Quote:

---

Here is a comparison by the way....top is a twin piston PBR caliper (made in Oz, but used on an assortment of GM and Fords here) in the middle is a 4 piston Brembo from a SRT8 Challenger, and bottom is the 8 piston one I used (before I had painted them)

---

those SRT-8 calipers are probably pretty close in size to the gen 1/2 calipers as far as overall dimensions of the caliper body. I just looked on Rock-Auto and they are using 44mm bore pistons? I think the Gen 3 viper caliper that I have now is a tad bigger in overall size but it's only running 44/40 mm pistons. (because of how pads can "self-energize" as the leading edge pulls in to the rotor, they add a larger diameter trailing piston to provide even pad wear)


To answer some of the earlier questions, my truck with me in the seat and a full tank of gas tips the scales at just over 4,000 lbs. the average club cab V8 truck is around 4300 lbs, and an average quad cab is 4700 lbs. my Dakota is on the light side of the scale, because it came from the factory without a lot of options that add weight, such as no AC, no cruise, manual transmission, 2wd, and manual windows, locks, mirrors, seats, etc.


As far as pad compound, I'll be running the OEM stock pads for now, because the ones in these calipers have about 70% pad life left. Chances are though, I'll be switching to a ceramic pad fairly soon, just because of how much black dust the OEM pads can create. But I won't be using a super aggressive pad that needs heat and noise to get them up to temp before they work.


And yes, I WANT these brakes. I haven't said anywhere that I NEED them. Excess is excess, whether it be horsepower or brake torque.

I wouldn't tell anyone that they NEED brakes like this, just as I wouldn't tell anyone that they NEED a 600 hp motor.

but, after driving a vehicle with brakes like this, you may just decide that you WANT them too! just the same as someone who rides in a 600 hp vehicle may go home and start ordering parts to build themselves an aluminum headed stroker motor!

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

I like to think

---

And there lies the problem.


We've had this discussion before.

---

What a profound OT reply from my podiatrist self proclaimed moparts nemesis.

Just saying.

---

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

But look at other forms of road racing cars that are setup to race on tracks with lots of corners. Australian touring cars for example...use AP racing calipers and 15.5" rotors.
Of course the Aussie cars are a little more high tech I suppose than the old fashioned nascar stuff.

---

curious - what car did those massive brembos come off of?

---

They're the same brakes you'll find on a 65 Belvedere.

Quote:

---

Still ?

I thought they would be onto the Imp by now

---

I've been slacking.
A few machining projects need to be done, the hot rod needs the door panels dyed black and carpet installed, then I need to do the paint and body on the Imperial. After all that is done I can start tinkering with the hot rod goodies on the Imp.

Work has been extremely stressful lately and I'm working longer hours. When I get home I just don't want to do anything.

Quote:

---

When I get home I just don't want to do anything.

---

I know how that feeling can be sometimes..

Quote:

---

Still ?

I thought they would be onto the Imp by now

---

Quote:

---

Don't worry about it 70Cuda383, its just typical Mopar guys that have nothing better to do.
I appreciate that you showing off your bigger brakes this is something I'd like to tackle for a project.
Last year I almost rear ended a guy who 2 footed his brakes ahead of me for no reason in my Cuda, all mine did was lock up and skid with stock discs and drums on the back.
Something like this is the ticket!

Maybe I should have left my stock drums on my Dart.. instead of drilled slotted 12.19" rotors all around. They help compliment my NOS window felts.

---

well, if your brakes locked up and skidded, then you've exceeded the braking capacity of your tires...I'd suggest some 17" rims with BFG KDW's, g-force comp2's, continental extremecontact, or michelin pilot sports first before you spend too much money on brakes...(dang it, how come I can't find the "stir the pot" smiley )

Quote:

---

But look at other forms of road racing cars that are setup to race on tracks with lots of corners. Australian touring cars for example...use AP racing calipers and 15.5" rotors.
Of course the Aussie cars are a little more high tech I suppose than the old fashioned nascar stuff.

---

Quote:

---

Just to toss more fuel to the fire...

here's a list of cars that all stop in under 100 feet from 60 mph. I noticed that they ALL have multi-piston calipers, and large rotors. ...the smallest rotor in that whole list was a 12" rotor on the front of a porsche boxter...but that car is also probably the lightest car on the list, weighing just 3,000 lbs.


Oh, and you can add a 4,000 lb pick-up truck to the list. I stopped my truck in under 100 feet from 60. argue what you want, but fact is, my truck was going 60 mph and I stopped it in less than 100 feet. repeatedly.

---

Quote:

---

(because of how pads can "self-energize" as the leading edge pulls in to the rotor, they add a larger diameter trailing piston to provide even pad wear)

---

Is this statement "critical" enough to question?

And

1. I am already sitting down
2. I haven't said a word.
3. If anybody thinks I am badgering them, that is not my intent, and feel free not to respond.

Quote:

---

Oh, and you can add a 4,000 lb pick-up truck to the list. I stopped my truck in under 100 feet from 60. argue what you want, but fact is, my truck was going 60 mph and I stopped it in less than 100 feet. repeatedly.

---

sub 100 ft = super impressive

My goal for me car - get within 10 feet of your truck's braking ability. So I don't a little ABS equipped sportscar when braking for a turn.

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

(because of how pads can "self-energize" as the leading edge pulls in to the rotor, they add a larger diameter trailing piston to provide even pad wear)

---

Is this statement "critical" enough to question?

And

1. I am already sitting down
2. I haven't said a word.
3. If anybody thinks I am badgering them, that is not my intent, and feel free not to respond.

---

Quote:

---

They use them because the rules allow them.

---

Quote:

---

Let's take a look at Watkins Glen, since it runs both Nascar dinosaurs and modern sports cars. Laps times for the Dinos is 69.43 qualifying lap. A Grand Am Rolex series Daytona Prototype car lap in qualifying was 67.02. That is a two second difference that amounts to a lot more than just brake rotor diameter. DP cars are 5.0 liter V8s typically , but only weigh in at 2275#, more than 1000# less than the 3500# dinosaur Cup car. So, I'd say a 12" rotor and a racing slick is certainly a very capable combination. If you use the old adage that 100# is worth a .1 reduction in elapsed time, then the 1225# difference of the Cup car means it would be down in the 68 second range at Watkins Glen if their weight was reduced, so there isn't a huge advantge in the bigger brake package.

---

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

(because of how pads can "self-energize" as the leading edge pulls in to the rotor, they add a larger diameter trailing piston to provide even pad wear)

---

Is this statement "critical" enough to question?

And

1. I am already sitting down
2. I haven't said a word.
3. If anybody thinks I am badgering them, that is not my intent, and feel free not to respond.

---

Drum shoes are self energizing.
Disc brake pads are prone to wearing on a taper. Smaller front pistons help reduce that taper wear. It's a very common solution that know-nothing people like Brembo use to extend brake life.

---

And I used quotation marks around "self energize" because it's not a true self energize like drum brakes, but it's basically the same thing happening. it's not the whole pad that pulls in like on a drum brake, just the leading edge.

but, someone as critically thinking as you wouldn't have any problem noticing quotation marks and realizing that perhaps the words used between said quotation marks, are not to be taken literally, and that they're probably being used figuratively.

Quote:

---

I don't buy it with or without quotation marks, at the risk of sounding "negative".

---

Ok. That's fine. I'm not going to try to convince you of why people like Wilwood, Brembo, Baer, etc; use smaller leading pistons on their multi-piston calipers. The research/data is out there, google is your friend, if you really want to know (there's actually 3 or 4 reasons, but I over simplified it and used quotation marks... now's your chance to list ALL the reasons specifically, list why they happen, and point out how wrong I am)

Besides...It's not like you're ever going to use them anyway, since you're happy with the original 11" rotors and OEM calipers