What's In DFB's Cabinet?

[DFB5.0]

It's a deep hole and there's a long way to fall. See you when you get here. Have you ordered this stuff yet? Y'all know the bigger rotors won't reduce stopping distance - but see below...

If they're the same pads I put on a GTR years ago they're amazing, not sure why they are't more widely used here.

What is it that you're not happy with now? I've often found that stopping distance is fine but it's the ability to modulate/feel more that I really want. Is there a 4 pot front caliper that'll fit on there with a friendly sized disc?

Haven't ordered anything yet, just at that obsessive reasearch phase...............the best bit!

Brake feel up to a point is fine, but after a couple of hard hits, they start to fade and shudder. This is not particular to my car, I have had other Falcon's with the same brake setup do the same thing.

From what I have seen, the larger surface area of the rotor better dissipates heat. Adding the upgraded rotors and pads, I'm hoping this adds some stamina to the equation.

The GT/Brembo 4 or 6 piston calipers and larger 355mm rotors are a straight swap with the OE adaptor plate, while both will fit inside the 18" wheels, the wheel spokes wont clear the front face of the caliper.

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[GT 550]

From what I have seen, the larger surface area of the rotor better dissipates heat.

If the problem is heat I'd have thought they should just fade, and a couple of hard hits shouldn't generate a temp problem as the discs aren't 'that' small. Maybe the problem is just pads?

 

[DFB5.0]

If the problem is heat I'd have thought they should just fade, and a couple of hard hits shouldn't generate a temp problem as the discs aren't 'that' small. Maybe the problem is just pads?

Could be that. Do pads degrade with time? The car still has the factory fit hardware from 2008.

 

[GT 550]

No, not with time. Discs - and they're not that small really - simply shouldn't lay down after a couple of hard hits but really basic pads can.

 

[DFB5.0]

No, not with time. Discs - and they're not that small really - simply shouldn't lay down after a couple of hard hits but really basic pads can.

Knowing Ford, they will be a VERY basic pad, lowest bidder wins the supply contract sort of deal. I will say, this setup NEVER produces dust or noise, so there's is a plus side I guess.

Sorry for all the questions, not my normal subject matter.

 

[GT 550]

Totally cool, if anything I've learned can help save time and money I'll willingly share it.

Have you checked the hub/disc/wheel mating surfaces to make sure they're spotless? Rust and dirt there can also create unwanted feedback but I do understand that it seems to be common in that generation of Falcon. Nothing like it in the FGX, right?

 

[DFB5.0]

Totally cool, if anything I've learned can help save time and money I'll willingly share it.

Have you checked the hub/disc/wheel mating surfaces to make sure they're spotless? Rust and dirt there can also create unwanted feedback but I do understand that it seems to be common in that generation of Falcon. Nothing like it in the FGX, right?

Rust and dirt? Where?

My FGX has Brembo's, and no, they are pretty solid. I was giving them a hammering a couple of weeks ago, you have to stand on them hard, but that's been my experience with Brembo's equipped Falcon's in general.

 

[GT 550]

Rust and dirt? Where?

Yeah I know . I recall typing and thinking 'am I really asking him this?'

Any feasible 4 pot options for the XR6?

 

[DFB5.0]

Yeah I know . I recall typing and thinking 'am I really asking him this?'

Any feasible 4 pot options for the XR6?

Dam you, now I'm confused.....................

Vari - Ford Falcon, FG & FGx Big brake kits, GT-P

 

[GT 550]

Dam you, now I'm confused.....................

Welcome to Brake Lust.

IMHO beware cheaper brake kits, young Jedi. Not sure about those in particular but some of the cheaper kits aren't all they're supposed to be and are more about the aesthetics. Also many don't have dust seals on the pistons which all good road use calipers do. There's also the potential issues of ADR compliance and insurance liability vs just retrofitting an oem kit if you go off the reservation in ways that can't be ignored.

One way of looking at the cost of the oem brakes is that you can always sell them on if you sell the car, and it saves a lot of time and energy while delivering a solution that's really good. Worst case you might need another master cyl to suit. I know it's possibly a lot of coin and it's easy for me to say but it's the buy once cry once thing.

I know they're 6 pots but man these are a bargain:
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/225766394615?hash=item3490b9caf7:g:3f0AAOSwDB5czAfo&amdata=enc:AQAIAAAAwI1I3smWD9GObX4fU9QWrOv/Zsqxv9QJ5EVUhFjkYCyDd4FCqgJBxwvFaP6rkOBHOXlEAaRtD0JVT2Jw201bCr4HhntAUzbIuk1ct75Mn+zHxtrKufloz5OSc0yQo+GEx7xxhkDb0ZvhtXmwQQjK2CQq+pkDlOARb9KMf8kQqELQ5avhyLp/+Bjpwx9usS6HlzFX1elJbwhY4z2/z+xWeXugnBGVXjp8XunCC4jLy/jnlFODbOKMFlPHE+lcCDytJw==|tkp:Bk9SR5b9sNnlYg

Also unsure if these 4 pots will fit your wheels but throw in 1k for discs and bits you're probably done:
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/235160609527?hash=item36c0aa22f7:g:KBQAAOSwzgFk7AY2&amdata=enc:AQAIAAAAwLhYRSQhnB/CblQWQHS9D1ogBQNYVQgcVgC4s0yo628cs+yzIAQ0Rfq3jkWsw/ktoc8tf0aQ3j323nuX4f1sGqoy4dyKbSDGRYluwrMTfrsuRpsiBMQvvyCX/MZmyzmEKdiSmIaYrG5z6RGx8wCOzTQS3qO02NWchunObrG4sPOGmWP9IkwjJqFuMlSjVbPSeMbAeqIBA7/n3te7Y9jqL1+fXa3iTobjqba9xE/iWScyHJWug6fBdH45vsVpj2bR8g==|tkp:Bk9SR5b9sNnlYg

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/363123229679?hash=item548bd4c3ef:g:z24AAOSw8d9Uxa6X&amdata=enc:AQAIAAAAwGEq0z61lmnj1xqS1FHID14fmyDHzzQMzFhlX1CSgbcWTPbml58FZWHtzWGJRUyIpIqEqXWYlWy2k/Nh0AupKeA9ISkmvQ0l2eh7GN9i3tVSkMxgGvtcgWSDV5R5Knaj98ssdi3axMWsZt81kb5aeycBmZxGjQ9GKgn+BTOytLu9MAp2/dXSAf4LghJ8Zp8EI187kFN3nuTwv+SHd2tryA8RDKhPvptBf+TZ2HxU8KwBagBCOiVg6Xe6gSq3dw74+A==|tkp:Bk9SR5j9sNnlYg

 

[DFB5.0]

Welcome to Brake Lust.

IMHO beware cheaper brake kits, young Jedi. Not sure about those in particular but some of the cheaper kits aren't all they're supposed to be and are more about the aesthetics. Also many don't have dust seals on the pistons which all good road use calipers do. There's also the potential issues of ADR compliance and insurance liability vs just retrofitting an oem kit if you go off the reservation in ways that can't be ignored.

One way of looking at the cost of the oem brakes is that you can always sell them on if you sell the car, and it saves a lot of time and energy while delivering a solution that's really good. Worst case you might need another master cyl to suit. I know it's possibly a lot of coin and it's easy for me to say but it's the buy once cry once thing.

I know they're 6 pots but man these are a bargain:
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/225766394615?hash=item3490b9caf7:g:3f0AAOSwDB5czAfo&amdata=enc:AQAIAAAAwI1I3smWD9GObX4fU9QWrOv/Zsqxv9QJ5EVUhFjkYCyDd4FCqgJBxwvFaP6rkOBHOXlEAaRtD0JVT2Jw201bCr4HhntAUzbIuk1ct75Mn+zHxtrKufloz5OSc0yQo+GEx7xxhkDb0ZvhtXmwQQjK2CQq+pkDlOARb9KMf8kQqELQ5avhyLp/+Bjpwx9usS6HlzFX1elJbwhY4z2/z+xWeXugnBGVXjp8XunCC4jLy/jnlFODbOKMFlPHE+lcCDytJw==|tkp:Bk9SR5b9sNnlYg

Also unsure if these 4 pots will fit your wheels but throw in 1k for discs and bits you're probably done:
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/235160609527?hash=item36c0aa22f7:g:KBQAAOSwzgFk7AY2&amdata=enc:AQAIAAAAwLhYRSQhnB/CblQWQHS9D1ogBQNYVQgcVgC4s0yo628cs+yzIAQ0Rfq3jkWsw/ktoc8tf0aQ3j323nuX4f1sGqoy4dyKbSDGRYluwrMTfrsuRpsiBMQvvyCX/MZmyzmEKdiSmIaYrG5z6RGx8wCOzTQS3qO02NWchunObrG4sPOGmWP9IkwjJqFuMlSjVbPSeMbAeqIBA7/n3te7Y9jqL1+fXa3iTobjqba9xE/iWScyHJWug6fBdH45vsVpj2bR8g==|tkp:Bk9SR5b9sNnlYg

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/363123229679?hash=item548bd4c3ef:g:z24AAOSw8d9Uxa6X&amdata=enc:AQAIAAAAwGEq0z61lmnj1xqS1FHID14fmyDHzzQMzFhlX1CSgbcWTPbml58FZWHtzWGJRUyIpIqEqXWYlWy2k/Nh0AupKeA9ISkmvQ0l2eh7GN9i3tVSkMxgGvtcgWSDV5R5Knaj98ssdi3axMWsZt81kb5aeycBmZxGjQ9GKgn+BTOytLu9MAp2/dXSAf4LghJ8Zp8EI187kFN3nuTwv+SHd2tryA8RDKhPvptBf+TZ2HxU8KwBagBCOiVg6Xe6gSq3dw74+A==|tkp:Bk9SR5j9sNnlYg

Trust me, if those Brembo calipers fitted, I would have bought them years ago, money no object because I believe in spend once, cry one too. They tick all my boxes, OE finish and fitment, performance and, yes, they look fantastic. While I love Brembo red, I would actually do these in black on the XR6. All three of the above calipers are a direct fitment on Falcon's, both front and rear. But............................

They won't clear my wheels. The 355mm rotor and 4 or 6 piston caliper will fit 18-inch diameter wheels, but there is no clearance between the front face of the caliper and the back of the wheel spokes, in other words the wheels are not dished out enough.

The solution to that is to buy new wheels.....................but I want to keep those wheels because I love how they look and suit the car. From a cost point of view, a full Brembo upgrade (disks, calipers, pads and lines) plus new wheels would probably be worth 75 to 80% of the value of the car. I'm all for setting fire to money, but not that if it ends up being a compromise in losing my favored wheels.

As for those VARI calipers I linked above, they are apparently CNC machined in Australia, are ADR approved and will fit behind the factory wheels. But they look very "aftermarket" rather than the OE look I prefer.

I'm still undecided here. I think you may be onto something regarding the pads being compromised, which a simple pad change could solve my issues.

 

[GT 550]

I do not think you have really been bitten by the brake bug, but then its toxin can work slowly. You'll know when it takes hold because the brake:car value ratio will near 2:1 before it becomes a consideration.

Those VARI calipers being advertised as ADR compliant - and I'm not doubting this is what they claim or that they could indeed be certified - reminds me a little of the claims that certain resellers made regarding aftermarket seats. The determination was made by the people selling the seats based on their own sometimes selective interpretation of the ADRs, and what they thought they could justify, rather than an independent unbiased engineering certification. And I agree they do look...'different'.

IMHO you're spot on going with pads first. Not wanting to preach to the converted but it might be worth skimming the discs to be sure they're cleaned of pad material, straight and true, or going with new ones. Be sure to bed them really well. Looking forward to the results, enjoy...

 

[DFB5.0]

I do not think you have really been bitten by the brake bug, but then its toxin can work slowly. You'll know when it takes hold because the brake:car value ratio will near 2:1 before it becomes a consideration.

Those VARI calipers being advertised as ADR compliant - and I'm not doubting this is what they claim or that they could indeed be certified - reminds me a little of the claims that certain resellers made regarding aftermarket seats. The determination was made by the people selling the seats based on their own sometimes selective interpretation of the ADRs, and what they thought they could justify, rather than an independent unbiased engineering certification. And I agree they do look...'different'.

IMHO you're spot on going with pads first. Not wanting to preach to the converted but it might be worth skimming the discs to be sure they're cleaned of pad material, straight and true, or going with new ones. Be sure to bed them really well. Looking forward to the results, enjoy...

Thanks for getting me thinking about things.

Yeah, I wasn't seriously considering those VARI calipers. There is a huge difference between what an OEM has to do to validate parts and components, something a lot of aftermarket supplier's won't need to approach. Something like a caliper is a pretty major safety element of the car, so going with an OEM supported/specified part makes sense there.

I think I'll do the pad and rotor upgrade, as I mentioned, I think I've probably cooked them a few times now.

 

[DFB5.0]

Well.......................................

Full review incoming..............................

 

[DFB5.0]

Two heavy boxes arrived from Race Brakes Sydney this morning..................

Race Brakes Sydney | Brakes

322mm T3 vented front rotors (not shown), 303mm T3 solid rears, Project Mu NS-EP front pads, DBA SP rear pads, 4 braided hoses + hardware, two front caliper brackets (sourced elsewhere). The rotors are very, very nicely finished.

The hard part? Finding the time to install it all.

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