Brake Kits
OE brakes are OK for cruising and commuting, but when you push your car hard on twisty roads or at the track, or pull a trailer with your truck over mountainous terrain, you can quickly find out they don't provide the stopping power you need. Upgrading your brake pads can help, but for a real difference in braking, with shorter stopping distances and a consistently firm pedal with less brake fade, you need a performance brake kit. Our kits consist of components engineered to work together, in sizes and materials specially designed to provide optimal braking performance for each specific application.
From a basic pad and rotor upgrade to the ultimate in braking performance - exotic floating carbon ceramic rotors with lightweight billet aluminum multi-piston monobloc calipers - we have performance brake kits for every application and budget. We even have brake kits for vehicles that didn't come from the factory with disc brakes. Whether you have an older vehicle with drum brakes at all four wheels or a late model car or truck with drums in the rear, our disc brake conversion kits provide everything you need to get reliable, predictable, and fade-free stopping power.
The core components of a basic brake kit are a set of performance disc brake rotors paired with metallic or ceramic application specific friction compound brake pads. The rotors are constructed with materials like high carbon content or high silicon content cast iron or carbon ceramic, to dissipate heat and remain true at high temperatures, and most are drilled and/or slotted to vent heat, water, and pad gasses. Kits are available with stock size rotors as well as with larger diameter rotors in “big brake kits”, which provide even more braking force. Installing a big brake kit may also require fitment of larger diameter wheels and tires. Some rotors are 2-piece with lightweight aluminum center sections, and 2-piece floating rotors allow the friction surface to expand independent of the mounting area.
The next step up from a basic brake kit is a kit with brake calipers, which range from OE-type 1-piston and 2-piston calipers to lightweight, aluminum multi-piston calipers. Most of the latter type are 2-piece or billet aluminum monobloc fixed calipers with up to 8 pistons. They're lighter and flex much less than factory calipers, so all the hydraulic force is applied to the brake pads, and the multiple pistons and increased rigidity ensure even pressure is applied to the pads and both sides of the rotor for better braking force. Some multi-piston calipers have staggered piston sizes to prevent tapered pad wear, and some are available powder coated in your choice of colors to perfectly complement drilled and slotted rotors and custom wheels.
In addition to the above, braided stainless steel brake lines are supplied with many kits. These lines prevent the hose expansion and mushy brake pedal that can occur with ordinary rubber hoses, especially when the brake fluid gets hot. They combine with the kit's rigid calipers to ensure all available hydraulic pressure is directed to the caliper pistons for optimal friction material application and better braking response and pedal feel. They're also better able to resist impacts and abrasion than rubber, with a high performance look that provides the finishing touch on your new brake system. Last but certainly not least, each kit includes application specific hardware and caliper mounting brackets where required, to ensure precise fitment of each brake kit component and easy installation.