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Wilwood brake quality/issues #2568036
10/22/18 10:01 PM
10/22/18 10:01 PM
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,167
clarks summit pa
73cuda340 Offline OP
super stock
73cuda340  Offline OP
super stock

Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,167
clarks summit pa
I've read a few articles and posts lately about people not recommending Wilwood for their brake setups. What are the issues that people seem to have with them? Poor quality? I put a 11.75" front brake setup on my car with the wilwood calipers and they seem to be okay. I thought they were considered a good brand to buy when I purchased my setup.


1973 Cuda 528 all aluminum Hemi, 4 speed, 3.23 Sure-Grip, (JA5) Silver Frost Metallic 1973 Challenger Rallye 340 1985 W150 Power Ram prospector 1986 Camaro IROC-Z 305 tpi
Re: Wilwood brake quality/issues [Re: 73cuda340] #2568089
10/22/18 11:19 PM
10/22/18 11:19 PM
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 25,050
Texas
GoodysGotaCuda Offline
5.7L Hemi, 6spd
GoodysGotaCuda  Offline
5.7L Hemi, 6spd

Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 25,050
Texas
My single complaint is pad knockback, though I am not certain this is a Wilwood specific issue.

Otherwise, mine work great, coming up on 5,000mi.


1972 Barracuda - 5.7L Hemi, T56 Magnum 6spd - https://www.facebook.com/GoodysGotaHemi
2020 RAM 1500
[img]https://i.imgur.com/v9yezP9.jpg[/img]
Re: Wilwood brake quality/issues [Re: 73cuda340] #2568098
10/22/18 11:29 PM
10/22/18 11:29 PM
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 463
Rescue CA.
joes68340s Offline
mopar
joes68340s  Offline
mopar

Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 463
Rescue CA.
I have issues with one caliper always locking up. Haven’t figured out why.

Re: Wilwood brake quality/issues [Re: 73cuda340] #2568153
10/23/18 12:56 AM
10/23/18 12:56 AM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 53
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
J
JRC Offline
member
JRC  Offline
member
J

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 53
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
No complaints here with my custom Wilwood setup!

20181019_154312.jpg20181019_154251.jpg20181019_154119.jpg20181019_152614.jpg
Re: Wilwood brake quality/issues [Re: JRC] #2568396
10/23/18 03:36 PM
10/23/18 03:36 PM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 403
Colorado front range
B
BcudaChris Offline
mopar
BcudaChris  Offline
mopar
B

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 403
Colorado front range
Originally Posted By JRC
No complaints here with my custom Wilwood setup!


Not to hijack, but is that the 6 piston Dynalite and the 12.1" rotor?

If so, are you running 15's for wheels? I'd like to get that setup into a cop wheel, but on the horizon and I haven't measured to see if it will work yet. I'd like to be able to swap to 13 or 14 rotors with new brackets when I'm forced by tire selection (or if my talent quits running out and I need bigger brakes) to go to a bigger wheel.

I'm digging your safety wire job. Takes me back to my A&P days.

Last edited by BcudaChris; 10/23/18 03:37 PM. Reason: add more
Re: Wilwood brake quality/issues [Re: JRC] #2568404
10/23/18 03:57 PM
10/23/18 03:57 PM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22,695
Bitopia
J
jcc Offline
If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
jcc  Offline
If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
J

Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22,695
Bitopia
I'm impressed with your noted torque sequence. up


Reality check, that half the population is smarter then 50% of the people and it's a constantly contested fact.
Re: Wilwood brake quality/issues [Re: 73cuda340] #2568468
10/23/18 05:40 PM
10/23/18 05:40 PM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 53
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
J
JRC Offline
member
JRC  Offline
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J

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 53
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
My setup is 13"×1.25" rotors and I made mounts to hold the grand national III 6 piston calipers on '73 a-body spindles (rears are 4 piston forged superlites). Im running 18" Enkei wheels also...not sure if these would squeeze on any smaller of a wheel.

Re: Wilwood brake quality/issues [Re: 73cuda340] #2568516
10/23/18 07:10 PM
10/23/18 07:10 PM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 403
Colorado front range
B
BcudaChris Offline
mopar
BcudaChris  Offline
mopar
B

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 403
Colorado front range
I'm going to say "doubtful" on fitting inside smaller wheels.

Thanks for the info!

Re: Wilwood brake quality/issues [Re: 73cuda340] #2568683
10/24/18 12:47 AM
10/24/18 12:47 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 30,947
Oregon
A
AndyF Offline
I Win
AndyF  Offline
I Win
A

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 30,947
Oregon
Wilwood is just kind of cheesy quality. Pipe plug fittings rather than banjo bolts, caliper flex due to lightweight design, no dust seals on the pistons, etc. Basically cheap hot rod parts rather than OEM quality parts. I rank Wilwood about the same as PRW or Eagle. Not quite the same as a Jesel or T&D or Callies.

Re: Wilwood brake quality/issues [Re: 73cuda340] #2568747
10/24/18 10:04 AM
10/24/18 10:04 AM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 53
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
J
JRC Offline
member
JRC  Offline
member
J

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 53
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Well I know AP Racing calipers among others dont use dust seals either, dust seals are for OEM street vehicle calipers and have no place on a car that sees any amount of track time! Sure Wilwood are no AP or PFC, but depending on the caliper The wilwoods are superior to OEM. These GN III calipers I have are/were one of wilwoods best they had at the time, and I held them next to a set of C7 Corvette Brembo calipers I had and were substantially lighter and stiffer. The pipe fittings are no deal breaker, mine dont leak so whats the issue you have with them Andy?

Re: Wilwood brake quality/issues [Re: 73cuda340] #2569113
10/24/18 09:07 PM
10/24/18 09:07 PM
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 18,493
Granite Bay CA
Kern Dog Offline
Striving for excellence
Kern Dog  Offline
Striving for excellence

Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 18,493
Granite Bay CA
It seems to me that he made it clear.

Re: Wilwood brake quality/issues [Re: AndyF] #2569123
10/24/18 09:42 PM
10/24/18 09:42 PM
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 595
Nashville, Tennessee
Tempest Offline
mopar
Tempest  Offline
mopar

Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 595
Nashville, Tennessee
Originally Posted By AndyF
Wilwood is just kind of cheesy quality. Pipe plug fittings rather than banjo bolts, caliper flex due to lightweight design, no dust seals on the pistons, etc. Basically cheap hot rod parts rather than OEM quality parts. I rank Wilwood about the same as PRW or Eagle. Not quite the same as a Jesel or T&D or Callies.


Wow, just wow....

Re: Wilwood brake quality/issues [Re: Kern Dog] #2569148
10/24/18 10:37 PM
10/24/18 10:37 PM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 53
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
J
JRC Offline
member
JRC  Offline
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J

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 53
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
To me he just gave his opinion with no facts or real reasoning to go with it.

Back up the claim before knocking a product!

Wilwood uses stainless (and thermlock is available) for their pistons, offers hard anodizing coatings (stand up better to track use than powdercoating), they actually do have a few calipers they offer with and without dust seals (dont want or need them on a tracked vehicle tho), light weight and stiff. NPT fittings may not be as nice as banjo, but done correct they dont leak and serve the job just fine...not a deal breaker to me and who sees them anyways?!

I would like to see some modeling to prove they are not stiff or ar just a cheap hotrod part...cuz they seem to do a very good job producing a very capable caliper that improves over any OEM caliper cept for maybe a select few very high end cars!

Like I said sure they are no AP or PFC, but for their price point they pack alot of what the top brands offer for options and will stand up to track abuse.

Prove me wrong with hard facts not opinions. Ive run them and been nothing but satisfied.

Re: Wilwood brake quality/issues [Re: 73cuda340] #2569166
10/24/18 11:24 PM
10/24/18 11:24 PM
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 18,493
Granite Bay CA
Kern Dog Offline
Striving for excellence
Kern Dog  Offline
Striving for excellence

Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 18,493
Granite Bay CA
Do you also get mad if the other girls don't tell you that you are pretty?
Andy has his opinions....If you disagree, so what? You made your case, he made his. Why dwell on it ?

Re: Wilwood brake quality/issues [Re: Kern Dog] #2569247
10/25/18 08:33 AM
10/25/18 08:33 AM
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 25,050
Texas
GoodysGotaCuda Offline
5.7L Hemi, 6spd
GoodysGotaCuda  Offline
5.7L Hemi, 6spd

Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 25,050
Texas
Originally Posted By Frankenduster
Do you also get mad if the other girls don't tell you that you are pretty?
Andy has his opinions....If you disagree, so what? You made your case, he made his. Why dwell on it ?


I agree, Andy is a pretty reputable source of information around here.

I haven't personally seen the flexing issue, and it would be somewhat challenging to actually measure caliper deflection without a brake dyno, but it isn't the first time I have read that type of comment regarding Wilwood calipers.

Their calipers seem to work fine for my application, I do wish I could rig my calipers up to float someway. It'd resolve my pad knockback issue.


1972 Barracuda - 5.7L Hemi, T56 Magnum 6spd - https://www.facebook.com/GoodysGotaHemi
2020 RAM 1500
[img]https://i.imgur.com/v9yezP9.jpg[/img]
Re: Wilwood brake quality/issues [Re: 73cuda340] #2569280
10/25/18 11:17 AM
10/25/18 11:17 AM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 53
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
J
JRC Offline
member
JRC  Offline
member
J

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 53
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Let it be known that I have nothing against Andy, and im hardly mad about his comments...I just wanted to know how/what he was basing/quantifying his comments on. Has he personally run wilwood components? If so what were they and how long ago? What were the problems he had that make him call them "cheesy" and cheap hotrod parts, how does he know the calipers were flexing?!

Without some kind of first hand use/experience/testing, I don't like when someone bashes a product. Andy does have alot of knowledge and helps the community with his parts etc...so when he bashes something some people will be biased towards things beacuse he said so. Someone with his background and position should spill the beans on what they know or have discovered and not be so quick to knock something, and if he has run "xxxx" caliper or hub or whatever and this happened then kool, let us all know so we can be aware and avoid or use that info when making our own decisions.

Thats all, not picking any fights here, just asking questions folks!

Re: Wilwood brake quality/issues [Re: 73cuda340] #2570219
10/27/18 02:50 PM
10/27/18 02:50 PM
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,645
Phila. Pa.
Mattax Offline
top fuel
Mattax  Offline
top fuel

Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,645
Phila. Pa.
Fair enough questions.

Re: Wilwood brake quality/issues [Re: 73cuda340] #2570542
10/28/18 11:58 AM
10/28/18 11:58 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,005
Tulsa OK
Bad340fish Offline
master
Bad340fish  Offline
master

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,005
Tulsa OK
My front Wilwood kit is over 15 years old, only replacements have been pads and rotors. I just recently added them to the rear and the kit fit well and works good.

I think they are a good product for the money.


68 Barracuda Formula S 340
87 "Chrysler" Conquest






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