Brake Upgrade

[wise_grasshopper10]

Hi all,

I'm a new member, just joined today actually, and would like to ask about brake upgrades. I have a VL Exec and as most of you would know the brakes on this car are absolutely S**T! I want to know what is actually involved in upgrading the front disc brakes, meaning what parts do i need? I was thinking about taking the parts off a VT or later model and putting it on my VL, any suggestions?

[vlv8vic]

mine are fine. 4 wheel disc, pulls up fine. im pretty sure they are standard too.

[seventh path]

cahnge the rear from drums to discs......you'll notice the difference.....drums self adjuster never work properley, so you get a crap pedal

[Bax]

Yep, rears to discs.. Then if you will settle for front vlt slotted setup, that will even be alright, with some good dot4 fluid, fresh pads and a 1" master cylinder to get that pedal feel all nice.

Or you can get a conversion from this very site. But I'd definately do the rears to disc first.

[vlv8vic]

mines 1 inch.... was that standard for anything in particular? maybe cos its v8? brakes arent my thing....

[Bubbles]

i got some dba cross drilled slotters on front and still drums on the rear. and it pulls up like nothing on earth (well maybe not but its better than than normal)

[Bax]

Drums should technically brake better then discs.. After all theres more surface area grabbing.. But- they're just not efficient when it comes to heat.

Big brakes on the front with drums on the rear.. Change the rears man.. Just looks dicky as.

Edit, yeah.. 1" came for turbo's and v8's.. Anything that had discs may have recieved the 1" I think.

[rb26dett]

Im fitting the VT brake kit to my car.

The brakes on my VL are terrible, but it is mostly because the rotors are shot.

[pro_gmh]

Some new performance brake pads, slotted & cross drilled rotors, Braided brake lines and some good DOT 4 or 5 brake fluid would be the optimal setup.

Oh yeh, and some air ducting to your brakes.

[Bax]

Don't get cross drilled.... They crack and they're far from necessary on road going cars.

[pro_gmh]

Cross drilled cracking??? Ive never heard of that happening? I would of thought they wouldnt crack because they desipate heat easier.

[jetspin_vn]

The whole idea of cross drilling a rotor is to reduce the unsprung mass of the vehicle. But it makes crap all difference in road cars, and all it really does is create weakness that can cause the rotors to crack. Slotted rotors are worth the money however, as the slots de-glaze the pads and remove water/gas build ups. You really notice the difference. I've got them on my VL with the VLT brakes (I think my 'how to' is still around) and I highly recomend them. Rotor part numbers are DBA017SL and DBA017SR - left and right, make sure you get them right!!

And don't skimp on pads. I could rave on all day about my Lucas pads, they are awesome.

[jetspin_vn]

I would of thought they wouldnt crack because they desipate heat easier.

I knew I missed a point, the heat dispersal of brakes relates almost entirley to the vents within the rotor and cooling vanes on the calipers (have a look at VLT calipers some time)

[pro_gmh]

Ohk. thanks. so slotted is the way too go...

I know the cross drilled idea is a bit extreme for street application, but when u REALLY start to go into bigger turbos or even twin turbo or super charged etc. i know alot of ppl forget to upgradre their brakes! and that can be a costly mistake!