steve s

anyway, phattbam, just get them . all u need is bigger wheels to have clearance (just so u know, u'd have harder time finding proper winter tires and cables that'll fit)

SoCal240/6

You raise an interesting point, but:

1) It is really only relevant in theory, at least as applies to most buyers of "big brakes." Because your point is really only applicable to emergency stops, where you are trying to get from, say, 60 to 0 in the shortest distance. Most buyers of big brakes don't buy for that reason, but buy because they think their car will stop "harder" with bigger brakes. In other words, its not the .0001 second when the brakes are first slammed on in a panic situation that people are really concerned about, and that is the only time period relevant to your point. People buy big brakes because they (erroneously) believe they will stop shorter and harder in everyday, hard street driving - you obviously understand the issues here and I'm sure you will agree that those people are wrong.

2) I highly doubt there would be any difference in the initial panic application, first .0001 seconds. All modern brakes are incredibly strong, and when a car is moving quickly, it doesn't take much, when you slam on the brakes, to get the wheels to break traction and start skidding - I've done it lots of times on the track with non-ABS cars, and at speed takes a lot less force than one might think. I think the 1500 hp / 1000 hp analogy is a good one and applicable in this instance.

Nevertheless, your point deserves kudos because it is the only one in this entire, lengthy thread that at least puts forth a plausible theory as to why bigger brakes might decrease stopping distance. Its one of the few sensible ones amongst a forest of nonsense.

steve s

one thing is really true, i get much less brake fade in the 13" brembos than stock


food (brakes) for thought...c/d tests 70-0 mph braking distance:
toyota rav4: 163 ft
ferrari 380 modena f1: 175 mph

wow...so toyota rav4 brakes are better than ferrari brakes right?? :p

JustinTRW

Thanks SoCal. I'm just glad that there are people on this board who have solid understanding of automobiles and how to manipulate them. I enjoyed this debate throughly to be honest. It really solidified my understanding. I'm also reminded of last night where I was going rather quickly and had to slow down hard on a downhill right hand bend. Everyone should know about weight transfer and how it affects you! Love this stuff!

Back on topic...you are right about the "on street" performance of big brake kits. If someone enjoyed tracking their car often, I could certainly see why they would want bigger brakes. My Honda Accord saw duty around Palomar Mountain. I was 100% satisfied with the braking distances, but not towards the end of the run. My fluid had boiled causing dramatic fade after coming down the mountain HARD, which made it difficult to keep the car still on downhill slopes when I was done. A cool down period would have helped. Heavy shuttering was the product of either warping or uneven pad wear onto the rotor. These are not MB brakes of course, but if this sounds like you after a day on the track get some motul...a just maybe a big brake kit is worth it to you.

steve s

cross-drilled rotors...they need to be set properly other wise they crack...one aftermarket company stopped selling them and switched to slotted rotors because customers complained the cross-drilled rotors cracked (due to inadequate setting)...

pocholin

8-2-2002 11:22AM vadim wrote: No, that's not my car, but it's a MB. I just keep this photo to scare others who believe that cross-drilled rotors are the next best thing after sliced bread. I've heard of things like this happen to them from more than one person.

8-2-2002 10:28AM vadim wrote: [I]Take a look at this first[I]

vadim

I'm deeply touched by your quoting me. Yet I'm STILL not saying that this happens to all cross-drilled rotors. Chances are, it might happen, as happened to that person. On the other hand, I've never heard of anything like that happen to solid rotors.

Mach430

Rotors cracking is not dependant on the rotors being cross-drilled, but HOW they are cross-drilled. There is a lot more to cross-drilling a rotor than simply drilling holes in it. This is why you want to only use quality cross-drilled rotors such as Brembo. And never buy rotors that are drilled by local shops. The first sign of a rotor being poorly drilled is if you can see through the holes (out the other side). The holes are NOT supposed to line up on both sides. The second sign is whether they vein has been compromised by incorrectly drilling near/through it. This is very common when companies take Brembo blanks and drill them. Lastly, whether or not the holes are chamferd properly (rounding the edges, rather than leaving sharp corners) will ultimately make the difference in whether your rotors will crack.

Mach430

There seems to be a lot of confusion in this thread, which I hope to clear up.

Big Brake kits, designed properly, WILL make your car stop MUCH BETTER thoughout all aspects of braking. I said that even on normal braking, I noticed myself having to adjust 10 ft back from where I intended on stopping because I was already almost stopped. This is normal braking. I have also found myself behind cars while going 100 mph, and having to slam on the brakes. My car stops VERY QUICKLY. Stock brakes are good, but are nothing close to a Brembo Big Brake kit. The C32 brakes are better than the other C class brakes. Not just in terms of brake fade, but in all aspects of braking. This does not mean that the stock brakes are poor, but there is MUCH to be gained. Why not go and test drive one and find out?

steve s

here is something from another moderator on another forum...



http://www.volvospeed.com/vs_forum/i...=ST&f=2&t=2468

xc240x

Hey guys what's up? I found out that www.tfoperformance.com has a big brake upgrade for the c-class. It's made by hp racing... it runs about $2300... i thought i'd post a pic of them... i saw them on an audi the other day and they're beautiful... steel braided lines, 6 piston calipers, and 13" slotted and crossdrilled rotors. If anyone's interested just go to their website and call their 800 number, ask for henry. i'm not advertising, i'm just letting people know what's available and where to get it... here's a pic of more or less what it would look like

c230_2k2

Hmmmm interesting...how come it seems like its for a 4 lug wheel hub?

xc240x

it's just a pic of what it would look like more or less... you also have the choice of either blue, red, or silver i believe

fernrod

silver, the color on the rotor is ugly, i would never put it on my car, unless its silver

Mr. Xristo

those holes sure are drilled close together. I would do some research on them first!!!

Some dorks think they can cross-drill any rotors, and all will be well.. little do they know...

phattbam

i looked into the AMG factory setup from the C32. from what the parts lady told me. rotors(front/rear), calipers(front/rear), and pads(front/rear) would run about $1600 USD. i'm going to stop by my dealership again today to get actual part numbers. also the diameter of the brembo big brake kit compared to the AMG's is smaller. the brembos are 332 vs. AMG 345.. somewhere around there.. price for brembos' $3300USD vs. ~$1600 USD AMG...

for those who have done this conversion was it a direct replacement of the parts listed above???

vinmanc32

Someone on another forum removed the caliper and on the back it said Brembo. I guess they make this brake system specifically for AMG.

Lynn

On the Kleemann page they show their 332mm rotor brakes as requiring 18" wheels. The C32 has 17" wheels and 345mm is 13.58". That doesn't seem like the 345mm brakes will fit under the 17" wheels. Can you confirm the size of the AMG rotors?

EDIT: Forget the above. I just found an article which confirms the front rotors as being 345mm. http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/S...50/w203c32.htm

Boo2

Just remember that we only have cross-drilled floating rotors in the front. The rear rotors are only floating 11.5" discs.

JustinTRW

Those brakes look terrible. The caliper is ridiculous. JMHO. I agree with SL55, be mindful of what you are actually getting.

Oh, and the C32 front brakes are awsome

Mach430

The C32, SL, S, CL, new E55, and new CLK55 calipers are all Brembo-made. They are not the same as the Ferrari F50 caliper, however they still are good 4-piston calipers. Brembo makes many OEM calipers and rotors for different automobiles.

peet

All I have to say is...

HP RACING .. WHO?

I thought HP made printers?!

If you want aftermarket big... AP, Brembo, and a few other respectable brands that will cost a similar amount.

Ok I have to say one more thing..

How about a detailed set of info on fitting the C32 brakes onto our 'cheap' cars??

P

phattbam

i dont think my car was cheap. i just didnt have the patience to wait any longer for the c32. and for others MB's are not cheap.. they are on the pricier side. if you opted for the coupe maybe it was because that was the only MB with the 6spd other than the slk? some like 2dr more than 4. just my thoughts...

phattbam

you meant 345 instead right?? i'm also running 18's so i'll have some extra clearance...

Lynn

Yes, I did. The typo is corrected.