After Market Front Brakes

Chad E532 · 10-14-2010, 02:05 PM

I am looking to upgrade to Wilwood disc brakes front and rear along with removing all of the stock power brake components from my 77 Camaro this winter. The car is being setup as an I/SA car which will end up weighing around 3500lbs. I would like to save as much weight as possible in this swap but have run into a quandary.
The thin plate style rotors are rated to 2800lbs in a four wheel disc system and the heavier vented rotors are correctly rated for my weight and recommended by Wilwood for my application. I would save 2.7 lbs per rotor by running the plate style but I am wondering if the car will still stop okay.
My guess is that the brake manufacturers have a fair amount of safety factor built into their weight ratings.
Anyone else out there running the thin rotors on a heavy car?

GTX JOHN · 10-15-2010, 05:28 AM

We run thin rotor on front of all our stockers.... some as heavy as 3650 without a problem. We run stock style drums on rears. Just my opinion...don't sue me if you end up in sand!

KingReptile · 10-15-2010, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTX JOHN

We run thin rotor on front of all our stockers.... some as heavy as 3650 without a problem. We run stock style drums on rears. Just my opinion...don't sue me if you end up in sand!

What brand do you run John??

danny waters sr · 10-15-2010, 08:38 AM

I have them ( Willwood ) on my 3100 lb 66 nova. It don't run but 12.20;s @ 107 mph... Had them on for 2 years now with no issues. Will stop on a dime and give you ten cents in change.. I am very satisfied with mine .

Chad E532 · 10-15-2010, 01:24 PM

I am thinking I should not have a problem since the car turns 11.40's @ 115 mph as a bracket car. If I had a 135mph 3500lb car it would be a different story and the vented rotors would be necessary. Brake manufactures probably run a 2x safety factor on their math for liability reasons.

Thank you all for the replies.

Chad

GTX JOHN · 10-15-2010, 06:35 PM

Wilwood on everything...don,t think they are better but they Are Cheaper.

rallye bob · 10-17-2010, 10:48 AM

I run them (Aerospace) on the front (drums on the rear) of my 3500 lb. 10.35 @ 127 mph, '70 Olds, Cutlass. I say I am on the "ragged edge" with this set up. I will go with disc, on the rear next.

Doug Domm · 10-17-2010, 06:45 PM

Is there any differance in braking or holding power for foot braking with drilled versus undrilled rotors?

Chad E532 · 10-20-2010, 12:44 PM

I am curious as well if the drilled rotors are necessary for this type of application. I have asked Wilwood tech to get their opinion.
Anyone else have a good reason either way on whether to run drill rotors or solid?
Thanks,
Chad

Bob Verwold · 10-20-2010, 01:07 PM

It's my understanding that the drilled rotors let the gasses escape for better breaking.
I'm running a 3100 lb Nova with Wilwood on 4 corners (the thin ones) going on 7 or 8 years and have never had a problem, but I don't slam on the breaks at the finish line...

10-14-2010, 02:05 PM	#1
Chad E532 Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Lindstrom MN Posts: 156 Likes: 7 Liked 54 Times in 7 Posts	After Market Front Brakes I am looking to upgrade to Wilwood disc brakes front and rear along with removing all of the stock power brake components from my 77 Camaro this winter. The car is being setup as an I/SA car which will end up weighing around 3500lbs. I would like to save as much weight as possible in this swap but have run into a quandary. The thin plate style rotors are rated to 2800lbs in a four wheel disc system and the heavier vented rotors are correctly rated for my weight and recommended by Wilwood for my application. I would save 2.7 lbs per rotor by running the plate style but I am wondering if the car will still stop okay. My guess is that the brake manufacturers have a fair amount of safety factor built into their weight ratings. Anyone else out there running the thin rotors on a heavy car?

10-15-2010, 05:28 AM	#2
GTX JOHN VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Boulder City, Nevada 89005 Posts: 2,720 Likes: 2,770 Liked 2,437 Times in 688 Posts	Re: After Market Front Brakes We run thin rotor on front of all our stockers.... some as heavy as 3650 without a problem. We run stock style drums on rears. Just my opinion...don't sue me if you end up in sand!

10-15-2010, 08:38 AM	#4
danny waters sr VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: lagrange,nc Posts: 2,224 Likes: 1 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: After Market Front Brakes I have them ( Willwood ) on my 3100 lb 66 nova. It don't run but 12.20;s @ 107 mph... Had them on for 2 years now with no issues. Will stop on a dime and give you ten cents in change.. I am very satisfied with mine . __________________ Danny Waters, Sr / 73 Duster "340"

10-15-2010, 01:24 PM	#5
Chad E532 Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Lindstrom MN Posts: 156 Likes: 7 Liked 54 Times in 7 Posts	Re: After Market Front Brakes I am thinking I should not have a problem since the car turns 11.40's @ 115 mph as a bracket car. If I had a 135mph 3500lb car it would be a different story and the vented rotors would be necessary. Brake manufactures probably run a 2x safety factor on their math for liability reasons. Thank you all for the replies. Chad

10-15-2010, 06:35 PM	#6
GTX JOHN VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Boulder City, Nevada 89005 Posts: 2,720 Likes: 2,770 Liked 2,437 Times in 688 Posts	Re: After Market Front Brakes Wilwood on everything...don,t think they are better but they Are Cheaper.

10-17-2010, 10:48 AM	#7
rallye bob Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Genoa, Illinois Posts: 488 Likes: 9 Liked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Re: After Market Front Brakes I run them (Aerospace) on the front (drums on the rear) of my 3500 lb. 10.35 @ 127 mph, '70 Olds, Cutlass. I say I am on the "ragged edge" with this set up. I will go with disc, on the rear next.

10-17-2010, 06:45 PM	#8
Doug Domm Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: canada Posts: 251 Likes: 28 Liked 84 Times in 21 Posts	Re: After Market Front Brakes Is there any differance in braking or holding power for foot braking with drilled versus undrilled rotors?

10-20-2010, 12:44 PM	#9
Chad E532 Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Lindstrom MN Posts: 156 Likes: 7 Liked 54 Times in 7 Posts	Re: After Market Front Brakes I am curious as well if the drilled rotors are necessary for this type of application. I have asked Wilwood tech to get their opinion. Anyone else have a good reason either way on whether to run drill rotors or solid? Thanks, Chad

10-20-2010, 01:07 PM	#10
Bob Verwold Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Fayetteville Ohio Posts: 656 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: After Market Front Brakes It's my understanding that the drilled rotors let the gasses escape for better breaking. I'm running a 3100 lb Nova with Wilwood on 4 corners (the thin ones) going on 7 or 8 years and have never had a problem, but I don't slam on the breaks at the finish line...