Preview: Racing Brake 1-Piece Rotors

Installation can be found here:

http://www.legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26028

 

 

After the install, I took the car out for a drive (using a NEW set of Endless SS-M brake pads for the bed-in). The feedback is pretty good, no real difference from stock, but if you take a real good notice from the brake-pedal, you can actually feel the slots (but you really need to be that sensitive when you push on the brakes hard enough for the ABS to kick in and the car is coming to a stop).

 

I did about 6 sessions of 50 mph down to 5 mph bed-ins and I got the brakes pretty darn warm which was an easy bedding session to do. The brakes still feel slightly better [<2%] than stock (based on a more consistent feel all the way from the initial bite all the way to the end of the brake session) so that's a good sign for now..

 

I will let the pictures speak for themselves from this point out:

 

 

Stock front rotor after 40,000 miles of use:

http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/1818/img0017001sizedao7.jpg

http://img466.imageshack.us/img466/8286/img0016001sizedny2.jpg

 

Racing Brake front rotor:

http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/7982/img0008001sizedwk0.jpg

http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/4909/img0002002sizedlu9.jpg

 

 

Racing Brake rear rotor:

http://img466.imageshack.us/img466/5443/img0003002sizedfh7.jpg

 

 

Front rotor close-ups:

http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/9463/img0005001sizedjd9.jpg

http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/7127/img0009001sizedzb8.jpg

 

 

Front rotor comparisons/surface contact area/weight savings/mass differences:

http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/4138/img0021001sizeddp1.jpg

http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/7412/img0018001sizedcv1.jpg

http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/2627/img0023sizedeo2.jpg

So each side is 1/16 inch thinner for the fronts? What about the rear?

Is it really 5 lbs lighter?

^ it's about that (sorry that I didnt have a digital caliper handy, it should have been measured in metric), but you can see that the vent is larger on the RBs than stock.. but the discs themselves are thinner than stock. Well, you get the idea.

 

the rears are more similar to the stock rotors, but you can still see that the rears are designed the same way as the fronts where the rib spans are wider and the thickness of the plates are just slightly thinner.

 

and yes, it's 5 lbs lighter.

Can you feel the diff in unsprung weight? Like when accelerating?

So the vanes aren't directional?

I'll stick with the stock thicker rotor

Can you feel the diff in unsprung weight? Like when accelerating?

 

it's felt when going over bumps as the front end is now working more effectively through bound and rebound.

 

The rotors do more than just fine for the street application (in fact, i was very happy that it's lighter in the front end now). Taking the same road to work everyday for the past 7 years and knowing all the bumps and dips that I can tell you that the 5 lbs of unsprung weigh shows up and performs well. The front end is less jarring actually. You dont get that heavy "THUNK" sound when you hit certain creases or joints in the road.

 

Brake effectiveness is still good. The only thing I can think of that ANYONE will warp these rotors during a normal drive or even a spirited drive to work has got to be out of their minds to burn up the brakes like that.

So the vanes aren't directional?

 

Vanes are not directional, they are straight, but the fronts are extended all the way to the hub.

I'll stick with the stock thicker rotor

 

Yes, I am a little leary about it at first when I picked up the rotors and did the comparison. I have faith in Racing Brake's products and it should be a good test for next month's track weekend at http://www.virclub.com

 

The difference between the two is that RB's uses are larger span while the OEM just uses thicker plates. How they differ in the quality of material may counteract that difference in plate thickness and allow a way to lower the mass.

 

For street use, I'd say these would be perfectly fine and works well. For the track it would be another test and concern that we are all looking into. From my standpoint, Racing Brake does have a 2-piece rotor kit which probably also have the vaned rotor for those kits for the "track-stars". If people are looking for some lighten unsprung weight, this would be a good option because the brakes won't get THAT hot to the point where the rotor would warp or crack. Stopping distances hasn't change that dramatically and pedal feedback is better than stock in my opinion. ABS kicks in a tad bit sooner than stock using the same braking effort.

Does your sponsor have an application for the XT? If so, do they have matching pads and would I have to change calipers or anything like that?

Does your sponsor have an application for the XT? If so, do they have matching pads and would I have to change calipers or anything like that?

 

 

The XT fronts are the same size as the GTs.. (same part number from Racing Brake themselves). As for the rear, I am not sure if the XTs uses the 04 rear brakes or the 05 GT rears. You will probably have to call them up about that one or look for vacation pics to actually see if there is a difference in the drum size. You can find the listings of pricings and more info from Racing Brake's website.

Thanks. I'd really like to upgrade my brakes for a less than astronomical amount.

You can always just do the fronts for now.. the weight savings alone is a good upgrade. I am still using my Endless SSM pads in the rear which already have 35,000 miles on them and they are only half worn.

XT's DO NOT have the same brakes as the GT! They more closely resemble WRX brakes, both front & rear!

^ 04 Legacy brakes then

hi,

 

The Rears will be in stock tomorrow.

 

I also have a Big Brake Kit w/ 2 piece rotors in stock tomorrow.

 

The Fronts are coming in shortly.

 

Best Regards

 

Peter Sz

PLtek,llc

www.pltek.net

So keefe - have you had a chance to really test out the rotors?

So keefe - have you had a chance to really test out the rotors?

 

Not really, not the way you were expecting.. the track testing with higher brake speeds will be done in 2 to 3 weeks from now. As for the 5 lbs weight difference, it realyl shows up when you are in the turns and you hit a bump, the lesser unsprung weight really shows and you get a better feel of the road. Just that mod for street driving is worth it for the upgrade.

 

Currently with some heavy braking coming to the redlights and stops signs, the brakes are really biting down on the rotors.. heat isn't the issue and the pedal feedback is actually more sensitive than stock when you really get on them. You can pretty much tell when the ABS will come on, so basically, it's a better feel for threshold braking.

what rims are you running again, keefe?

 

and how about close up pics on the car? i bet those rotors look good.

^ I run a lot of different rims.

 

I have some "dirty" car pics (some rusty looking calipers too) if you want to see them:

http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/5641/img00049ca.jpg

http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/2569/img00057ny.jpg

http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/8333/img00064ph.jpg

lookin GOOD. especially with those GT7s

 

 

I, myself, am about to purchase some Comps after i get my cusco Zero-2 coils installed. I cant wait!

I have a set or two of the Comps that I will use for the track to keep things consistent with the last track session so I can have a better comparison and write-up to do.

I just came back from a very cold VIR event!! The brakes held up well, very well for the abuse in the 75, 40, and even 26F weather!! Stay tuned for the follow-up review thread.

how's the noise factor?

the noise factor did went up a bit (it's noticable) when you start coming down on a harder stop.. for daily driving, you wont notice it. I will post a full review of the rotors through all its usage for the past 2000 miles, 300 of it was on the track through a VERY good mix of temperatures.