Just Jap Brake's & Ap/alcon

[SLY33]

Those G4's are cheap, but i think they look cheap. The calipers look small for an 8pot!? Dont you want a big caliper that will run a much bigger pad?

And what is WP Racing? thats a decent price for front and rear if they are any good!

Has anyone put either of these to the test? or opinions?

AP Racing Vs Alcon? opinions? Im considering these for the gtr..

[GTR1993]

I was looking at those cheap chinese 8spots. I mean they are pretty damn cheap, but then i was considering the externder brackets with the 343x32 rotor with the stock calipers.

Usually i avoid chinese stuff would be good to hear from anyone who has actually used them.

[R32 Driver]

so far ive only heard of good reviews on those G4 brakes

but there not really techical they just say "great brakes or good stuff or something"

[B-Man]

I've got them on my Cosmo - awsome brakes. Build quality is good. I wouldn't say that smaller pistons is neccessarily a bad thing - There are 8 of them - and don't forget the stihiletto effect.

To get a little technical - Before the upgrade - I had 10% stopping difference between the left & right front brakes. And front rear bias was 60% front 40% rear.

After the uprade - there is less then 1% difference between left & right - and bias has incresed to 85% front 15% rear.

Seat of your pants measurements - Before upgrade, brakes were spongey and pedal had to be pushed down 1/3 before anything started happening. After upgrade, I can just apply a small amount of pressure and the pedal moves no more than 5-10mm before you come to a stop.

First time I drove it after the upgrade, and braked - I narly went through the window.

For the $$ - I reckon they are an awesome upgrade.

BTW - Mine are K-Sport - but they are exactly the same as G4 !

Cheers,

Actually - the calipers are pretty big - here's a shot - those wheels are 18's as a comparison - (the brakes won't fit unless you have 17's as a minimum)

[Fitzpatrick Speed Works]

Between AP, Alcon and brembo, there is bugger all difference ask any supercar driver, they are running one of those three brands and they all pull up the same and they dont run control brake rotors or anything yet, but it will be in place shortly.... Just decide what you like in terms of the big three. I like Alcon the best but thats because I like dealing with PWR who are the importers for alcon...

I havent heard of these other brakes might look into it for my street cars,

Cheers

Daniel

Edited October 8, 2006 by Fitzpatrick Speed Works

[blk180]

B-man are the pads use in these from 6 pot ap racing?

[Blitz]

B-man are the pads use in these from 6 pot ap racing?

I believe thats correct Brad.

The G4's and K-Sport calipers are compatible with a number of pads including the 6 piston pad from AP

[T04GTR]

im still reluctant.. but for the money. you cant compete.

i stil scoure ebay for ex-race car brakes. the only down point int

can see is there quite bulky and arnt diferential bore piston sizes. (to avoid taperd pad ware)

[B-Man]

B-man are the pads use in these from 6 pot ap racing?

Yep - can get pads from AP, FERODO, MINTEX, EBC, PAGID, CARBON METALLIC AND HAWK

[cameron]

Alcon are a good break but very expensive!

[SLY33]

And front rear bias was 60% front 40% rear.

After the uprade - there is less then 1% difference between left & right - and bias has incresed to 85% front 15% rear.

Cheers,

Actually - the calipers are pretty big - here's a shot - those wheels are 18's as a comparison - (the brakes won't fit unless you have 17's as a minimum)

is it not necessarily a good thing to have so much bias at the front? Eg my car has no ABS, if i had a bias like that, i would be locking up the fronts prematurely, yes?

your right they dont look a bad size! what size are the rotors?

you guys say you can run an AP 6pot pad, this is saying the pad area is the same as 6Pot AP setup, and is hence bigger pad area than a GTR brembo front setup that i was going to put on?!

gee im thinking it doesnt sound bad for the price now!

How about WP racing? Anyone know who and where they are made by/at?

cheers

[SLY33]

im still reluctant.. but for the money. you cant compete.

i have the same opinion, you cant compete for the money as most aftermarket options of that size are double the price plus. But that said, if they dont last then that would make them a bit of a waste of money!

They look ok from the outside, but id like to hear from someone who really knows brakes inside out who knows whats INSIDE them and if they are actually assembled with any sort of precision! Remember China made stuff is made in China for one reason. Its CHEAP to have stuff made there. Now im not sayiing everything from china is junk, but i would say that the big names like AP and Alcon etc, are expensive for a reason!

If i see someone using G4's/China equivalients on a successful targa car id buy em right now

[Blitz]

The G4's are also now available in both 330mm and 356mm I noticed

[cameron]

Oh i forgot to mention Alcon are light weight for the size of them - 380mm rotors and the caliper to fit them!

I surpose it depends on what size you get aswel.

Edited October 8, 2006 by cameron

[R32 Driver]

nehting over 330mm is an overkill on the streets imo

[mitchy_]

disregard that.. i read the first post properly and found out.

any idea if they come in other colours?

red would be nice.

[Fitzpatrick Speed Works]

This is the way I look at it... Some stuff from CHina is rubbish, but some of it, while not the highest quality product in the world will get the job done. For example I have seen various intercoolers made in china... the $130 units are absolute crap they are very thin and dont do the job the $350 units are good and I have personally had good results with them they do the job and they may not be asas good as a PWR or Jap brand you have to ask yourself how serious am I really?? If im racing professionally etc then sure buy the best...

Now as another part of my response there is no way these items will compete with the big three who are the brakes on F1 cars through to nearly every form of top level motorsports from rally to sprint cars to v8 supercars... these companies spend money on R and D, x-ray test, metalurgy tests for heat disapation verse weight verse longevety and it goes on... their machining and manufacture process is perfect and you pay for this you have a product that is race proven and you never have to ask yourself " whats the quality like" or "will they always work" casue you know the answer. And yes alcons and ap's are ridiculously light for the size of the caliper, this relates to the manufacture process and the material they use, it all top class stuff.

Saying this I can't see the aftermarket China ones being any worse than alot of factory fitted stuff, luckily Nissans have Sumitomo's and they are quite a good construct to start with. I don't think its a case of buyer beware the stuff has 1 year warranty, I think you just need to ask yourself can I get my standard stuff to out perform most road tires??? The answer is yes!! and secondly if I do upgrade do I do other stuff to make it worthwhile..

Cheers

Edited October 8, 2006 by Fitzpatrick Speed Works

[Roy]

At the end of the day, they are a billet caliper so the quality should not be an issue. Even if they are made in China, they are machined on an automated line and using billet. Its not like the quality of the casting etc is called into question.

Comes with big rotors, hell, the rotors alone are worth about $1300 so they are a good buy

[mad082]

After the uprade - there is less then 1% difference between left & right - and bias has incresed to 85% front 15% rear.

thats really unsafe! you jump on the brakes and you are essentially only using the front brakes. if i brake hard on rough roads i usually pinch a front brake for a split second. if i had that sort of bias i would be locking the fronts all the time and take longer to stop. the only good thing that sort of bias is good for is power skids.

if you are going to upgrade the brakes, do both ends.

[SLY33]

nehting over 330mm is an overkill on the streets imo

if 'purely' street then you maybe right, but factor in the odd track day and bigger the better i guess..

Talking to racebrakes in regards to 345mm fronts vs 360mm fronts for my GTS, they told me "the 345mm setup will do everything you want. Full Stop." I cant remember the exact words he used in regards for the 360 setup, something like they are just totally awesome... Personally i would go for the largest rotor size i can fit under the rims, as im running 18's on the GTR i think the 360's will be just right.

Fitzpatrick Speed Works, can you shed any light on WP racing gear? They are significantly cheaper than the big three, yet not cheap enough to consider them "cheap", at under 7grand front and rear.