AP Racing Brakes ?

[bulldog 1]

Just took my first test drive in an Ultima. I was totally satisfied with the drive, but a little less convinsed of the brakes. They did not seem sharp or even responsive.

The owner said that it was because they are racing brakes that need to be warmed up before becoming effective.

It seems to make sense, but what is the point in this as the Ultima is also a road car ?

Any advice ?????

[Steve_D]

They work fine for me but as has been said to you they get better the harder they are worked.
As for road use they seem to perform at the level you are driving. Pootle around and, as you say, they may not seem so sharp but then, they don't need to be.

Steve

[Rusti Evo]

Interesting: having recently purchased a second hand Ultima I found that the only real area of disapointment is the brakes. I find them to be dead and without feel - they work sort of OK but don't inspire any confidence. That said, my last car had pretty much perfection brakes so I've been a tad spoilt.

The Ultima brakes are by AP Racing but they are just ordinary road-going 4 pots - nothing clever - it's the pad choice that makes the difference. Ask the owner what pads it is using. Probably the best road pads for the APs are DS2500 and like all road pads these need next to no warming up at all.

I will soon be getting some of my favourite Carbotechs made up and hopefully the XP 10s will provide some feedback and bite.

[bluesatin]

Rusti,

Mintex F4r work well and you should try braking from 150 mph- mintex m1166 (standard) will still destroy carbon ceramic disk cars wile the F4 is even better.

[Wilder]

Racing discs & pads are designed pretty much the same in that when cold, they do feel unresponsive, but as you use them and they warm up, they start to feel good.
They do need a firm shove, but theses brakes will haul the car to a stop faster than just about any others.
If you use them on a track you will find that they are tremendous.
I use the Ferodo race pads, and road or track they feel good, but especially the track. Dont be fooled into thinking they dont work because of your initial drive.

[GTRCLIVE]

I to found the factory AP's with DS2500 pads alittle hard and not very nice for the road, but they do work well when pushed..... So I went for a different setup and used a New set of Toyota 4 Pot calipers all round. They are from the front of a 1996 Celica GT4 fitted them on 330mm discs all round with TRD Pads and found they had more feel and better progression than both the AP GTR's I drove... Even better for feel than 6 pot AP's... can only put that down to the Pad/Disc material.... just gave me more confidence...

[Rusti Evo]

Wilder said:

Racing discs & pads are designed pretty much the same in that when cold, they do feel unresponsive, but as you use them and they warm up, they start to feel good.
They do need a firm shove, but theses brakes will haul the car to a stop faster than just about any others.
If you use them on a track you will find that they are tremendous.
I use the Ferodo race pads, and road or track they feel good, but especially the track. Dont be fooled into thinking they dont work because of your initial drive.

Do you use the DS3000 on track? I was nervous that the red hot residues would trash the gell coat.

Stuart

[LuckyP]

Just a thought, but could the OP be describing the difference between a servo assisted set up in a 'regular' car and the hairy chested non-servos in the Ult? I bet he wasn't standing on the brakes, so this would explain why he felt they were less than suitable for road driving??

Next I would suggest that maybe the brake bias might be set too far back, and perhaps not diving the car onto it's nose under braking.

[Wilder]

Rusti Evo said:

Wilder said:

Racing discs & pads are designed pretty much the same in that when cold, they do feel unresponsive, but as you use them and they warm up, they start to feel good.
They do need a firm shove, but theses brakes will haul the car to a stop faster than just about any others.
If you use them on a track you will find that they are tremendous.
I use the Ferodo race pads, and road or track they feel good, but especially the track. Dont be fooled into thinking they dont work because of your initial drive.

Do you use the DS3000 on track? I was nervous that the red hot residues would trash the gell coat.

Stuart

Yes, and on track they do start to come into their own. I like the Ferodos, and would deffinately recommend them.
For track work they are as good as any I have used in the past.

[Paul.B]

LuckyP said:

Just a thought, but could the OP be describing the difference between a servo assisted set up in a 'regular' car and the hairy chested non-servos in the Ult? I bet he wasn't standing on the brakes, so this would explain why he felt they were less than suitable for road driving??

Next I would suggest that maybe the brake bias might be set too far back, and perhaps not diving the car onto it's nose under braking.

My thoughts too. Untill you are used to them, unservo'd brakes may feel 'dead' in the initial press. You soon learn to love the direct relationship between pedal presure and stopping effect. You do have to push that little bit harder though.


Paul.B