[rcl4668]

Admin: Please move this post if it belongs in another forum like wheel/tire upgrades.

I am contemplating an upgrade to my Fiesta ST's brake system. Mountune used to sell a brake caliper/rotor upgrade that saved about 8 lb pe axle. Has anyone done any research on weight savings from upgrading to slotted/aluminum hat rotors for our cars?

I see that the big names (Stoptech, Brembo and Willwood) all offer brake line, rotor and caliper upgrades but has anyone actually compared the weight of the stock equipment to the upgraded equipment?

Also, does anyone have any thoughts or experience with any of these kits? Seems like you couldn't go wrong with any of the big three: I have previous positive experience with the Stoptech slotted Aerorotors on a Viper (they were actually the OEM supplier for the last-gen Viper ACR (2008-2009). When I was at the Ford Octane Academy I noticed they upgraded all of the Fiestas and Focuses (Focii?) with Willwood calipers and of course Brembo is Brembo.

Lastly, do certain kits not fit under the stock 17'' rims? I have a set of 17 x 7.5 Mountune Allegeritta rims that should fit most big brake kits but I have seen posts online about some of the above big brake kits not clearing the stock rims or needing a spacer. I have mounted winter tires on the stock 17'' rims and plan to swap them back on the car during the fall/winter.

Thanks for any advice you can share.

 

[Chuckable]

The Wilwood kit 2J Racing sells clears the stock wheels, and is several pounds lighter. I have the kit, and have no problems with it. The higher price of the Brembo and StopTech kits yields better designed brackets and calipers, but the increase in cost is just so much compared to the increased quality.

 

[rcl4668]

Thanks Chuckable! Is this the kit you mentioned:

http://www.2j-racing.com/wilwood-fiesta-brake-kit-2011.html

 

[rcl4668]

Also, it's nice that the page includes pictures of the OEM and Willwood componens on the scale. 11 lb weight savings. Very nice!

 

[Chuckable]

Thanks Chuckable! Is this the kit you mentioned:

http://www.2j-racing.com/wilwood-fiesta-brake-kit-2011.html

Yup, that's it! I'd probably buy from TCE Performance, though, and upgrade to the plain or slotted GT rotors if your car is going to see any track days - which it sounds like. Better pads than the BP10s or BP20s, too. Actually, there are better Wilwood calipers available if you plan to track the car heavily. That kit you linked should be fine for occasional track days. On the other forum a member also has this kit and got 5-6 track days out of the GT rotors before a crack developed.

 

[rcl4668]

Thanks. Is this the TCE page?

http://www.tceperformanceproducts.com/fiesta/kits-24/

I tend to lean toward the slotted only (non-cross drilled) rotors for street and HPDE. Cross drilled rotors make me nervous about premature cracking etc.

 

[Chuckable]

Yup, that's it! From everything I've read cross-drilled rotors tend to crack prematurely (though why do you often see them on Porsches, even track models?). Give Todd a call; he was super willing to speak to me when I called with some general questions. Hopefully you'll get the same treatment. And make sure to ask him about all the options, even the ones not on the website.

 

[rcl4668]

Great. Thank you!

 

[Max Archer]

Yup, that's it! From everything I've read cross-drilled rotors tend to crack prematurely (though why do you often see them on Porsches, even track models?). Give Todd a call; he was super willing to speak to me when I called with some general questions. Hopefully you'll get the same treatment. And make sure to ask him about all the options, even the ones not on the website.

I believe Porsche rotors are actually cast with the holes in them, instead of drilled.

 

[Chuckable]

I learned something new. Thanks!