Tags Posts tagged with "Brakes"

Brakes

GTR_brake_cooling_kit_fullsize s

After months of testing and road racing, STILLEN is proud to announce the availability of the first Active Brake Cooling Package made specifically for the R35 Nissan GT-R.

This kit has been shown to reduce rotor temperature on the AP Racing Carbon Ceramic Brake Upgrade by over 200 degrees F, and is also extremely effective for those running standard OEM Iron, or the AP Racing Curved Vane Rotor Upgrades. STILLEN is proud to offer an active brake cooling option for R35 GT-R owners looking to improve track times and lower brake temperatures. These kits are for use with both traditional iron rotors, as well as the STILLEN Carbon Ceramic Matrix Brake Kit.

During the development of the STILLEN GT R Targa rally car Team STILLEN worked very closely with the engineers at AP Racing to develop the first aftermarket Carbon Ceramic Brake Kit in the world. One of the key components of that kit was brake cooling. Carbon Ceramic Brakes have an ideal operating temperature range where they perform at their best. Carbon Ceramic Brakes work well when cold however their true performance shines through during repeated hard, high temperature braking. However, there is a temperature threshold which should not be exceeded. During the development of the kit the engineers at AP Racing asked what we would be doing for brake cooling. We were open to all input from AP and their instructions were to use external fans directing air to the rotors and calipers. They said regardless how hot the air is coming off the engine, it’s a lot cooler than the heat coming off the rotors.

To test the performance of the STILLEN Active Brake Cooling Kit, we went to El Toro Air Force Base with temperature sensors on each rotor and caliper. We performed the tests with the active cooling on one side of the car, and not the other. We performed a series of 140-0 runs as well as laps around our test track. We also put temperature sensor stickers on each caliper that act just like temperature paint for the rotor. As the temperature of the caliper increases it burns off parts of the sticker so we know how hot the caliper is running. After all of the data was collected and analyzed we determined that with this brake cooling kit we successfully reduced rotor temperatures by over 200 degrees.

The STILLEN brake cooling kit is offered as a separate front and rear kit.

GTR308395 STILLEN GT-R FRONT BRAKE COOLING KIT ICARUSPIC2

photo by ICARUS

GT-R Front Active Brake Cooling System
GTR308395 STILLEN GT-R FRONT BRAKE COOLING KIT 1

The front brake cooling kit consists of a weather resistant electric fan, mounting brackets, wiring kit and switch, and poly-urethane air diversion splitter.

GT-R Rear Brake Cooling System

The rear cooling kit utilizes polyurethane air scoops which work in conjunction with the factory NACA ducts in the belly pan to route air to the braking system, and also features polyurethane air funnels, accordion tube and all necessary mounting bracketry.

It’s important to note that during our testing we also found that with the VDC off, the rear brake cooling isn’t 100% necessary. Because brakes work better with a bit of heat in them, we prefer to leave the rear brake cooling kit off of the car when Steve Millen drives, because he does not utilize the VDC control system. If you are like 99% of the owner’s of GT-R’s and are not in fact, a professional racing driver, you more than likely utilize the VDC function and therefore, we would suggest the rear brake cooling system.

These kits, while developed to aid in the necessary cooling for the Carbon Ceramic Brake setup, this kit is also extremely effective in lowering caliper/rotor temperatures for both stock iron rotor setups, as well as the AP Racing iron rotor upgrades.

For detailed information on the design and testing of the STILLEN Active Brake Cooling Package, please visit the STILLEN website for much more information.

Got questions or ready to upgrade your brake system? Reach out to STILLEN :
CALL US AT 866-250-5542
Email us at: sales@stillen.com
Or Live Chat at stillen.com

Best Brake Upgrades 101: Rotors & Pads

By Richard Fong

Best Brake System 101: Rotors Pads stillen_u_banner_v1

There’s no point in being able to go if you can’t stop. While an engine provides locomotion to a car, the braking system is what brings your vehicle to a stop. The average automotive brake system is hydraulic and typically consists of the pedal assembly, vacuum booster, master cylinder, hydraulic lines, calipers, rotors and pads – and of course, on nearly all modern vehicles, an Anti-Lock Brake System module and pressure tank.

STILLEN BRAKES 201 V2 CLEANED (11)

The braking system is not only a CRITICAL performance element, it’s also imperative for safety and the safe operation of a vehicle. That’s why STILLEN offers Brake Upgrades for a variety of vehicles, from big brake kits to performance replacement parts.

OE Replacement Brake Discs and Pads

As is often the case, many standard vehicle components are designed as a compromise – balancing quality versus price, versus Noise Vibration Harshness (NVH) concerns – the end result being a pad that isn’t well suited for trackday performance. This means that in all likelihood, your OEM brake pads probably don’t do very well in ‘high performance’ conditions.

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Brake Pad Construction

Brake pads are composed of a backing plate and a friction compound that creates friction when placed in contact with the brake rotors, enabling a vehicle to stop. The way your brakes work is kind of like how the brakes of a bicycle work. Pushing the pedal causes the calipers to squeeze the pads against the spinning wheel hub/rotor, slowing its rotation, much like your bike’s rubber brake pads grab the edge of the wheel of your bicycle to bring you to a stop.

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Before moving on, we need to remind you that a high performance pad is going to be noisier and dustier – those are the facts. If you’re wanting a pad that offers extreme performance without dust or noise, know that it just doesn’t exist, at any price. Sorry, but if you want performance from your brake system, you’re going to have to deal with brake dust.

Your Stock Brakes Probably Aren’t As Good As You Think

With the exception of premium performance-oriented vehicles that include performance brake components from the factory, most vehicles are equipped with braking systems that are best described as “Adequate”. If you take the average stock vehicle to the track or even on a spirited drive, and you’ll quickly learn its shortcomings. The sad thing is, many car’s brake systems can start to get overwhelmed after just a few aggressive corners.

Stillen Brake Pads Metal Matrix

 

What happens if my brakes can’t deal with the demands of performance driving?

To understand the importance of a good brake compound and just how big a role it plays, let’s do a quick thought exercise.

Imagine accelerating down a stretch of canyon road, you’re accelerating hard on the straights, and then braking just before engaging a turn, or series of switchback curves. The first time you hit the brake pedal, everything works as it should, shaving speed and allowing you to hit the apex of the turn with ease. However, a few corners (or hotlaps) later, suddenly, the pedal gets all mushy, and instead of slowing and allowing you to adjust your line, the car just plows ahead, because the brakes don’t have any bite. You desperately stomp on the brakes in hopes you can still adjust your speed, correct and make the turn– but your efforts are in vain. Before you realize it, you’re way past the apex and are either off line or off track, or even worse, into the guardrail or Armco barriers. This is the biggest problem of an insufficient brake system rearing its ugly head. This is the beast known as Brake Fade.

Brake Fade Graphic

What is Brake Fade, exactly?

Brake fade is the enemy of safe and reliable braking and it’s not your friend. Brake fade occurs when the friction efficiency and/or heat capacity of the brake pads or rotors is exceeded, and as a result, the ability of the brake system to slow or stop the vehicle becomes compromised. Whether it’s on a twisty mountain pass or on a racetrack, when you discover the limits of your vehicle’s braking performance firsthand, it leaves much to be desired in terms of performance. Fortunately, the aftermarket could be the answer to your problems, because chances are, someone offers a solution for your application. There are a few ways to mitigate brake fade.

Best Brake System 101: Rotors Pads HawkCleaned

Bring Back the Friction

One of the best performance mods for your car and most straight-forward upgrades you can make is a set of Brake Pads. Brake pads, like rotors and fluid, are wear items that can be replaced with upgraded versions of replacement parts. Most factory brake pads are designed to be as quiet as possible with as little dust as possible. These characteristics require compromises that take away from the performance of your brake pads.

Can You Put Race Pads On And Drive On The Street?

The demands of racing versus stop and go traffic are very different, OEM street pads don’t perform their best under race conditions, and outright RACE brake pads won’t perform well if used for street driving conditions. Logically, one might think, pads designed for “RACE” performance must be overkill for the needs of street driving, right? Frankly, no.

Way back in the good ol’ days of 2002, Popular Mechanics compared Jeff Gordon’s #24 NASCAR Monte Carlo against a fresh-off-the-line FWD Monte Carlo SS to get an idea how the race car performed relative to its streetcar namesake. One would think that the race car’s massive brakes would make it the obvious winner, right? Both cars were tested as is standard practice for a head-to-head – cold, like your car is when you first start driving after being parked for a while.  Can you guess what happened?
(ref: Popular Mechanics, November 2002, A Tale of Two Chevys)

Well, the street car Monte Carlo outperformed the #24 NASCAR racecar’s gargantuan race brakes and the street car stopped much shorter – the polar opposite of what ‘common sense’ would suggest. That generation of Monte Carlo wasn’t exactly a performer either, making its victory over the racecar that much more shocking.

Why? Because of the temperature the brakes were designed to work at. The NASCAR race car’s brakes are designed to be used HARD, over and over again when hot, braking from speeds well over 100… to get that kind of performance when the brakes are that hot, the engineers had to sacrifice performance when cold.

hawk-ap-racing-calipers-cp6600d55-performance-ceramic-street-brake-pads

This chart from HAWK Performance offers a great visual for the temperature ranges that brake pads are designed to operate in. As you can see, pads that perform well cold do not perform well past 700*f or so, and conversely, pads that perform well when hot don’t start to grab until 200-300* f.

The Right Pad for the Right Purpose

Each pad type and compound is optimized depending on your vehicle’s intended purpose. There are a plethora of High Performance OE Replacement Brake pads available from STILLEN, DBA Brakes and Hawk Performance to name a few, and these pads are offered in a variety of friction compounds ranging from organic and ceramic to semi-metallic to suit a variety of different driving demands.

The other thing to note here is that sometimes, a car is factory-equipped with high performance brake pads, but the generic replacement available from the local auto parts store might perform terribly by contrast. So, despite every part of the system working properly, underperforming brake pads mean it suddenly takes much more distance to stop than it used to- and if you’re used to the car’s original stopping distance, this increased in stopping distance could cause an accident, so be sure that the replacement pads you’re installing are able to handle the way you plan to use them, before you buy.
Pro-Tip: If the brake pad has “Quiet” in the name, it’s a safe bet that pad won’t do well on a track.

Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of different brake pad compounds so you can better determine what might be best for your needs.

Picking The Right Brake Pad Compound for the Way YOU Drive

Brake Pads Graphic

Organic (Common OEM Material)

Pros: Less aggressive rotor wear, decent initial bite, manageable brake dust generation

Cons: Mediocre braking performance, tends to wear quickly, prone to brake fade

Organic pads offer good initial bite (initiation of friction and slowing of the vehicle) and modulation for daily driven vehicles, but generally suffer rapid wear and fade when subjected to aggressive driving.

Best Brake System 101: Rotors Pads HawkFrontPads

Ceramic (Common OEM Material, Aftermarket Upgrade)

Pros: Moderate rotor wear, good wear characteristics, less prone to brake fade, moderate dust production, ideal for rotors lacking slots or cross drilling, the middle ground between organic and semi-metallic pads

Cons: Higher cost, limited compound options, less aggressive friction traits, not ideal for the track

Ceramic pads cost more but take the best traits of organic pads and can add longevity as well as reduced brake dust production. However, these pads suffer accelerated wear under heavy loads and are not ideal for track or heavy-duty braking situations.

Mintex Brake Pads NASCAR

Semi-metallic (Common Aftermarket Material, Aftermarket Upgrade)

Pros: Broad selection of available compounds, improved resistance to fade, improved heat rejection when used on slotted or cross-drilled rotors, permits tailoring of braking performance traits depending on driving conditions by changing compounds

Cons: Potentially aggressive rotor wear, excessive dust, noise (brake squeal)

Semi-metallic pads tend to resist fade better and offer superior heat capacity and dissipation compared to organic or ceramic pads. They are offered in a variety of compositions enabling the end user to choose the braking characteristics desired of their vehicle. When choosing a semi-metallic pad, aggressive initial bite could be desirable in the case of a vehicle driven hard for short intervals.

The counterpoint is that this pad could eventually suffer from fade with prolonged aggressive driving. By comparison, a semi-metallic pad formulated for endurance offers increased heat capacity for longer driving intervals, but will likely lack initial bite when cold and suffer reduced braking performance until brought up to optimal operating temperatures. This is not ideal for short driving intervals or street driving since the ideal temperatures are much higher and might not be reached under these conditions.

In other words, semi metallic endurance RACING brake pads will be unable to perform for “street use” because they will not be at their intended operating temperature a vast majority of the time – meaning it’s not smart to drive from your house to the race track on your ‘trackday’ brake pads. It won’t be fun when you roll right past that first stop sign or can’t slow down as you get off the freeway because the RACE COMPOUND brake pads are too cold.

As the only USA Distributor of AP Racing products, we’ve got a huge selection of replacement and performance replacement brake pads for a variety of applications here at STILLEN in stock and or readily available to suit your needs from the most trusted manufacturers in performance brakes. Whether it’s a daily driver or a track rat, we likely have a solution available – talk to our team today to see what we have for your application.

STILLEN J-Hook 2pc Rotors Set of 2

Release the Heat

Another common brake system improvement involves upgrading the surface that the brake pads apply friction to, the Brake Rotors. Brake rotors are not only a friction surface, they also serve another important function – they are also heat sinks. This means that they must draw away and dissipate the heat produced by the friction of the pads efficiently to stave off brake fade and ensure consistent braking performance. Factory brake rotors are typically made of iron, because it’s inexpensive and offers longevity and enough heat capacity for the average everyday driver. Trick is, the way the “average driver” drives a car is nothing like the ‘Spirited Drives’ you and I enjoy.

Not all iron is created equal, and STILLEN rotors are produced using an alloy that offers more efficient thermal transfer characteristics and features bigger, better flowing cooling vanes to create a rotor with superior cooling characteristics, but these added features and the use of more expensive materials does increase cost. As a result of cost-saving concerns, typical factory rotors do not benefit from the design elements and use less expensive alloys that lack the heat dissipation characteristics found in STILLEN brake rotors, making a set of Performance Replacement Brake Rotors an especially effective upgrade.

STILLEN J-Hook 2pc Rotors Detail pair

Fighting Fade With Improved Brake Rotors

Aftermarket brake rotors, like those offered by STILLEN, AP Racing and DBA (for example) feature a variety of benefits, thanks to engineering innovations like improved vane design (in the case of vented rotors) as well as cross drilling, slotting and other surface treatments. Many people mistakenly believe that rotors suck air in through the vanes, but it’s actually the opposite. Think about what happens when you have a dirt bike’s rear tire caked in mud, and then blip the throttle. The wheel spins, flinging mud OUTWARDS off the wheel and away. Same idea applies to how air flows through your rotor. Brake rotors draw in air from the center of the hub and the spinning of the rotor flings the hot brake gases outwards through the vanes, cooling the rotor.

GTR_Vane_CutawayWeb

It works like this, when your brake rotor turns, it acts as an air pump, drawing in cooler air at the hub and forces that air out, carrying away hot brake gases out through the vents, so it’s worth saying that a rotor’s internal design can play a huge role in its effectiveness.

Best Brake System 101: Rotors Pads IMG_5988 Best Brake System 101: Rotors Pads IMG_5959

In the search for improved methods of heat dissipation, some manufacturers of vented rotors have implemented proprietary vane designs to facilitate improved airflow for better cooling of the rotors.

STILLEN BRAKES 201 V2 CLEANED (6)

As an added measure of cooling, some have turned to cross-drilling the rotor surface, which provides additional pathways for hot brake gases to escape, thereby enhancing cooling.

STILLEN BRAKES 201 V2 CLEANED (7)

Another brake rotor type is the slotted rotor. Most commonly, simple slots are cut into the rotor surface help to optimize the friction surface area while helping to release the gasses that build up between the friction material of the pad and the rotor surface. However, the downside of this rotor type is accelerated wear on the pads, meaning slotted rotors shorten the typical service life of the pads used with them.

STILLEN BRAKES 201 V2 CLEANED (8)

Some enthusiasts choose to go with both of these features and opt for Drilled & Slotted rotors, and still others go for the polar opposite and get “blank” rotors for an OEM appearance.

Step Up and Stop Better

Best Brake System 101: Rotors Pads IMG_8172

With a better grasp of the basics of brake upgrades and the first steps toward better braking for both performance and safety, contact us to order your upgrade today! Do you have more questions about what would be right for your application? Reach out to us at 866-250-5542, at sales@stillen.com or by live chat on our website stillen.com to help you select the product that best suits your needs.

In our next installment of STILLEN University, we’re going to explore brake system upgrades in greater detail and dig into Torque Friction Surface Area in Stillen U, Brakes 301! Check back with us soon!


Contact Us:

866-250-5542
sales@stillen.com
live chat
stillen.com

You might be wondering… When it’s time to replace your brake rotors, should you upgrade your brake rotors or just replace them with identical OEM rotors? One tip the STILLEN brake experts offer: consider how you use your car.

Is it a daily driver used for commuting and errands? Are you an enthusiast who lives for the open road and canyon carving? Or maybe you participate in autocross or track days.

Regardless, there are many choices in rotors, and one way to shop for replacement brake rotors, as well as brake pads and brake fluid is with a Good- Better – Best approach.

For more info about this approach, check out this how-to video from STILLEN expert Mark.

 

Brake Rotor Upgrade Level: GOOD

Drivers seeking a good rotor that offers a performance and durability upgrade from OEM rotors should consider upgrading to STILLEN OEM replacement brake rotors.  They are well suited for aggressive driving and the occasional track day.

Features include straight cut vanes, zinc coating, chamfered slots and precision ground friction surfaces.  Multiple machining options are available, from slotted to cross drilled to the popular hook slot hybrid finish.

Available for virtually any passenger vehicle on the road today, STILLEN sport rotors are proudly Made in USA.

Brake Rotor Upgrade Level: BETTER

For hard core enthusiasts and track day fans concerned with high temperature heat management, a better option might be the DBA 4000 series brake rotors. These discs offer more sophisticated metallurgy for longer life.

They also feature DBA Kangaroo Paw vane technology. These vanes are multi-directional, meaning they draw cooling air in from any direction.

This improves heat dissipation and also permits the rotors to be mounted on both driver and passenger side hubs. Another stylish touch is the available gold rotor vanes and hats.

Brake Rotor Upgrade Level:  BEST

The ultimate brake rotor upgrade could be the DBA 5000 series.  Suitable for frequent track use, these rotors offer the Kangaroo paw vane technology and improved metallurgy of the 4000 series, but add a two piece design.

The rotor hat is a separate assembly that is bolted to the brake rotor. This helps isolate the wheel hub bearings from excess heat, reduces brake vibration caused by rotor warping under heavy use, and offers weight savings as well.

One indicator the DBA 5000 series are meant for serious drivers is the brake temperature paint applied to the rotor edges. These indicators help drivers ascertain the temperature range their brake system is operating in.

This in turn helps determine proper brake pad and brake fluid selection for track use.

Brake Pad Replacement and Upgrades

It’s always advisable to replace brake pads when mounting new rotors. STILLEN Metal Matrix brake pads offer a nice blend of bite and power along with reduced dust and noise. This makes them ideal for street and occasional track use.

Other brake pads might be better suited for full-on track use, such as the Hawk HPS 5.0s or Ferodo DS2500 HP.

Brake Fluid Replacement

When you’re considering brake system upgrades, it’s essential to include brake fluid replacement in the thought process.

One popular opinion is that it’s best to upgrade to racing brake fluid.

As STILLEN brake expert and all-around good guy Mark explains, this is a common misconception.

While your OEM brake fluid does have a limited heat capacity, so does your OEM brake system. Upgrading your rotors and pads does give you a higher threshold, but your calipers still have a limit.

If you upgrade your brake fluid past what the calipers can handle, you could exceed your brake systems operating envelope without knowing it. Should it occur, brake fluid boiling is an indicator that your brake system is overheating.

Going with a little bit of an upgrade is fine, but you don’t need to go with a full-on race brake fluid.

While shooting the how to video for brake upgrades, Mark installed the DBA 4000 series rotors and STILLEN Metal Matrix brake pads on his Subaru BRZ and had the following to report:

“After we finished the install on the brakes, we moved onto the bed-in procedure then onto our test drive and you could really feel the difference. Our stopping distances were much shorter, our initial bite was much better and brake fade was much less apparent as the brakes heated up so this is an awesome upgrade for the BRZ or for any vehicle. You can really improve your driving experience.”

Questions About Brake Rotors?

Our brake experts are standing by and will stop at nothing to help you in quest for better braking. Take a brake from whatever you’re doing and call them at 866-250-5542!

One of the more popular products we make for the Nissan GT-R has been the polyurethane Protective Skid Plate, and with the changes to the new 2012 GT-R’s front lip, this required a new skid plate to be designed. Proud to announce we are in final development of the new version for the new model!

Here’s a sneak peek inside the STILLEN modeling shop located in Costa Mesa, CA, and shows the final piece test fitted on the car before we sent it into mold preparation.  The final production part will be black urethane, sprayed with a black matte paint, and can also easily be painted to match any specific color if desired.

The skid plate is designed to protect the extremely expensive front fascia from scrapes and light bumps. It follows the specific contours of the car, and installs in just minutes with everything needed supplied.

We are in full swing with the 2012 Nissan GT-R, and are also nearly finished with the Front Lip Spoiler, as well as the Aerodynamic Side Skirts which are also available for the 2009-2011 GT-R.  Look for more information soon.

We’ve also been doing product fitment on other STILLEN items, such as our Cat-Back Exhaust System, Secondary Cat-Delete Y-Pipes, Stainless Steel Brake Lines, AP Racing rotor upgrades and much more!

Last month we brought you the information on the new high end Goodridge Phantom Gstop Brakelines, and as these are arriving soon, we wanted to get the word out, and get these in the hands of our customers, so we’re giving away 2 sets for free!

Simply head over to the STILLEN Facebook page, give us a ‘Like’ and you’ll have access to the entry form on the Sweepstakes tab, just pop in your information and you’ll be entered to win.  We’ll be picking a winner on April 15th, and again on April 30th!

The Phantom Brakelines are new from Goodridge, and are designed to replace the factory rubber brake lines on your car, improving safety, reducing stopping distances and deliver a much better brake pedal feel, just like the popular Goodridge Gstop Brakeline kits.  The Phantom series upgrades the hardware and fittings to stainless steel, features a black coating on the stainless steel lines, a beautiful upgrade, and we couldn’t encourage our customers more to consider upgrading your brake lines if you haven’t already, it’s an inexpensive upgrade that has huge benefits.

Good luck!  You can read the full giveaway rules here.

Goodridge has released information on their new limited edition Phantom Gstop Brakeline kits available for popular selected applications. For the ultimate brake line upgrade, look no further!

Upgraded stainless steel brake lines are one of the easiest modifications to make and get tangible results from.  Installing Goodridge G-Stop SS lines will dramatically improve brake pedal feel, eliminate the soft spongy feeling, and improve braking performance and reducing stopping distances.

The Phantom G-Stop kits take that performance and kick it up a notch, utilizing stainless hose ends, banjos and bolts, as well as feature black poly-coating to the stainless steel hoses.  Even the brackets and hardware are protective coated, creating a superior appearance, and ensuring durability.

All of the benefits of the best brakeline manufacturer, Goodridge, with upgraded hardware and coatings makes this a great modification for any enthusiast!

 

Initial Phantom Brakeline Applications Include:

  • 2010-2011 Chevrolet Camaro SS
  • 1997-2004 Chevrolet Corvette (Including Z06)
  • 2005-2011 Chevrolet Corvette C6 (Except Z06)
  • 2006-2011 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
  • 2003-2007 Infiniti G35 Coupe (Including Brembo)
  • 2003-2006 Infiniti G35 Sedan (Including Brembo – Excluding AWD)
  • 2003-2007 Nissan 350Z (Including Brembo)
  • 2009-2011 Nissan GT-R R35
  • 1997-2004 Porsche 911/996 (Including Turbo)
  • 2005-2008 Porsche 911/997 C2, C4, C4S
  • 1997-2004 Porsche Boxster/986 (All Models)
  • 2003-2006 Subaru Outback
  • 2002-2007 Subaru Impreza Wagon, WRX & STi
  • 2008-2011 Subaru Impreza WRX (Except STi)
  • 2006-2011 BMW 128i (E82/88)
  • 2006-2011 BMW 135i (E82/88)
  • 2007-2011 BMW 328i exc. Xi (E90/91/92/93)
  • 2006-2006 BMW 330i exc. Xi (E90/91/92/93)
  • 2007-2011 BMW 335i exc. Xi (E90/91/92/93)
  • 2005-2011 Ford Mustang GT (Including 5.0)
  • 2007-2011 Shelby GT500
  • 2005-2011 Ford Mustang V6 (with ABS)
  • Various 1998-2007 Mercedes C-Class / E-Class / SLK

News Release
For Immediate Release

STILLEN OFFERS RUGGED AP RACING BRAKE UPGRADE
FOR 2000-2010 GM 2500/3500 TRUCKS

Costa Mesa, Calif.– STILLEN announces the availability of a new front and rear big brake system for the 2000-2010 Chevrolet Silverado 2500/3500 and GMC Sierra 2500/3500 (including Dual Rear Wheel models). This rugged, state-of-the-art brake upgrade is based on AP Racing brake technology, the number one choice for a wide range of professional race teams that compete at the highest levels (i.e. NASCAR, FORMULA 1).

Available from the STILLEN brake product division, these GM Truck brake upgrades are compatible with OE ABS, traction control and stability systems as well as the original master cylinder to provide the ultimate in towing and big load capacity.

The front Big Brake System (AP2320) features AP Racing’s new, oversized 6-piston Heavy Duty caliper (CP8510) matched with the largest available aftermarket (16.1” diameter) 2-piece floating cross-drilled and slotted rotors. Slotted-only rotors are a no-cost option. This STILLEN brake system also includes high-performance Ferodo DS2500 brake pads along with Goodridge stainless steel brake lines, brackets and all necessary mounting hardware for immediate bolt-on.

For the matching and balanced rear Big Brake system (AP6950), STILLEN specified a special version of AP Racing’s Heavy Duty 4-piston caliper (CP5328) clamping on 15″ diameter 2-piece cross-drilled and slotted rotors, also available in slotted-only. The rear upgrade also includes Ferodo DS2500 brake pads and all necessary hardware.

This powerful brake system requires 20” or larger wheels with adequate spoke clearance. To ensure proper fitment, customers should visit www.stillen.com to download an easy-to-use brake profile template to check wheel fitment for both the front and rear brake kits before ordering. When ordering custom wheels, consult with STILLEN in advance to ensure compatibility.

To learn more about AP Racing Big Brake upgrade kits for the 2000-2010 Chevrolet Silverado 2500/3500 and GMC Sierra 2500/3500 and other pickup trucks, visit www.stillen.com, e-mail pr@stillen.com , or call (866) 250-5542.

# # #

About STILLEN
Developed by enthusiasts for enthusiasts, STILLEN is a manufacturer and distributor of premium high performance products for late model import and domestic vehicles. Founded in 1986 by renowned professional driver and race car builder Steve Millen, STILLEN incorporates cutting-edge race proven technology and advanced aerodynamic designs into the company’s proprietary performance and appearance product lines. Millen is known worldwide for achieving the greatest number of wins in IMSA GT history during the course of an impressive 30-year racing career. Family owned and operated, STILLEN branded products include exhaust systems and components, superchargers, fuel systems and components, brake kits and components and urethane body styling products. In addition, STILLEN is an online reseller of many high performance products for late model cars and trucks, import and domestic, and creator of unique, one-of-a-kind performance project vehicles. For more information, visit www.STILLEN.com.

We recently worked with Truckin’ Magazine on some high speed brake testing, putting the AP Racing BBK designed by STILLEN to the ultimate test at El Toro Marine Base.

Truckin’ editor Dan Ward pushed their 2004 GMC Sierra “Project Novakane” to the limit with repeated 80-0 mph stops beginning with the factory setup, swapped brake systems, and repeated the aggressive testing on the truck after outfitting the AP Racing setup onto the truck.

Below is an excert from the article with performance data from their extensive testing:

Truckin’ Magazine – October 2010 Issue

“Rather than test the truck from 60 mph, we hit the ‘whoa’ pedal at 80 mph, after all, do you really drive 60 mph on the freeway? Factory braking performance was dreadful, as a combination of grooved rotors and newish pads made for chassis vibrations when stopping and a weak pedal. After bolting on the 20-inch wheels and tires to the Sierra, the sticky Nitto tires actually improved the stopping distances, which confused us at first, but then we released the overall weight of the new wheels and tires wasn’t much heavier than our OE combo.

GM touted the redesigned ’99+ fullsize trucks as having the best brakes in their long history of building trucks. That’s nice marketing hype, but GPS data acquisition doesn’t lie and the new AP Racing brakes are the double-D cups to the OE’s training bra. We weren’t surprised to have better overall stopping power, after all, that’s what we expected from a company with a rich racing heritage, but what did surprise us was the pedal feel. Without being touchy, the brake pedal is now very linear with minimal inputs doing an impressive job of bringing the 4,300-pound truck to a standstill. As expected, the aggressive brake pads are heavy on the dust, which provides us another excuse to wash the wheels/tires more often. This upgrade was expensive, but unlike in many cases, you actually get what you pay for from Stillen.

With the AP kit bolted on, we made several 80-0 mph test runs and came away with an average of 226 ft, more than 144 ft than better than stock. That’s equivalent to stopping in only 5.56 school buses or basically stopping before going through an entire intersection and saving the lives of more than 350 kids in those buses.

Also, the green AP heat paint that was applied to the stock rotors burned white, meaning they exceeded 430 degrees Celcius during hard braking, but the new AP rotors didn’t burn through the green paint. This translates into the drilled holes and vents doing their job by keeping the rotor surface cooler, longer. If safety and performance are high on your list, bringing your truck to an immediate halt doesn’t get much better than with AP Racing’s bolt-on big brakes.”

You can read the full article here, and below are some images from the story:
Truckin’ Magazine Project Novakane Part III: AP Racing

 

Parts discontinued, article kept for informational purposes.

News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

STILLEN OFFERS NEW AP RACING
2008-2010 BMW M3 (E9x)
FRONT AND REAR BIG BRAKE KITS

Features innovative Strap Drive System for road and track day applications

Costa Mesa, Calif. – AP Racing, the braking technology choice of professional race teams worldwide (including Rahal Letterman IMSA ALMS GT2 M3, BMW Motorsports FIA GT2 M3, etc), has introduced front and rear Big Brake System for the 2008-2010 BMW M3 (E9x). Available from the Brake Pros product division of STILLEN, these new brake upgrades fit most 18″ and 19″ OE wheels. They are compatible with OE ABS, traction control, stability systems and factory brake master cylinder.

Front systems may be ordered with AP Racing’s newly updated 6-piston CP5555 calipers finished in black (AP7100), red (AP7100R) — or — limited-edition Comp Gray (AP7100G). For optimum mechanical and thermal balance, complimentary rear systems are advised. The rear systems are supplied with AP Racing’s new CP5306 4-piston calipers in matching colors (AP7150 / AP7150R / AP7150G).

Manufactured for maximum stopping power and minimum brake fade, the kit offers high performance braking capability with race proven technology and comes complete with calipers, rotors, brake pads, coated stainless steel braided brake lines and all necessary mounting hardware for immediate bolt-on.

Two-piece modular rotors float on an aluminum hat and have 72 directionally curved vanes to maximize cooling in extreme brake situations. Both front and rear rotors are available in a cross-drilled and slotted pattern for an aggressive pad bite and better face cooling or can be purchased slotted only for aggressive track use. The AP Racing Strap Drive System has been developed for both road and track day applications. It uses a series of stainless steel straps to locate the disc to the mounting bell, producing a flexible coupling between the hub and the disc faces. This allows the disc to run true in the caliper under all conditions and also permits the disc to expand and contract without being restricted.

Strong, durable and designed to withstand any punishment, AP Racing Brake calipers are manufactured with a lightweight, pressure cast aluminum alloy 2-piece body and finished with a hard anodized 2-part paint finish. This 2-piece design is more rigid than commonly available monoblock calipers. Differential piston bores eliminate pad taper and maximize braking efficiency, and the anti-rattle clip eliminates pad knock and noise. A fixed radial mount ensures minimal caliper flex for the best available brake feel under all operating conditions.

To learn more about AP Racing Big Brake upgrade kits for the 2008-2010 BMW M3 and other high performance vehicles, visit www.stillen.com, e-mail pr@stillen.com, or call (888) 221-2012.

For high resolution images, please view the main Press Release here.

# # #

About STILLEN

Developed by enthusiasts for enthusiasts, STILLEN is a manufacturer and distributor of premium high performance products for late model import and domestic vehicles. Founded in 1986 by renowned professional driver and race car builder, Steve Millen, STILLEN incorporates cutting-edge race proven technology and advanced aerodynamic designs into the company’s proprietary performance and appearance product lines. Millen is known worldwide for achieving the greatest number of wins in IMSA GT history during the course of an impressive 30-year racing career. Family owned and operated, STILLEN branded products include exhaust systems and components, superchargers, fuel systems and components, brake kits and components, and urethane body styling products. In addition, STILLEN is an online reseller of many high performance products for late model cars and trucks, import and domestic, and creator of unique, one-of-a-kind performance project vehicles.  For more information, visit www.STILLEN.com.

For Further Information, Contact:

Josh Biggers
Marketing
STILLEN
(714) 540-5566, ext. 157
jbiggers@stillen.com

A little while back we had a chance to meet up with Matt Farah and his awesome crew from TheSmokingTire.com and show them around the buildings here at STILLEN.

Matt and Steve then jumped in the bright orange STILLEN GT-R and took a run through some of the local canyons.  See below for the video!

Matt started The Smoking Tire video series last year, and previous to that was the driving force behind Garage419. Two minutes with him is all it takes to recognize that he’s a true car enthusiast, and he’s as genuine as he comes across in his videos. Be sure to check out and subscribe to his video series here.