I found 380 x 34 mm (15" x 1.375") rotors that will fit on my drum brake spindles with Brembo calipers for $600 plus about 120 for .400" thick chromoly steel adapters. Would this be too much for a street car? What size wheels would I have to run? I am really considering this because its off the shelf parts with an adapter that I can get cut out on the water jet. Tim

If the rotors are cheap enough, you can always cut them down so they don't need as big of a wheel.

At what point becomes a discrotor just a flywheel with stored energy for the car in question?

Big enough?




Not quite sure about the cheap part though...

As long as you don't might the weight of a rotor that size may be, or running the 19" or 20" wheels...sounds like a decent deal for rotors and calipers (depending on just what Brembos they are?)

I stick with 360mm rotors on mine along with the 8 piston Brembos as I don't want to run larger than an 18" wheel on my car..

Now THAT's "Handling on Rails"

Best wishes for the New Year!

So what is the goal? Bragging rights, bling, mechanical mounting challenges, etc? Too big of brakes may make you warm and fuzzy and peace of mind, while you study the bumper of the guy that just passed you. Unsprung weight, and the flywheel effect mentioned which is valid at BOTH ends of the straightaway, and normally cost, which the Op has overcome. are all concerns, bottomline, the wrong solution at a good price, is still the wrong solution. Now if the OP is overheating his ducted brakes repeatedly, step up, but might want to figure out how to lighten the car, which has many benefits, reduced braking requirements being one.

I much prefer moderate size rotors that are available at any moment and not an arm and a leg. We run cooling to our brakes, to me this is a lot cheaper then dealing with 14"+ rotors. For us it comes down to the Caliper, pads and cooling.

I actually like doing the research and figuring out how to make things work. I like thinking outside the box and finding applications that I can make fit. It takes a lot of money to but caliper brackets and rotors just to see if I can make them fit, so I have been just doing the math and calculations lately.

I have laid out the rotor brackets in cad and had them cut on a water jet for the ones that are presently on my car now from 4140, I am still wondering if I should make a set from aluminum. They are .375 thick if aluminum, .400 in 4140 precision ground plate. I could do the same thing with the 380 mm rotors, the hat height on the 380's would require me to use 2 brackets that are bolted together to offset the caliper bracket to get the right offset.

The 305mm rotors that I have now have brackets that are 1 piece and require 17" wheels to clear the calipers. The 380's would require 19" wheels. I like the idea of larger wheels for better handling but I hate the rubber band look. I am just pondering about this as a project. Tim

A cad and a water jet sure would be nice..I made my brackets the "old fashioned" way

My 360 mm rotors tip the scales at 37 pounds. EACH.

Are you sure you want to go larger?


I bought my brakes 9 years ago when big brake kits were not readily available for our cars.
Scrounging around in our inventory gave me a 4 wheel big brake kit cheaper than the 13" front-only brakes offered at the time.

Keep it at 13" or less and make your life easy.

Also, don't forget to check the caliper clearance for the back of the wheel. That was a major issue for me (and Oz).

Here is some info on Formula 1 carbon rotors with ERS energy recovery system sounds $$$$$$
http://www.formula1.com/inside_f1/understanding_the_sport/5284.html


First one on Moparts with these brakes wins

I was just thinking that I could do this because its fairly cheap (under 1200), I can match the fronts and rears from the original vehicle, and there is some cool factor to having rotors that fill the wheel well. The rears are 13" along with a hydroboost and a system that is designed for a 6000# vehicle.

Ignore the arrows!

Nifty little brake pad you're holding there.
Looks a bit glazed over though...

Hey at least I ignored the arrows...

Nope, large SUV, they have the largest brakes of any 1/2 class ton suv out there....