Standard or Wilwood brakes on an ERA?

[lippy]

One of the last options I'm considering on the car ERA is building for me is standard vs. Wilwood brakes. I'm going with the Jag rear end with inboard brakes, and I will use the car almost entirely on the street. I've read all of the posts I could find and understand the standard Camaro-based brakes are very good, with a large swept area, good servicability, and solid braking for a relatively light Cobra. But I'm still considering ERA's Wilwood option for the front only. I also should mention I will use stainless hoses all around.

I'd appreciate your opinions, especially from those who are using the standard brakes on a street-driven car. Are you happy with them, or do you regret not getting the Wilwoods?

Thanks!

[rpatton3]

Years ago, George Petrus put outboard discs on Jaguar IRS. His company is cobra racing.com if you want to check. It is big now.

[rpatton3]

Originally Posted by rpatton3

Years ago, George Petrus put outboard discs on Jaguar IRS. His company is cobraacing.com if you want to check. It is big now.

bobraracing.com

[rpatton3]

cobraracing.com is link. My bifocals and cell phone and sausage fingers could not get it straight.

[patrickt]

Lippy, you do not need the big brake option up front.

[ERA Chas]

He's right you don't. But the clanking of the pads in the 100 pound GM calipers will drive you nuts.
Wilwoods = better engineering.

[lippy]

Originally Posted by ERA Chas

He's right you don't. But the clanking of the pads in the 100 pound GM calipers will drive you nuts.
Wilwoods = better engineering.

Can't I fix that with a hammer and punch, like I fix most things?

[patrickt]

Now I am not sure of this, but I think I recall chatting with Peter about the big brakes up front and, at that time, I'm pretty sure that if you upgraded the brakes up front that you also had to upgrade the Jag in-board brakes as well, which ERA no longer does (according to their web site). I didn't put a lot of thought in to it because I was going with the out-board braked rear that already had the larger brakes. BUT, had I gone with the regular Jag rear, and the upgraded Sierras up front (now Wilwood), then upgrading the in-board Jag brakes was the strong recommendation. Peter did not want big brakes up front with the standard Jag brakes on the back. Again, I'm kind of foggy on it all though....

[lippy]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Now I am not sure of this, but I think I recall chatting with Peter about the big brakes up front and, at that time, I'm pretty sure that if you upgraded the brakes up front that you also had to upgrade the Jag in-board brakes as well, which ERA no longer does (according to their web site). I didn't put a lot of thought in to it because I was going with the out-board braked rear that already had the larger brakes. BUT, had I gone with the regular Jag rear, and the upgraded Sierras up front (now Wilwood), then upgrading the in-board Jag brakes was the strong recommendation. Peter did not want big brakes up front with the standard Jag brakes on the back. Again, I'm kind of foggy on it all though....

I spoke with Peter. You can do Wilwoods in front and Jag in the rear. But you can't do big brakes in rear with standard in front.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by lippy

I spoke with Peter. You can do Wilwoods in front and Jag in the rear. But you can't do big brakes in rear with standard in front.

OK, if it was me in your shoes, I wouldn't go with the big brakes right now as I know you're watching the pennies. If the rattling really bugs you (and I don't know if Chas is just pulling your leg on that or not), then doing the upgrade is not that hard. Here are the instructions for the big brake conversion: http://www.erareplicas.com/427man/br...conversion.pdf

[ERA Chas]

Originally Posted by patrickt

If the rattling really bugs you (and I don't know if Chas is just pulling your leg on that or not), then doing the upgrade is not that hard.

I would NOT joke with a statement like that-and make a guy spend money on a joke. I only talk about and recommend what I've done-not what I've read.
I went from bolt-on wheels and GM brakes with Jag to Wilwoods and big rotors-which had pin drive hubs. Doug made the modified spindles and sent the units. Then had Doug make up a pin drive hat and unit for the rear uprights. Then put everything in on jackstands. I then modified the rear Girlings and ventilated them. Very effective paired with the big fronts.
Believe me when I say-they shifted and clacked-also glazed on the first 100 MPH stab of the brake. That 'expert's tale' about 'they were fine on the much heavier Camaro' is a crock. It's seems logical until you measure the piston area and rotor sizes.
The guys that like the GM's aren't driving their cars hard enough.
You may not either which is why I agreed with Pat about going GM for you. But it's not an elegant solution.

[patrickt]

OK, what's the cost differential between the stock brakes and the upgrade to Wilwoods?

[strictlypersonl]

You can eliminate any clunking from the GM pads quite easily. Just bend the tabs on the pads so that they are tight on the caliper. Also, we use pad anti-squeal goo on the back of the pads.

[ERA Chas]

Originally Posted by strictlypersonl

You can eliminate any clunking from the GM pads quite easily. Also, we use pad anti-squeal goo on the back of the pads.

Now he tells me...

[lippy]

Originally Posted by patrickt

OK, what's the cost differential between the stock brakes and the upgrade to Wilwoods?

It's about $1,100 more. And now I think they use Coleman calipers, and not Willwoods.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by ERA Chas

Now he tells me...

Dang, Chas... a pair of pliers and some magic goo could of saved you a couple of grand.

[ERA Chas]

It wasn't the noise I changed them for....

[joyridin']

If it is upgraded front and rears, for $1100, I would do it in a heartbeat. Heck, I would do it for nothing else than looks.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by joyridin'

If it is upgraded front and rears, for $1100, I would do it in a heartbeat.

It ain't. It just upgrades the fronts only to four piston jobs. If you want the backs upgraded you gotta spring for the out-board braked rear.

[Quik289]

I have been very happy with the standard brakes on my street driven ERA. No noise, great stopping power, very little pedal effort. I wouldn't bother with the upgrade brakes.