Lot's of good questions, let's just get straight to it...
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Originally Posted by sparkyg
1) Does the kit use the same disc design for the larger and smaller kit? Are they the same material, same specs, just smaller?
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Every Gran Turismo brake kit follows the same philosophy for vehcile specific engineering, providing optimum brake bias, based on the factory master cylinder, ABS, and other traction control devices.
The calipers for both systems are a 6-piston monobloc.
The discs for both systems come directly from the racing division.
The only differences are in the details of each component selected to appropriately match the application.
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Originally Posted by sparkyg
2) Are the pads the same?
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The replacement pads will be the same between wither system.
Quote:
Originally Posted by sparkyg
3) Are the calipers the same for the two kits? They say they are both 6 pot front and 4 pot rear, but are they identical mono calipers?
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The calipers are indeed 6-piston monobloc front and 4-piston monobloc rear for either system.
The will though, utilize different piston diameters to provide proper bias for the M3 application.
A properly developed brake system is essentially a mathematical equation.
Any changes to one component, requires a change to another, in order to achieve the same end result.
Quote:
Originally Posted by sparkyg
4) How is the proper brake balance achieved for the 380/380 kit vs the 365/345 kit? Do you change orifices in the brake lines? What changes?
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The changes are in both the disc diameters as well as the piston diameters.
Brake torque is a factor of line pressure (dictated by the vehicle), effective radius (dictated by the disc diameter), and piston area (dictated by the piston sizes within the caliper). Since we do not make any changes or modifications to the vehicle itself that leaves us in control of the disc sizing and caliper selection. As i stated before, changes to one of these factors dictates changes to another.
The typical rule of thumb is that if you increase the disc diameter (increasing the effective radius), you will need to correct the piston area (usually decreasing the piston sizing).
No changes are made to the brake lines or any other components that may affect line pressure. And all of the changes that are made are done so in a way that they still provide a firm but controllable brake pedal, and do not affect the function of ABS or other traction control devices.
Quote:
Originally Posted by sparkyg
5) Are the accessories with each kit the same, same lines, same brackets or are they different only in dimensions but not materials and relative strength
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Yes, everything else stays the same. Safety is a large part of Brembo's criteria for design. Each component is redesigned around each significant change and all of the same testing procedures and approval process are followed.
Each system was designed independently of each other and nothing is shared except for a the brake line. The key issue with the design of the systems for the M3 was heat capacity. The OEM disc is already very large in terms of mass and maximum heat capacity. Other offerings in the 355mm range may actually be offering less than ideal heat capacity for track or track like driving styles. You do need to beware of that type of approach from other manufacturers. As much as we'd like to make the smallest kit possible to fit under any/every wheel possible, there is a point where you are effectively creating the exact opposite of an "upgrade".