Hi folks, I'm thinking about a BBK. I have 17" S-Lites, and I don't plan on getting new rims (I know these are heavy, but I like the look). I don't plan on tracking the car at the present time. All street driving, and enthusiastically at that. Whick BBK is the way to go in terms of bang/buck? I like the look of the JCW brake kit, but the offerings of Detroit Tuning and Helix look nice too. What are people's opinions? I'd like to keep costs under $1000 or so, and I'd like to avoid the need for spacers, etc. Just want the wheels to bolt up as usual.

 

If you're not tracking the car and not changing the wheels to ones that will really show off a BBK, why not just upgrade the stock equipment with slotted rotors and hawk HPS pads? Maybe some steel lines, better fluid, etc...you'll save yourself 500-1000$ depending on what BBK you were looking at, and I doubt this setup will ever leave you wanting for stopping power on the streets (you know, 'cause of speed limits!).

Those suggestions do not come from experience, but rather from what I've decided after weighing all of the options and researching them. I do track the car, but I also put 15 inch rims on in the winter, so I'll get the most out of the stock size brakes.

Good luck!

mb

 

There is currently a discussion on "best value" BBK's going on HERE.

The Wilwood kits are a great bang for the buck and come in under $1000.00 with free Stainless flexlines and shipping from us.

Check them out: Wilwood BBK's

Any questions about the kits let me know.

Thanks, Cliff

 

The S-lites are your down fall. They are a very un brake friendly wheel. They don't offer enough "pocket" area for the calipers to be placed. We've concluded that in fact even the smaller Wilwood kits will not clear these wheels. Your choices will be very limited. The JCW parts may be your only choice.

 

I agree!

 

Thanks to all for your replies. I'll probably take the slotted rotor approach as recommended, or perhaps JCW if the financial department allows.

 

slotted rotors won't improve your stopping power. get pads with better bite...Hawk HP+ come to mind (noise and dust are the downsides), stainless lines and the brass bushing kit for better feel.

Also - if you can brake hard enough to engage ABS, your weakness isn't the brakes, it's the tires. No amount of brake upgrades will help if your tires can't offer the traction needed.

 

for looks and and better performance with the slites setup just go with the helix stage 1 brake kit or save up for the jcw

 

i can attest to what todd's saying, i run s-lites in the winter and it requires a 6mm spacer to properly clear the brakes... and even then that's a hairline clearance i get

 

I talked to a rep at Stoptech and he says different. He was saying that the slots remove the built up gas faster to disapate the heat. Reducing brake fade...increasing your "stopping power".

 

It falls somewhere in between actually guys.

While the slots do wipe the pad and vent the boundary layer they won't actually increase the bite of the pad, they'll simply allow to to work in it's most effective manner. The Cf of the pad is the same regardless.

In either case slots seem to be the norm today for most folks. However they will in all cases promote premature wear and dusting so they may not be to everyones liking.

 

the OP has no plans to track the car, so I stand by my bold statement

 

If the OP doesn't plan on tracking the car...why is he asking about a BBK? Or slots and aftermarket pads for that matter...why not remain OEM? They have great stopping force for what it is. BTW, the OP has a pretty good mod list....to not "track" the car!

 

Isn't that what I said...cause I was "trying" to say that!

 

Sorry, not trying to put words in your mouth. Just trying to make the desticntion more clear perhaps.

Remember too however that some people buy things simply because they like the way that they look. There's no hard rule of thumb that says every purchase has to be justified by its application or need. Every wheel on the MINI goes around, but a lot of wheels are sold as replacements. The MINI is all about what make the owner happy.

 

For the record, I like the way the BBK's look, I'd just like to stay semi conservative with it. And I drive on the street like an a**hole so I'd like a little more bite in the brakes.

 

So I, being a novice brake man, can take away the thought that: pads, on a per dollar basis, have more of an impact in stopping (notwithstanding tires), than slotted, drilled, and frozen rotors?

 

Novice or not you are right on the money. Changing the surface or structure of the rotor will not alter the torque it creates. Changing pads to ones of a higher Cf will elevate brake torque. But...it comes with other trade offs...