The various Monaro brake specs...

[mackie1]

What different brake configurations are fitted as standard to the various UK models?

The CV8 I'm in the process of buying has the brakes from a VXR fitted but I'm not sure which model they are from. Do the 04 and 05 VXRs have different brakes?

I know there's been much discussion about the inadequacy of the standard brakes on the car and I think my first major mod will be in that direction. Would Porterfield R4-Ss on VXR disks be OK for fast road use? I'm not really planning on doing track days in it although I may be tempted by something like VMax so I want to be confident that they'd be able to haul it down from big speeds (150mph+?) at least a few times before overheating. The APs would be lovely and are excellent value but £2k is still a lot! Does anyone in the UK stock Porterfield pads?

My current car is a Puma (big step up I know!) so I'm used to having not-so-great brakes but I found a pad upgrade made a HUGE difference. The AP disks aren't MUCH bigger so I'm guessing the main weekness with the VXR setup is the calipers and pads. I think I saw someone mention you can use Corvette pads in the VXR calipers and that they have a 40% larger area, something that wouldhelp a lot it terms of heat disipation and simply the amount of friction, anyone tried this?

Cheers,

Mackie

[ringram]

Quite a few guys swear on the gains from pads and good tyres.
I guess its a good idea to try both before upgrading disk size.

[stu harris]

04 CV8 has weakest set up fr 298x28 rr 286x16
04 VXR has the larger disc and caliper set up from HSV fr330x32 rr 315x18
05 CV8 has a much modified system (brake booster) plus same size discs as 04 HSV model
05 VXR has same upgraded system , same size discs as 05 CV8 and HSV caliper

Then there is the AP system....

HTH

Stu

[powermat]

The '05 CV8 is nearly the same as the VXR as it has a different front disc size. The VXR is 330mm where the CV8 is 320mm. I know it's not much, but none of the parts are interchangable except maybe the brake hose.
Cheers

[simonb9]

Mackie,

Are you in the process of buying the red CV8 with the VXR brakes advertised on here ?? If so, I won't bother trying to ring the bloke !!

SB.

[Well_Fans]

how difficult is it to replace an 04 cv8 brakes with those off an 05 model then with this "brake booster" system?

[mackie1]

Thanks for your answers guys

Surely all the bigger servo in the '05 model would do is reduce the peddle effort for a given clamping pressure on the disk. That won't affect the fade-resistance or ultimate stopping power really (unless you're a real weakling). I'm not a fan of over-servo'd brakes so it's not a big selling point for me. I would assume that all models share the same uprights/hub carriers and hubs so it should be possible to interchange the caliper/disk/bracket assemblies in their entirity between models, provided ofcourse the master cylinder is compatible with the calipers going on.

I think I'll see how the VXR brakes fair and if I'm really not happy stump up the wonga for the AP setup.

Yes it is the red one advertised on here. The sale has been agreed so it's just a matter of sorting out the exchange of monies etc. I should have it by mid next week all being well, hopefully before!

*Excited*

Edited by mackie1 on Thursday 24th August 17:48