Upgrading Discs

[AMR33]

Hey guys,

A bit of a query. If I was to replace stock skyline discs with after market items (cross drilled, slotted etc) but without upgrading anything else in the braking system (so calipers and lines remain stock but maybe get some better pads), would this actually prove to be beneficial or must the whole system be upgraded. I know that changing calipers etc is better but I just wanted to know whether changing discs on their own is worth while and will provide better braking.

cheers

[GTSBoy]

Does nothing. Unless the old discs are below minimum thickness, then it keeps the defect cops at bay (as well as working ever so slightly better).

[AMR33]

So calipers need to be changed as well. What about brake lines, can they remain stock?

[GTSBoy]

If you want big brakes, look at the group buy. $1800 up though.....

[LANDSCRIBBLE]

whats the car used for?

[AMR33]

whats the car used for?

Not sure mate but I guess the question applies accross the board. Is upgrading discs on their own worthwhile?

Doesnt seem so

[MrStabby]

Changing just rotors wouldn't make any noticeable difference. Cross drilled can crack in heavy use. In theory, slotted are better at removing the gases that the brake pads release making the surface contact better, but i cant say i can notice the difference.

[GTSBoy]

They (slots) are really just a marketting tool to make people use pads faster.

[LANDSCRIBBLE]

Not sure mate but I guess the question applies accross the board. Is upgrading discs on their own worthwhile?

Doesnt seem so

I may be wrong but alot of track cars dont tend to use the standard brake rotors.

Trackwork = Yeah a little bit.

Street driving = Nah.

[eightsixboy]

Upgrading to slotted discs and better pads will make a big difference,.

Slotted rotors are benificial on both on the street and track (more so on the track).

If your going to do rotors you need to do pads though, stock pads are rubbish, Im using TRW at the moment and they are a massive upgrade from stock, I'm still on the stock rotors though.

Theres no need to upgrade your calipers unless your doing alot of track work, the stock calipers are fine for 90% of people.

[luke gtr]

slotted rotors also chamfer the brake pad constantly, giving a nice fresh surface.

the slots, stop the build up of gases and such between the contact areas.

there isnt really a benefit to running them on the street unless you do a lot of mountain/twisty rd driving where you use the brakes alot.

as mentioned, better pads will make a decent difference.

fresh fluid will also help delay boiling.

ss lines stop flex.

all very little differences that add to a whole.

[dyl33]

Would there be a noticeable difference in stopping power going slotted dba's over standard rotors

I'm doing my brakes in the next week or so and am tossing up. If dba slotted rotors are worth it. Rotors aren't bigger and the calipers have the same clamp force so would it do anything

This is what I'm thinking

Option 1

DBA 4000 SLOTTED ROTORS

HEL BRAKE LINES

GOOD PADS

GOOD FLUID

Option 2

MACHINE OEM ROTORS

HEL BRAKE LINES

GOOD PADS

GOOD FLUID

Would buying dba rotors be worth the extra $600?

What do you guys think? car is mostly used on the street( in a controlled manner) with plans of a few track days in the future.

Also I was reading this http://honda-tech.com/showthread.php?t=1437513 I'm not sure it is from a Honda forum, but sorta makes sense. What do you reckon?

Give me your thoughts guys

[niZmO_Man]

Machine your current rotors if they have enough thickness. Replace once they're worn down.

[hardsteppa]

If you'e buying new discs, buy caliper adapters, run gtr discs = big difference. Best bang for buck upgrade IMO

[GTSBoy]

What he said^

Actually, what both of them said.

Edited May 23, 2014 by GTSBoy

[dyl33]

Thanks guys

If you'e buying new discs, buy caliper adapters, run gtr discs = big difference. Best bang for buck upgrade IMO

Very interested in this idea. Where do you get the adapters from? Is it easy to install I plan on doing this by myself.

[GTSBoy]

Are you prepared to grind metal away from your caliper?

[dyl33]

No not really.

[hardsteppa]

hahah knew that would come up

they're still going strong though, the metal removed makes no difference and solid as a rock. They're still left with more meat than lightweight racing calipers (more than my Wilwoods anyway)

GK Tech sell the caliper adapters, easy enough to do.

[GTSBoy]

Most of the adapter brackets that have been done for R33 calipers onto 324mm rotors require grinding the caliper to make it sit down on the disc better. Otherwise the pads overhang the edge of the rotor, which is not nice.

Some people on here are fine with that. I'm not so much. Hence why I haven't done it.

By the way, if this is mostly a street car, you won't really notice much benefit from bigger discs anyway. You can already lock your wheels up with what you have, therefore you cannot actually brake harder than you can now. All that bigger rotors give you is a change in bias, extra mass in the rotor so they resist fade under continuous hard braking (like track work), more braking torque per unit of pedal pressure (so they feel like you can brake harder, but as per previous mention, you can't really) and the small potential for a defect if they're not engineered and they're found during an inspection.

For a streeter, new rotors, better pads, good fluid, braided lines and a master cylinder stopper are sufficient to make a big difference in real performance and feel. You still can't actually brake any harder unless the original brakes are in such poor condition that you can't lock it up.