Brake selection

[Martin]

I've read, re-read, researched as much as I can and now I have read so much I can't understand anything. Trying to make the brake selection and getting stuck and confused.

Here's the set up.

MK4 Roadster
Fast Freddies Electric Power Steering
17" wheels
Standard width IRS
Front and rear sway bars from Vintage Performance Motoring
Wheels will be from Richard at North Race Cars


We want the best stopping power possible and as close to OEM as possible. I have a preference for a Willwood set up and we need ABS as we will be using the racelogic traction control system as well. The car will mainly be used on the street with track days spent chasing others. We don't care about winning or the best lap time, but want something that can stop us quickly and predictably.

Gordon Levy's brakes are the biggest, baddest brakes out there. But, he doesn't recommend power brakes, and I don't know if they will fit with ABS anyway.
FFR now offer an upgraded Wilwood package, but from what I've read, they aren't that much bigger. I'm not sure if they take ABS.
Whitby offer a power brake option that needs a frame mod. That isn't a problem as we are making lots of changes so the frame will not be powder coated when we pick it up
Fortes offers a power brake option that needs the Wilwood pedal box to be modified.

Any opinions on the best brake solution that provides OEM feel, ABS, power brakes, best stopping power on a standard width IRS platform?

Martin

[Gordon Levy]

My system will work well with ABS. I don't recomend using these types of brake systems with standard power because of the lack of feel and control. It becomes a non-issue when using ABS.

[Martin]

Gordon,

Thanks for the reply. I'm on the other side of the pond so I'm just wondering if I can get something translated / clarified.

"It becomes a non-issue when using ABS" - does this mean that using your set up with power brakes works well if you are using ABS. If you are not using ABS, then you should not have power brakes with your set up?

Or are you saying that if we add ABS then power brakes make no difference so they are a waste of time?

If I have understood it correctly, adding ABS and power brakes is OK. What power brake set up would you recommend? Whitby? Forte? A N Other?

Martin

[Gordon Levy]

You quotation is exactly what I mean. I am saying using power brakes w/out ABS wiith a big brake system is very hard to control. They tend to be a bit of an on/off switch and are very hard to control because you have very little feedback on what the system is doing. More times than not when you use PB the lack of feel in a panic stop situation just locks the brakes up. This may not happen with everyone using PB specifically when using a stock brake system but with personal experience using just about every type of system that could be tried, I was not happy with any of them.
My current car has manual 6 piston brakes in it now and it takes very little effort to stop the car.
When using ABS a computer takes over and keeps any lock up to a minimum, making up for any human error.
As to who's kit to use, that is up to you. All have pluses and minuses.

[Martin]

Thanks Gordon.

Any other proven big brake packages, abs and power from other vendors?

Martin