Track forum general chit chat.

i don't know what i did, but after my last track day at willow springs i've been getting the infamous cowbell noise out of the rear brake heat shields...

Pull the rocks out

I'll have to check it out when I swap wheels. Car is at the dealer for warranty work.
Do I just pull the heat shield back?

roastbeef wrote

I'll have to check it out when I swap wheels. Car is at the dealer for warranty work.
Do I just pull the heat shield back?

Yes, you just push the heat shield back. You can kinda jiggle it to hear/shake out the rocks. You can use a screw driver also to help get leverage. The metal is pretty easy to manipulate. I may have done this a couple times while I was pretending to be an off-road rally driver. Hit me up if you need more details

copy that. i'm sure you're experienced at this with your willow springs rally credentials.

Willow Springs is one place I don't want to be a rally driver at ...

redpriest wrote  

Willow Springs is one place I don't want to be a rally driver at ...

My undertrays, front bumpers and side panels of my car would agree. Lol

elim11 did you get those brakes on? lets see some pics.

anyone with the essex ap kit have their rotor hats turn a deep purple color? this happened after laguna. looks kinda cool.

roastbeef wrote  

elim11 did you get those brakes on? lets see some pics.

anyone with the essex ap kit have their rotor hats turn a deep purple color? this happened after laguna. looks kinda cool.

My morning project.

I think I have enough brake pads ...(all boxes full)

Can't ever have too many pads or tires

elim11 wrote

My morning project.

Nice looking kit!

Am I the only one here with the Brembo BBK? Did I buy the HardParker set-up? Everyone here is running Alcon, AP or PFC.

nholmes wrote

Nice looking kit!

Am I the only one here with the Brembo BBK? Did I buy the HardParker set-up? Everyone here is running Alcon, AP or PFC.

What is the consensus on Brembo BBK? Are they worth the premium over other kits or can you find better value elsewhere?

elim11 wrote  

I think I have enough brake pads ...(all boxes full)

What would happen if you ran a race pad and hybrid lad in the same caliper? Best of both worlds in pad characteristics?

Jive wrote

What is the consensus on Brembo BBK? Are they worth the premium over other kits or can you find better value elsewhere?

I went with it because it was 380mm, but I wouldn't go so far and say it stops any better than any of the other offerings.

Hoping the group can contribute some anecdotes or data.

when i was deciding on a kit, i simply wanted the best i could get at a reasonably justifiable cost. i was originally going to spring for a 380 kit- i figured bigger was better. a while back, i bought some tires from dogbone. when i went to his house to pick them up, he was prepping his car (before it was stripped) for a track day. with my first trackday approaching, i started picking his brain for advice on a number of subjects. he was working on his brakes, and it happened to be the subject i was most curious about. i was impressed with his knowledge and endorsement for ap racing brakes, so i started to look into ap.
it wasn't long after that when i discovered the essex ap racing brake blog. i really liked how they took the time to explain each and every component of their brake kit. this was more literature than i have ever seen by any other brake company/distributor. i like knowing how things work, and what makes them work well. i was impressed with the little details like the domed piston backs, explanation of piston seals, importance of rotor design, etc..
these aren't necessarily exclusive to ap kits, but when you become educated on many features of what makes a good bbk- and you're not seeing any mention of the subject in other brake advertisements, it raises questions. if i see variations between brake kits and one explains how it is superior, and the other bbk has design differences and doesn't provide any argument to the contrary- i'm going to go with the bbk that appears to be superior.
plus, i'm not a super handy guy. i wanted ease in changing pads, and this kit certainly provided this. without ever having changed brake pads in my life, once i did one (about 30 minutes getting creative with tools to spread the pistons), i did the other side in ten minutes.
plus, i lost 21lbs of unsprung, rotating weight.

scroll down in this link for lots of info if you haven't seen these. i know i mention this kit a lot. i'm not on their payroll- i'm just really satisfied with my brakes.
http://www.essexparts.com/essex-designed-ap-racing-competition-brake-kit-front-cp5060355mm-e92

elim11 wrote

My morning project.

Nice!

any of you guys seem this. one more option for upgraded rotor for stock caliper. only front still

http://www.tirerack.com/brakes/brakes.jsp?make=StopTech&model=2-Piece+Slotted+Aero-Rotor+Kit&group=2-Piece+Slotted+Aero-Rotor+Kit&partNum=81.160.9911S&autoMake=BMW&autoModel=M3+Coupe&autoYear=2009&autoModClar=

any thoughts

tlrid3r wrote

any of you guys seem this. one more option for upgraded rotor for stock caliper. only front still

http://www.tirerack.com/brakes/brakes.jsp?make=StopTech&model=2-Piece+Slotted+Aero-Rotor+Kit&group=2-Piece+Slotted+Aero-Rotor+Kit&partNum=81.160.9911S&autoMake=BMW&autoModel=M3+Coupe&autoYear=2009&autoModClar=

any thoughts

Excellent option for the price. Those are the same grade of rotors that came with my Stoptech BBK! Comparable to PFC DD, Girodisc, etc.

tlrid3r wrote

any of you guys seem this. one more option for upgraded rotor for stock caliper. only front still

http://www.tirerack.com/brakes/brakes.jsp?make=StopTech&model=2-Piece+Slotted+Aero-Rotor+Kit&group=2-Piece+Slotted+Aero-Rotor+Kit&partNum=81.160.9911S&autoMake=BMW&autoModel=M3+Coupe&autoYear=2009&autoModClar=

any thoughts

Wow that's a really good price too. I've seen them for $1050 elsewhere. I'm due for new rotors soon so I might go this route vs ST40's.

Swift springs and E36 bump stops came in today. Ground control camber plates and bimmerworld race exhaust are in as well (need to pick them up Wednesday). Gonna to start late in the Bimmer challenge series at Autoclub this month and will likely finish the rest of the season.

nholmes wrote  

elim11 wrote

My morning project.

Nice looking kit!

Am I the only one here with the Brembo BBK? Did I buy the HardParker set-up? Everyone here is running Alcon, AP or PFC.

Lol you must be ballin outta control! Although pfc is expensive.

I just want an st40 for front. Baby coming funds limited. Shit.