AP Racing 4 Piston Brakes

[adamc11]

AP Racing 4 Piston Brakes

Anyone here have them?
Are they really worth every penny of $3300+? Why?
Not too sure whether the 2 piston 330mm PBR kit will suffice or whether the AP racing is really really really worth it.

Someone please advise me.

Thanks.

[Bravotwozero]

I'd stick with the PBR's mate. Some will say they're bigger so they must be better, but the PBR's will be more than adequate for the streets.
Seems brakes are the new bling and people upgrade for bragging rights only. Spend your money elsewhere.

[FusionX]

If you plan on doing any track work, then the AP Racing calipers are the way to go. The extra stopping power is easily worth it.

[Troy711]

Send a PM to Dean (udername is EXCESSV) or have a look at his ride thread (found in the VE section).

[azkwazere]

Send a PM to Dean (udername is EXCESSV) or have a look at his ride thread (found in the VE section).

hahahah udername.... best spelling mistake EVER! lol

actually... ubername would have been cool too

aZk.

[Troy711]

Bahh.. stupid fat fingers! I think I need a special typing wand

[adamc11]

Well guys i got the AP Kit today. Boy are they big! Can't wait to see how they go.

[The Harvester]

They are worth much more than $3,300 as you get a lot for your money and HSV had them as an option on some of the VZ models for more than double $3,300. Apparently they do give more stopping power than the standard brakes and they fill up the wheels nicely and look great. The only brakes that don't perform as you think they should are the 6 piston AP's as they don't stop any better than the 4 piston brakes unless you use special pads which are illegal on the road and are only good for the track.

[BANKS]

350 fronts and 332 rears?

[adamc11]

This is them here:
Announcements

I got the red ones for $3180. There are no more red ones in stock. He just got black ones which are exactly the same but rarer and cost a few hundred more.

[1991_Vn2nV]

An extra $200 for black calipers instead of red?

[adamc11]

An extra $200 for black calipers instead of red?

Pretty much. I got my red ones cheap as it was a promotion and I purchased the last one at the discounted price.

I just placed the front rotor up against my VY SS 18" rim and it just about fills out the rim. Will look very big when fitted against my 18" wheel.

Was wondering with regards to installation, is it easy enough to do yourself? Changing rotors, calipers, hoses, brake fluid and bleeding...

[BANKS]

The AP calipers look very similar to the harrop ones

EDIT: closer inspection no they dont

[BANKS]

I've had my eyes on these. Harrop 343mm front and rear rotors with 4 piston calipers, pads etc etc for $3700.

[FusionX]

unless you use special pads which are illegal on the road and are only good for the track.

Huh? how is a pad illegal? How would anyone ever tell without pulling a caliper off? I've taken cars through the pits with race pads in and never had an issue.

[Morton]

I don't think they'd be illegal in the "watch out you'll get defected" kind of way... more illegal in the "watch out, if you don't warm these up you'll crash at the first set of lights" way.

[adamc11]

I've had my eyes on these. Harrop 343mm front and rear rotors with 4 piston calipers, pads etc etc for $3700.

Get the AP Racing ones... bigger 350mm front rotors and cheaper than the harrop: NVU, Genuine Holden parts to suit Holden Commodore VR,VS,VT,VX,VY,VZ,Monaro,Statesman,Utes and HSV

[The Harvester]

I don't think they'd be illegal in the "watch out you'll get defected" kind of way... more illegal in the "watch out, if you don't warm these up you'll crash at the first set of lights" way.

Very good, it's exactly what i mean. For race brakes to work effectively they first have to be warmed up.

Being in the automotive industry i had to take a car out of the workshop for other work to be carried out elsewhere. This car was a Jap twin turbo with lots of punch, anyway after giving it some boost down a side street around the factories and coming to a T intersection I went for the brakes and there was about 5% braking power and i went through the stop sign and used the handbrake which in turn 180ed the car but it stopped before hitting the gutter and lucky no cars coming in either direction. The customer didn't tell anyone that he had race pads fitted.

[adamc11]

Brakes are getting fitted tomorrow. Should i be getting braided lines and from where? Cost?

[VT-565]

Hmmm...they look good, did you see these? PK1 COMMODORE VB TO VZ BIG BRAKES HSV 330mm PBR - eBay, Other Car Parts, Accessories, Car Parts, Accessories, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 21-Oct-08 00:23:20 AEST) These ones have braided hoses. I'd go for braided if you're going to do track days or something like that, if you're not, then the AP's might be getting under-used...still nice....

[adamc11]

Hmmm...they look good, did you see these? PK1 COMMODORE VB TO VZ BIG BRAKES HSV 330mm PBR - eBay, Other Car Parts, Accessories, Car Parts, Accessories, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 21-Oct-08 00:23:20 AEST) These ones have braided hoses. I'd go for braided if you're going to do track days or something like that, if you're not, then the AP's might be getting under-used...still nice....

I saw them, but they have smaller rotors and only 2pot front and 1pot rear calipers compared with the AP kit. Wasn't sure it was worth spending $1500-$1600 for essentially bigger rotors and new pads, when i could spend $400 for some stock size RDA slotted rotors and pads. There is also a similar HSV kit available: BRAND NEW HSV PERFORMANCE BRAKE KIT SUIT VT-VZ MODELS - eBay Other Brakes, Brakes, Car Parts, Accessories, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 16-Oct-08 12:34:54 AEST)

[adamc11]

Got the brakes fitted today. Have to bed them in so taking it easy, but the first thing i noticed is the brake is a lot firmer. To stop you need to push the pedal with a bit more force. Is this normal?

[VT-565]

Just looking at the basics of the brake system, in theory, if you kept the std. 1" master, it should be a lighter pedal, as you now have the same displacement on your master trying to displace the extra pistons. Now that is assuming that to displace the pistons on your new brakes, you need marginally more fluid than with your original brakes. If there is less fluid needed, this could explain the harder pedal, but giving you more pad surface area at the same time. Make sense? You also have factors like rotor & pad material differences.

[Dan355]

New brake lines can also give a firmer pedal feel.

[adamc11]

Thats for the replies guys. Yes it does have new brake lines, but not braided lines. From what i've felt the spongy pedal feel is no longer there too. Can't wait to bed them in so that i can really test them.