Better S4 Brake Upgrade: Hi-Spec Kit or Brembos?
Discussion
I have got the Hi-Spec kit and I think it's superb! Also at some point, your used Brembos will need reconning and at the end of the day they are used.
Also PNM are developing bigger disc kits in the future so if you wanted to further upgrade yuor brakes, all you need is the discs and bracket.
I also opted for gold calipers which go well with my Norfolk Mustard car. There are other colours as well.
Cheers,
Dave
Also PNM are developing bigger disc kits in the future so if you wanted to further upgrade yuor brakes, all you need is the discs and bracket.
I also opted for gold calipers which go well with my Norfolk Mustard car. There are other colours as well.
Cheers,
Dave
I was considering the same options.
I rang douglas valley breakers to see if they had any V8 calipers and they wanted just under £500!!!
So im going for the hi-spec 325mm billet-4 conversion, which in my hi-spec is only listed for a Elan S2 but ill have to ring them and see what they can do.
I rang douglas valley breakers to see if they had any V8 calipers and they wanted just under £500!!!
So im going for the hi-spec 325mm billet-4 conversion, which in my hi-spec is only listed for a Elan S2 but ill have to ring them and see what they can do.
Luke, PNM are just in the process of doing a Hi-Spec rear kit. Mine will be the first to have one installed. He is using my car to take measurements. He has ordered a rear disc and the bracket to suit. I reckon about 2-4 weeks away. It's a definate project, so I would go for the fronts first.
Kev, PNM are also developing the monster 4 and monster 6 caliper to suit a bigger disc and bell. Obviously these projects take time but again he is using my car to take dimensions. Iam also producing CAD drawings once the first bracket is made so they can get them properly made.
Hope this helps.
Dave Walters
Kev, PNM are also developing the monster 4 and monster 6 caliper to suit a bigger disc and bell. Obviously these projects take time but again he is using my car to take dimensions. Iam also producing CAD drawings once the first bracket is made so they can get them properly made.
Hope this helps.
Dave Walters
karmavore said:
Great news, Super Dave. I assume that the rears will be the same "Billet 4 Road Calipers" used in the front kit?
Luke.
Yes they will be 4 pots, not sure on the diameter of the pot size and they would need to balance the braking system out. Also they will have a handbrake mechanism.
Dave
I upgraded my EBC greenstuff to some Mintex pads which are especially built using your existing backing plates. www.0800brakes.co.nz/pg8.htm It has a resin/metal compound. They are used on some of the Holden/Ford V8 super cars down under here, so they rate well. The downside is that any grippy pad will eat your disks, but since I dont use my car as a daily driver I don't really care 
The other reason why I changed pads, was that a close friend of ours is a store manager who sells EBC brake equipment and I asked him if he could really set me up with something special. He said well you don't want EBC because its all hype and amazing what a bit of marketing can do to a product. In fact he said the green stuff is not designed for track days at all and quite unsafe. So he pushed me in the direction of Mintex as its a proven product used by many of the racing teams here.
The other reason why I changed pads, was that a close friend of ours is a store manager who sells EBC brake equipment and I asked him if he could really set me up with something special. He said well you don't want EBC because its all hype and amazing what a bit of marketing can do to a product. In fact he said the green stuff is not designed for track days at all and quite unsafe. So he pushed me in the direction of Mintex as its a proven product used by many of the racing teams here.
Luke, where did you buy your kit from then, was it PNM? As for pads, I would go for Hawk. They are a excellent and they don't eat up your discs or leave brake dust. I opted for standard pads for now from Lucas only to set a benchmark later. The new pads were only £10 ($18). Hawk pads are around £40-60. You can buy them locally as they are made in the US.
Hope this helps,
Dave Walters
Hope this helps,
Dave Walters
I concur with Kylie, stay away from the EBCs. I'm not sure they are any better than stock, and initial bite is in my opinion WORSE than stock (like a weird half-second delay before any braking happens after you press the pedal).
Mintex has a good reputation in the US. As does Performance Friction, Carbotech and Hawk. All of them will make you pads if you send them used backing plates. Also, and this is especially true of Carabotech, they will all talk to you at length about how you use the car, etc. before recommending a compound.
Have at it, have fun, and throw the EBCs in the garbage. They stink.
Mintex has a good reputation in the US. As does Performance Friction, Carbotech and Hawk. All of them will make you pads if you send them used backing plates. Also, and this is especially true of Carabotech, they will all talk to you at length about how you use the car, etc. before recommending a compound.
Have at it, have fun, and throw the EBCs in the garbage. They stink.
Gents look at the CarboTech pads for your Esprit. I use them on my 1999 V8 and absolutely love them. Great compound for the street and even better ones for the track. Call Matt Nicholson of CarboTech at(877) 899-5024. If you are a Lotus Ltd. member you also receive a nice discount from them.
www.CarboTechEng.com
Mark Pfeffer
www.CarboTechEng.com
Mark Pfeffer
Luke, I was at PNM today and saw your calipers in black. Look really cool. Pete reckons they be sent out tommorrow hopefully.
Mine's booked in for PNM's rear kit conversion Mk1 next week to fit the discs and hopefully machine a bracket to fit.
I will go for Hawk pads once I've tested my crappy Lucas ones out. They were only £10. I have to say even with those, my brakes are twice as good as before. I can now brake a lot later and fell more confident. The only down side to the standard pads are that they leave brake dust.
Dave Walters
Mine's booked in for PNM's rear kit conversion Mk1 next week to fit the discs and hopefully machine a bracket to fit.
I will go for Hawk pads once I've tested my crappy Lucas ones out. They were only £10. I have to say even with those, my brakes are twice as good as before. I can now brake a lot later and fell more confident. The only down side to the standard pads are that they leave brake dust.
Dave Walters
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