 years of leak free (and far lighter) Wilwood calipers have been priceless to me.
Every season I would discover a leak. I bought rebuilt calipers and also I rebuild calipers and every season there would be a new leak.
If time is money and throwing away brake pads soaked in fluid is money and the $50-150 I spent in parts every year fixing the leak is money, then the last 4 years of leak free (and far lighter) Wilwood calipers have been priceless to me.
#13
Le Mans Master
I received a pair of D8-4 calipers for Xmas. I purchased some cross drilled and slotted rotors. I haven't gotten around to replacing all of this yet due to my recent back surgery.
I have the lip seal calipers on the car now. I can't keep the pesky brake light off for more than about 6 months. I can only assume that I'm sucking air due to the lip seal calipers or rotor runout.
If they don't stop any better at least they save weight and look damn good.
I have the lip seal calipers on the car now. I can't keep the pesky brake light off for more than about 6 months. I can only assume that I'm sucking air due to the lip seal calipers or rotor runout.
If they don't stop any better at least they save weight and look damn good.
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Dynra Rockets (01-05-2018)
#14
Le Mans Master
Unless you want your original calipers to remain with the car, I found the Autozone rebuilt Delco calipers to work just fine.
Save your receipt and if there is ever a problem they will exchange it for free for life. No shipping, a new one is 10 minutes away.
My BB car brakes fine with them.
Save your receipt and if there is ever a problem they will exchange it for free for life. No shipping, a new one is 10 minutes away.
My BB car brakes fine with them.
#15
Former Vendor
Lighter, direct replacement, same D8 pads, choice of clear, red or black, ss hose kits....what's not to like? While not as popular a seller as our big brake kits for the later cars they still do a fantastic job of filling the needs for those with C2/C3 cars.
Sold in full cars sets for a competitive price. D8 CALIPER KITS
Sold in full cars sets for a competitive price. D8 CALIPER KITS
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Todd TCE (01-05-2018)
#17
Safety Car
I got them on front/rear on my C2 (Same brakes)
OP question "Do I need these?" NO probably not unless you race.
BUT they sure look GOOOOOD
George
OP question "Do I need these?" NO probably not unless you race.
BUT they sure look GOOOOOD
George
#19
Burning Brakes
Do you 'want' them? Well, they are a marginal upgrade to stock as far as braking performance. Some people seem to have trouble with leaking stock calipers so if you fall into that camp, it may make sense.
Or if you are one of those fortunate folks who has more money than they know what to do with, I say 'why not'?
In my personal opinion, if you are purely a street driver they are a waste of $ that could be better spent elsewhere. I rebuilt and refinished my stock calipers for about $26 for all 4 of them, plus about $5 in powder to powder coat them. For $31 they can literally fail every single year and I would be dead before I got a return on the investment of buying the Wilwood stuff.
Last edited by PainfullySlow; 01-05-2018 at 07:21 PM.