Performance brakes

[FMO]

Hi!

Have anyone tried the performance brakes from http://www.performancefiat.com/catalog/ ... cts_id=253?
And how are they compared to Whoa brakes? Hope someone has some experiance to share.

Best regards
FMO

[baltobernie]

It's probably just me, but I don't get the hubub over "performance brakes" for the Spider. Early models achieved -.81 G in published road tests, (with 165/80 x 13 tires!). My '73 has OEM Brembo rotors and "performance" Ferrodo pads. While I don't drive on the racetrack, I can't get any fade any time under spirited driving, and lockup is only a few mm away under all conditions.

A buddy just got a new i-Phone, and the app that mimics a G-force meter. I'm gonna give it a go after FFO, and will let you know the results.

[spiderrey]

my 70 has a built 2 liter, while out on a run with a buch of other spiders i totally overheated the brakes running down a mountain road. at one point i hit the brakes and thought i was gonna smash into the spider ion front of me. from then on i stayed way back to let the brakes cool. once cooled they came back. if you dont drive your car to hard you dont have to worry about upgrading.

[manoa matt]

I've been thinking about pulling the trigger on that setup. I've studied several of the other brake upgrades out there and this one seams the most reasonably priced and should work well with the stock booster and master cylinder since the caliper piston is the same size as the stock caliper. The one thing I'm worried about is the availablity of the Fiat Uno Turbo rotors. Only UK distributors have them and the cost to ship them to the US is more than the rotors themselves.

The price on that kit is "supposed" to go up tomorrow!!!

However I do like the setup that Joshuagore came up with. Check the suspension section for "adjustable low race" The Honda Civic rotors have almost the same dimensions as the Fiat Uno Turbo rotor.

I also thought about designing my own setup with Honda Civic rotors or Uno Turbo rotors and a willwood caliper that would fit 13" wheels.

According to some of the guys in Australia at Turbo124.com the Willwoods are not approved for street use due to the fact that the pistons only have the piston seal and no dust boot. Of course the Australia regulations are more strict than in the US. Any brake modification in Australia has to be inspected and approved by an engineer prior to being street legal.

Like others have stated the thin solid stock rotors are the weak link, aside from the caliper sliding wedges. The Honda Civic and Uno Turbo rotors are larger and vented which should solve the problem of overheating and fade.

Any of the systems that are out there now can be obtained at about 1/2 the price of the actual kit if the rotors and calipers are sourced individually, the real money maker is the caliper bracket. If you can make one, then you are golden.

[spiderrey]

canu be more specific about the kit your talking about.

[manoa matt]

Here are several kits being offered for the 124:

Whoa: http://store01.prostores.com/servlet/mi ... %21/Detail

Performance Fiat: http://www.performancefiat.com/catalog/ ... cts_id=253

Bits of italy: http://www.bitsofitaly.com/performance-parts

Turbo 124.com: http://www.turbo124.com/?show=brakes

Tarox: http://www.firebreathingfiats.com/Contr ... ersion.htm

Vicks: http://www.vickauto.com/media/BrakesPage.pdf

[spiderrey]

personally i like the performance fiat setup. what does everyone else think.

[mbouse]

bernie & rey....

since i drive my car like i stole it (and not just sometimes) i've always been dissatisfied with the stock brakes. they fade, they pull one side or the other, and they generally lack the stopping power of anything engineered after 1975.

i swapped to WHOA! Brakes this summer, and am very very happy. sorry i cannot compare them to another system... haven't tried those kits. however, if you wanna check out the WHOA setup, stop on by and i will gladly letcha taker around the block a couple of times. in fact, that is what i highly recommend. find someone with an alternate brake system and take the car for a quick test drive. you will be convinced your brakes need upgrading immediately.

[fiatfreak]

Hi!

Have anyone tried the performance brakes from http://www.performancefiat.com/catalog/ ... cts_id=253?
And how are they compared to Whoa brakes? Hope someone has some experiance to share.

Best regards
FMO

I recently installed the Performance Fiat 14" brake upgrade on my '69. These things rock! At first, I was skeptical because they weren't the latest and greatest 4 piston calipers. Don't let that deter you! I have the Whoa's on my Scorpion; not impressed. Not a direct apple to apple comparison I know and I'm not hear to discredit the Whoas, but the PF veined rotors IMHO are where it's at. I'm so impressed, I'm buying another set to replace the Whoas on the Scorpion.

[So Cal Mark]

since you're not happy with the Whoa kit, can you describe the difference in braking between the two cars? Since the Whoa rotors aren't vented, have you experience fade? warpage?

[fiatfreak]

[/quote]

since you're not happy with the Whoa kit, can you describe the difference in braking between the two cars? Since the Whoa rotors aren't vented, have you experience fade? warpage?

I'll be better able to make that comparison once I install the PF brakes on my Scorpion. All I can say is there was no "seat of the pants" improvement with the Whoa brakes.

[Kevin1]

The only thing you'll be left wondering after a brake upgrade is "Why didn't I do it sooner?". As for which is the best kit, my only experience is with Whoa (series II kit w/large rotors). The difference in braking is like night and day. Great initial bite, less pedal pressure, and a very progressive feel - easy to modulate right up to wheel lock. No more fading during spirited driving, either.
Let us know what you choose, and how you like it!