Let's talk brake performance
Thread Starter
Navigator
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 9
Likes: 7
From: Mt. Sterling, KY
Let's talk brake performance
I am building a 72 performance street car that will be auto-x regularly. The factory brakes are shot so they will need replaced regardless. I'm looking at the Wilwoods replacements for the weight saving with stock rotor size. However, I see so many people running the Wilwoods Big Brake kits. Is there any real world stopping advantages? If the pads and pistons are the same size is there any additional clamping force?
I'm not a fan of power brakes on a track car. I plan on running manual brakes with a Wilwood set up.
Educate me on brakes. Thanks...
I'm not a fan of power brakes on a track car. I plan on running manual brakes with a Wilwood set up.
Educate me on brakes. Thanks...
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,868
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From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
The tires determine your ultimate braking performance. All the different caliper, rotor, and pad sizes determine the foot effort it takes to stop the car, the balance while braking, and also the longevity of the pads and rotors.
That's the basic highlights.
That's the basic highlights.
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
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From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
My Harley for example: I replaced the OEM rear tire with a 200 Series tire (the equivalent of replacing 195 Series rear tires with 295 Series tires on a Corvette).
I HAD to increase the rear caliper braking power by 50% to stop in the same braking distance.
Thread Starter
Navigator
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 9
Likes: 7
From: Mt. Sterling, KY
My plan is to run a 18" 315 tire with 200 treadwear on all 4 corners or something very similar.
I don't understand how a bigger rotor provides more braking ability if the pads and pistons have the same surface area as stock. I understand it would have more heat dissipation, but not braking force.
Any insight on this?
I don't understand how a bigger rotor provides more braking ability if the pads and pistons have the same surface area as stock. I understand it would have more heat dissipation, but not braking force.
Any insight on this?
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 1,355
Likes: 635
From: St. Louis
For autox, a larger rotor will not necessarily provide more stopping power. If the existing brakes are capable of locking up the tires, they have as much brake torque as you can use. Changing brake rotor diameter will change brake bias between front and rear brakes. If changing rotor sizes results in better brake bias, it could improve stopping power. Maximum stopping power (as long as the brakes have sufficient torque to lock up the tires) is dependent on only two things. Most important is tire grip. And the other thing is brake bias.
As far as real world stopping power, there is also the factor of modulation. A good setup for autox needs good modulation so you can easily threshold brake. You do not want grabby / ON-OFF overly sensitive brakes.
As far as real world stopping power, there is also the factor of modulation. A good setup for autox needs good modulation so you can easily threshold brake. You do not want grabby / ON-OFF overly sensitive brakes.
