Is the 'Big brake' option worth it?

[timrw81]

Hi all,

I should be ordering a new factory built 1.6 Supersport in January and have just been going through some options. As it stands the car will be standard, including aeroscreen and unpainted (black nose cone and wings) but with lowered floors, a 12v power socket and a tonneau for if the car is parked up outside anywhere. I've started to be tempted by the big brake upgrade and just wondered people's opinion on whether its worth going for at £780.00. My aim is to have a car well below 500kg and also wonder how much weight - if any - these brakes add.

Tim

[one eyed mick]

depends on how fast you want to stop or how many bar bragging points you want

[pikeyboy]

My caterham fireblade tips the scales at 413 kilos with a qtr tank of juice. I have disks all round and the alcon two pot calipers. No probs with brakes on track and so personally i doubt you'll need it.

[TeflonT]

Doubt they add any weight, stop much quicker. What you save on steel vs alloy callipers is probably the gain on the vented discs.

[mickrick]

More stopping power = more feel.

[timrw81]

Thanks guys. Feel is the one thing I want my car to have above all else. That Supersport has it in spades already so you're selling the big brakes to me Mick. They just seem mighty expensive. Hey ho.

In the same vein as that, I'm also toying with the idea of a 22% quick steering rack. Your thoughts and experiences please . I'll be doing 100% road driving but there are roads you can only dream of round here.

Tim

[BertBert]

mickrick said:

More stopping power = more feel.

Why? Stopping power is a factor of how "big" the brakes are. Feel is determined by the pedal/MC/piston ratios. So you can have really good feel on (within reason) any level of stopping power.
Bert

[coppice]

Caterhams stop incredibly quickly on standard brakes; if you want better feel the competition master cylinder is worth thinking about.

[BigCol]

for me, if I'd spec'ed big brakes, I'd've been more likely to have passed my IVA first time... but if you're going for a factory-built car, that'd be irrelevant!

or fit Minitex pads - they provide more stopping power than standard jobbies

Edited by BigCol on Sunday 16th June 10:03

[mickrick]

BertBert said:

mickrick said:

More stopping power = more feel.

Why? Stopping power is a factor of how "big" the brakes are. Feel is determined by the pedal/MC/piston ratios. So you can have really good feel on (within reason) any level of stopping power.
Bert

How do I explain feel ?
Yes the smaller master cylinder dia. will give you more braking power, but it will also give you more pedal travel.
Swings and roundabouts really. Yes the standard brakes are adequate, but it´s just my personal opinion that the bigger brake kit is worth having if you can afford it.
There will be equal measure of those for and against I´m sure. A bit like those more or less power is better threads.

[TeflonT]

22% rack and a MOMO 12c wheel are my preferred setup. Very direct.

The big brakes are a massive transformation from the Triumph Spitfire calipers. Sure the Spitfire calipers work well compared to most cars on the road, but the AP setup takes the game to a new level.

You need to try both of these options yourself. Words do not describe the difference, and you also have to like the feel and more hardcore responses they bring.

Edited by TeflonT on Sunday 16th June 10:16

[HustleRussell]

I wouldn't bother with big brakes or 22% rack on a road car.

[johnvthe2nd]

they look far better and have got Caterham written on them.

[mickrick]

Or you could do it properly, and go for a 279mm vented floating disc on alloy bells, with AP Radi-Cal monoblock F3 callipers, with bespoke road compound pads
They have "AP" written on them and look yummy.
Than top it off with a two piston set up for the rear with integral drum parking brake in the disc bell.

But it will take you nearly three years to get it all together..............

[RGambo]

Big brakes, yes. 22℅ rack, no. Thats whats on my supersport.

[downsman]

Just a thought, the big brakes aren't just expensive as an option.
Replacement vented discs are a lot more expensive to replace than the solid ones: £150 per disc rather than £24........

[rubystone]

downsman said:

Just a thought, the big brakes aren't just expensive as an option.
Replacement vented discs are a lot more expensive to replace than the solid ones: £150 per disc rather than £24........

But a 7 is so light on its brakes you will never need to replace those discs. I am on the same set of discs 9 years after fitting the last ones....I find the feel of the big brakes better then the smaller ones fwiw

[downsman]

9 years is good going, what sort of annual mileage are you doing? Hope you don't mind me asking

[timrw81]

Thanks for all the replies guys. As you say, the only option I guess is to try and get a drive in a car with one or both of those options specced. I must say I'm not put off the idea of either by any of the above posts. I'd just like to create a razor sharp car. I think I must be something of a masochist cos the more hardcore a 7 is, in terms of suspension, seating, lack of windscreen etc, the more I like it - and I mean on the road too. One more quick question for The Teflon T..., with your 22% rack are you able to take even the tightest of turns or apply any amount off opposite lock by a roll of the wrists or do you still ever have to feed the wheel through your hands?

Tim

[TeflonT]

Tim, Hard to feed the wheel with a Momo 12c