VR II Brakes 'n' stuff

[YByN8]

Hello people,

I’m after some help on choosing my next set of stopping power, I have a few requirements with what I want to achieve.

I’ve been tryna do a lil research but I don’t have a lota time so I thought id post this thread…..

I have a VR with chrome rims on it & I’m sick of having black brake dust crap all over them! I clean my car then take it for a 20minute drive up the shops & wolla my rims are black again…..
I want to find a good compromise to maximise rotor & pad life

I want slotted / vented rotors all round, mainly cause ya can see the rotors clearly through the wheels…..

The short list is:
DBA vs RDA or is there any other brand that would be worth considering?…..

Now for the pads.
I would like good firm peddle feel, something that won’t attack my rotors harshly or make stupid squealing noises. Something that will NOT deliver black dust crap to my rims! Something that will pull the car up impressively and something in the budget between $50.00 & $100.00 a set.

The short list is:
Bendix
EBC
Ferodo
or is there any other brand that would be worth considering?

My currant setup is:
Brake Fluid:
Fresh Castrol DOT4 completely flushed out and bled

Mater Cylinder:
Reconditioned swap over suited to the car with fresh new Castrol DOT4 fluid

Brake pads:
Bendix Ultimate; Stops the car ok but is noisy, makes a mess,
the peddle is realy realy spongy, they eat my rotors, they don’t last long & they
cost too much…..

So, what parts do you think I should get?

Thanx in advance.

[immortality]

try the DBA slotted rotors, the bendix ultimate pads are their top of the line sports type brake pad, designed for max stopping power etc, dust wasn't an issue when they designed them. your always going to get brake dust, it's a fact of life. maybe try some of the green stuff pads, i hear there good for reduced brakedust but i haven't tried them myself

[holden007]

I think there a cermaic verison of bendix which doesn't make as much dust.

[gslrallysport]

I have a VR with chrome rims on it & I’m sick of having black brake dust crap all over them! I clean my car then take it for a 20minute drive up the shops & wolla my rims are black again…..

Fact of life now since they banned abspestos, that any decent pad has to dust... Yes, you can get pads that don't dust, but then they don't stop either...

I want slotted / vented rotors all round, mainly cause ya can see the rotors clearly through the wheels…..

Yep, slotted is all you'll ever need. X-drilled is a waste of money and performance, and unless you're only doing it for looks, I'll only reccomend them for 4wd's that regularly get driven on the beach...

The short list is:
DBA vs RDA or is there any other brand that would be worth considering?…..

No, not really, both come out of China, the DBA are ridiculously overpriced, and to be honest, I've had less problems with the RDA...

Something that will NOT deliver black dust crap to my rims!

Well then you're not going to get performance pads...

Something that will pull the car up impressively and something in the budget between $50.00 & $100.00 a set.

The best pads you're going to get in that price range is the Lucas... 650degrees, 100 better than the best Bendix (not that any of their pads are that crash hot anyway), and are cheap as chips $50 for the front, $40 for the rear..

or

EBC

Do very good pads, in either Green or Red Stuff, personally for the money, I'd still go the Lucas. I run them in the rally car, and even with standard callipers, and non-slotted rotors, I have no problem pulling up! I also run them in the Cross 6, which tows the rally car, and even with the combined weight of over 4 tonne car and trailer, the Lucas have never even hinted at fade, and I've had to tow up and down some pretty steep roads!

Having said all that, the weakest link in ANY braking system is the brake fluid. Dot 4 is just standard road going stuff, same as Dot 3 and all comes out of the same factory that makes Dulux paints, regardless of what bottle it comes in.

Dot 5.1 is the next step up, better than Dot 3 or 4, and because its not an international standard formulation, has many different manufacturers and performance, the generally regarded best is the Motul...

BUT, if you're going to spend any sort of money, make it worth while and get the best fluid you can. RBF600's are a little bit more expensive, but well worth the money. Both Motul and Castrol make them, but unlike the Lucas RBF600, neither the Motul or Castrol are backward compatible with the lower grades of fluid, meaning you're stuck using them.

The Lucas retails for $123 for the litre bottle, but can be had online for $66... There's a little discussion on it here:

http://www.astinagt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8264

I specialise in brake and clutch, so if you're after a second opinion on any prices just let me know!

[kopper69]

Nice work gslrallysport, some good info there.

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

gsrallysport, did you ever find out why that brake upgrade package didn't do the VSII?

[gslrallysport]

No I didn't, but RDA is going through the process of re-catalouging all their products... both the BK2 and BK5 kits will change, and last I heard, they *should* fit...

That said, although the kit is EXTREMELY well done (ie, a different box for each corner, complete with rotor, calliper, attachments, pads and lines... all nicely set out), they weren't overly price competitive, so I'm going to look into PBR and see what they're prices are like...

Just one other thing I should probably take back, (keeping in mind what time i wrote that post! ), is that there probably is one good compromise between dust and performance... A pad called QFM... They make pads in the following specs:

- Taxi 69, Cold Friction 0.41, Hot Friction 0.37 480 degrees...
- HP-X, Cold Friction 0.41, Hot Friction 0.42 550 degrees....

They've been making non-asbestos pads for 20years, and do it better than anyone... They're pads DO NOT dust at all, and pretty much every taxi in Melbourne and Sydney runs their pads, and get over 80k's out of either pads or rotors... If you're not after a full performance pad, with a hot friction of 0.37, 480 degrees, and no dust, is about the best you're going to get!!!

Their pads are made on the Gold Coast (ie. QFM, QLD Friction Materials), not china, and are extremely priced competitive...

Just out of interest I've requested pricing for DB1085,1086,1331,1332 in both specs...

Will keep you updated!

[ephect]

may have to look into these QFM's taxi 69

bout due for some new pads.. see i've always gone with soft pads, never had major dust or squeeking issues, until i went with bendix (dont know type) but they were hard pads..

[YByN8]

yer my Bendix ultimates was squeeling there for a lil wile, so I pulled the glide pins out & re greazed em', then they stopped with the stupid noises.....

Thanx heaps for all the info, this is great advise, keep it coming if ya like.....

I got a couple prices after ya told us about the Lucas & the EBC there gslrallysport & I come up with roughly $123.00 for the EBC Green Stuff & $65.00 for the Lucas pads.....

I like the sound of the QFM pads but only thing is, just about every taxi I ever seen or been braking near me nearly always squeels, mine you this is in Sydney & I dunno what they use on these Fords.....

I might hold off on getting my brake stuff & monitor this forum for a wile.....

Thanx again all.....

[gslrallysport]

I got a couple prices after ya told us about the Lucas & the EBC there gslrallysport & I come up with roughly $123.00 for the EBC Green Stuff & $65.00 for the Lucas pads.....

I'll have pricing on the EBC first thing monday, but for the lucas that's a bit steep... VB-VS Lucas $50 and $40 front and rear... www.gslrallysport.com

Greg

[gslrallysport]

Ok, I've got the QFM pricing...

Taxi:
DB1085 $70
DB1086 $45
DB1331 $45
DB1332 $45

HPX:
DB1085 $70
DB1086 $70
DB1331 $70
DB1332 $70

So the Taxi's are definately a price competitive 'dustless' alternative, and at 480 degrees, they're still not a shabby pad...

The HPX are still short on the Lucas Performance, and at nearly double the price. Though the difference between 550 and 650 degrees on the street is negligible, keeping in mind Bendix Ultimate are only good for 550 anyway, but the HPX are virtually dustless...

Still waiting to hear from EBC on pricing as they're having computer problems this morning... Should have by the end of the day hopefully...

Greg

[ephect]

the part numbers, what models are they for/from?

but pricing sounds good

[gslrallysport]

DB1085/86 is front/rear of EVERY Commodore from VB-VS, only the rotor sizes changed...

DB1331,32 is front/rear VT-VZ

Also with the QFM Taxi in 1085 there was going to be a two week wait, as its not current model taxi... Same with all the HPXs... QFM have all the backing plates there, and keep stock of their two lowest specs pads, but anything above that (except current taxi) they have to make up...

They also have an 800 degree race spec pad, but it'd useless for the first 5 stops on the street!

I'll wait till i get the EBC pricing, and then sumarise prices/advatages/applications all in one post!

[ephect]

thanks gslrallysport.

an asset to JC!

[gslrallysport]

Ok ya'll, got the EBC pricing through!

Green Stuff/Red Stuff
1085 - $119/$165
1086 - $109/$199
1331 - $125/$259
1332 - $105/$175

- If you're after a top performance race pad, have money to burn, don't mind sqeal, dust and no cold performance... EBC Red Stuff!

- If you're after an excellent performance pad, that's low noise, doesn't eat rotors, but dusts a little... Lucas or EBC Green Stuff!

- If you're after a slightly lower performing pad, that doesn't dust... Go the QFM Taxi!

My personal pick is still the Lucas! Not even in my rally car, can I justify spending that sort of money on the Red Stuff... I've tried both the Lucas and Green stuff, and prefer the Lucas, the fact its half the price is just a bonus!

Obviously dust is of concern to some, in which case go the Taxi or HPX! And they're still dirt cheap! I haven't personally tired them, but I've had their performance recommended by someone who's opinion I regard highly...

That's it for pads!

[JcB]

DB1085/86 is front/rear of EVERY Commodore from VB-VS, only the rotor sizes changed...

Did the rotor size change for a series 2 VS, will the DB1085/86 combo fit my
VS Series 2 Calais? Thanks.

[gslrallysport]

Rotor sizes did change quite a few times throughout VB-VS (ie V8's and Turbo calais etc.), but the pads never did... DB1085/86 will fit VSII

[JcB]

Thanks for that 'gslrallysport'