Basically looking at the big brake kit, and wanting to know which LASTS longer...I wouldn't really expect that the brembo's would last longer, even though they cost substantially more. I am sure also that stopping power will be great for both, so it's mostly lasting that I care about. This is for a BMW (my future e92 m3) application.

Anyone have a better brand? How's AP racing?

Any info on this is appreciated.

 

AP Racing is great, Ive done them on a few cars. Ive never touched StopTech, but I know quite a few guys who have and Ive heard more and more bad things about them unfortunately. I heard they made a good product in the past, but apparently not so much now. As far as lasting, neither should be that much different, its all about the brake pads.

Baer also makes awesome brakes, so they would be something to check out. Ive always been impressed with their stuff, but they just dont get enough recognition.

 

+1 for AP Raciong!!! If I had to choose between Brembo and StopTech, I would go Brembo... but over all AP is the TOP of the line! IMO

 

I have used a Stoptech BBK (ST40 4 piston calipers and 2 piece 355x32mm slotted rotors) since 2001 on a C5 Z06 that has logged nearly 10K track miles to date. I also have a 2004 VW R32 with ST40 calipers and 355x32mm rotors (front brakes only) that has logged over 3000 track miles on the brakes. Other than normal wear and tear they have been ultra dependable and fade free lap after lap. My experience with their customer service has been uniformly excellent as well.

There are numerous excellent choices for after market big brake kits, several of which have been mention by others. Based on my personal experience I can recommend StopTech without hesitation.

Mid Ohio 2007


Sebring 2005

 

Unfortunately, or fortunately (depending how you want to look at it), brakes are one of those items that definitely falls within the "you get what you pay for" category.

You specifically asked about longevity, which ultimately has a direct correlation with quality. With Brembo the quality of every major component is controlled 100% through the entire process, from the selection of raw materials before they are even turned into cast iron or aluminum, to the final assembly and quality control of the system as a whole. Because of that formula, Brembo has been able to win OEM contracts with nearly ever top level auto manufacturer in the world.

What does that mean to you?
Brembo uses the same manufacturing, engineering and quality control standard for every product they make. The High Performance division, where the big brake kits comes from, uses the best of manufacturing and quality learned from OE, and strive to achieve the highest level of performance learned from their domination in nearly every top level of Motorsports.

For the BBK's, the only items you will ever need to replace are the discs and pads. No caliper rebuilding as part of necessary maintenance, no replacing hats/bells or brackets. The metallurgy in the Brembo discs stands as some of the best in the world. Our discs will last on average 2 times longer than similarly sized discs from other manufacturers.
(Some manufacturers are forced to use a "minimum thickness" rating on their discs that is twice that of a Brembo disc to achieve similar longevity)

The application that is being engineered for the NEW E92 ///M3 will utilize our new 6-piston Monobloc caliper. This caliper has a unique pad shape that combines sort annulus performance with a large volume and swept area. This pad also offers a life expectancy that is nearly twice as long as other BBK systems offered for that same application.

If you want to speak to someone directly of have any more questions please feel free to send me a PM or give me a call.

Gary C.
Brembo / Race Technologies
888.Brembo.8 ext.118

 

i have stop tech on my mercedes and brembos on my porsche, i feel that my stop techs stop better!!

 

Ive used Brembos on my personal cars and at work we only use and install Brembo. We have had a couple bad experiences in the past with using other manufacturers. Brembo is very strict when it comes to quality so there is no reason to consider any other Brake company IMO.

 

Well how do you quantify stopping better? Better feel? Shorter Distance? Are you using the "equivalent" BBK system on both cars?

 

Not sure if this is still an issue, but in the past it was common knowledge that Brembo didn't do the proper R&D (or didn't care) to give the proper balance in braking to customers who bought their front only kit. The pistons were oversized, creating an undesirable front brake bias that actually resulted in increased stopping distances. Stoptech, although the new guys on the block, used smaller pistons for their applications and didn't have this problem. The quality of both is top notch, but which lasts longer is not the only factor you should be looking at before purchase.

 

Thanks for the info. About the lasting longer, I know all three will offer exceptional braking performance, and I will be getting front/back kits, so bias is not a problem. Because of this, I wouldn't want to spend 6K on something that I will have to replace disks/pads more frequently than something that is 7K. Know what I mean?

 

That's actually not true at all, especially if you are talking about Brembo's Gran Turismo upgrades.

That is a rumor that was started by other brake kit suppliers trying to make headway into a market that was recognized to be dominated by Brembo’s products. It's also been blindly spread as what you call "common knowledge" on the internet and in forums for some time and I would have to assume that many people don't even know where this information originates from.

It was started as a marketing campaign that only addressed a single aspect of proper engineering and development of a brake system that none of the current manufacturer’s were talking about. The information was based on the limitations but creative approach of one company in general, who openly shared their own philosophy for design. Some people believed this marketing to be a new revelation or advancement in design, but rather it was an approach that varied from what was already being done by Brembo as standard practice for the development of every brake system they offered.

The same proprietary software and development philosophy that Brembo uses to select components for an OEM application of a specific Ferrari, Porsche, BMW, Lamborghini, or Aston Marting vehicle model, IS the same as used when they develop a Gran Turismo upgrade for any current street car or race car.

BUT... As with any good rumor, it can be traced back to a small bit of truth.

In this case as I have already started to explain, it has nothing to do with Brembo manufactured and distributed products. It was dictated based on the early "Brembo-type" systems that were sourced and assembled by people like Stillen, and other tuners around the time (about 7-8 years ago), before big brake kits had become a popular upgrade. Back then the majority of the systems available were based on three popular calipers being used in pretty much any application that someone felt they could make a bracket and find or make a 2pc. rotor to fit.
The calipers were...
- Ferrari F40
- Ferrari F50
- Porsche 993 Turbo (the original Big Red)

To give credit where credit is due, this was the start of the current trend.
BUT the truth of the matter is that we are soo far past those days of limited resources, and limited components, that it's almost laughable to think that people still believe these rumors.

Today (and and spanning the last 7-8 years) Brembo's High Performance Division is where the Gran Turismo brake kits come from.
Brembo's HP division has MORE usable combinations of calipers with varying piston sizes, and usable disc sizes and options, than any other brake kit supplier in the world. Each system that is currently available is designed around the factory ABS and master cylinder, providing optimum brake bias, specifically engineered for each application. This is not a new practice, but one that has gone relatively unspoken since to Brembo, it such an elementary step in the development of any brake system.

If Brembo "didn't do the proper R&D (or didn't care)", then the more than 20 top vehicle manufacturers around the that they currently supply products for should have been in for a rude awakening. That’s just not the case for OEM product, OR for the current and past Gran Turismo systems.

 

Thanks for the response and correction, it's obvious that you are very informed on the current aftermarket brake industry. With that being said, my original comments were taken somewhat out of context. I never implied that manufacturers that used Brembo for their brakes would see a bias or other related problems to incorrect piston sizes. What I did say was that those upgrading their brakes were going to experience that if they went with front kit only. This information came from a highly respected brake distributor and member of M5board.com who sold as much (if not more) Brembo products than Stoptech or other competitors. During his testing and installation of hundreds of kits he came to this conclusion around 2003-2004. Regardless, it seems clear that this is no longer the case, if it ever was.

 

I understand what you're saying. Make sure to read GaryG's comments regarding the brake bias and piston sizes. Sounds like his experience far outweighs mine.

 

I am quite familiar with the person/company you are referring to, and can assure you with zero doubt that he has been one of the main catalysts for the spread of these rumors and bits of misinformation.
It wasn't true in 2003-2004 and is not true today.


P.S.

Quote:

Originally Posted by

...highly respected brake distributor and member of M5board.com who sold as much (if not more) Brembo products than Stoptech or other competitors.

My last correction.
This person actually only sold less than 6 car sets of Brembo brakes over a 4 year span while he became the #1 dealer for "another" brake supplier 3 years in a row.

 

my porsche have the new monobpock caliper 15inch and my stop tech i think are about 13inch caliper im not that sure but the feel on the stop tech are out of this world. i feel the bite is better! and also stops faster!