Harrison brakes

sambo · #1 (**permalink**) 08-03-2011, 12:38 AM

I'm about to send my rear calipers (R33 Skyline) off to be rebuilt and will also fit new pads and rotors. I had a chat to the people at Race Brakes down here and they recommended DBA 4000 series rotors and their RB74 pads. $320 and $180 respectively to supply.

Any Harrison owners running this combination and how do you rate them? Any other recommendations? I expect at least 80% road duty and maybe 4 or 5 track sessions per year.

I originally asked about lower spec brakes given the low weight of the Cobra. He pointed out that being almost 50/50 weight distribution the rears will actually get a pretty good workout on the track.

He said to throw out the late model (VT, VZ, VE) Commodore front calipers, they flex badly when pushed hard - to the point where customers have had pads falling out on the track. Crikey.

OZCOBRA · #2 (**permalink**) 08-03-2011, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sambo

I'm about to send my rear calipers (R33 Skyline) off to be rebuilt and will also fit new pads and rotors. I had a chat to the people at Race Brakes down here and they recommended DBA 4000 series rotors and their RB74 pads. $320 and $180 respectively to supply.

Pads seem a bit on the pricey side....Give these guys a call generally(always) better than most on price!!!!!
Cam Sonno
Ph: (03) 9553 1160
Fax: (03) 9555 4680
Address: Factory 11, 59-65 Keys Rd, Moorabbin, Victoria, 3189.
Web: STOP WITH HIGHTEK BRAKES!

Merv and Sharon · #3 (**permalink**) 08-03-2011, 12:54 AM

My rears are really good now with the new wagon master cylinder and the softer pads. Can't fault them. I hate the Commodore front calipers and will replace them with Nissans too. Commodore ones are cheap and nasty in design.

Krait · #4 (**permalink**) 08-03-2011, 08:09 AM

Paul,

Don't know about the proposed combo but Race Brakes Sydney supplied my brakes and provided great support...the brakes are great too.

Cheers

byroncobra · #5 (**permalink**) 08-03-2011, 05:14 PM

Ive got standard Nissans on the rear fitted with Mervs' recommended pads but not the wagon master cylinder.
Up front, the Hopper Stopper 'big brake' kit which are PBR callipers and large dia discs.
I thought that they worked pretty well till i drove Kraits car, his setup is awesome.
I find that i require a lot of pedal pressure for good breaking, especially after the first pump. I tested the the booster to check it was ok and it seems fine.
It's the next on the list of improvements on the car to persue after my Trickflo engine parts arrive and I complete that rebuild.

Merv and Sharon · #6 (**permalink**) 08-03-2011, 05:27 PM

Which model of brakes did you get Geof? Sounds good. Lots of rebuilds happening. Most for improvement of top end.

sambo · #7 (**permalink**) 08-03-2011, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krait

Don't know about the proposed combo but Race Brakes Sydney supplied my brakes and provided great support...the brakes are great too.

Hi Geoff, what combo did Race Brakes provide you with? Standard XF booster?

leroy17 · #8 (**permalink**) 08-03-2011, 08:12 PM

I found this past topic with some info.

Optimum brake sizing

sambo · #9 (**permalink**) 08-03-2011, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OZCOBRA

Pads seem a bit on the pricey side....Give these guys a call generally(always) better than most on price!!!!!
Cam Sonno
Ph: (03) 9553 1160
Fax: (03) 9555 4680
Address: Factory 11, 59-65 Keys Rd, Moorabbin, Victoria, 3189.
Web: STOP WITH HIGHTEK BRAKES!

Oz, they actually made my flexible lines. I figured Race Brakes would be best on price for their own product but a phone call doesn't hurt. Cheers.

aussiecoupe · #10 (**permalink**) 08-04-2011, 04:28 AM

Sambo , email me our call about my new brake set up . South african built but designed in Queensland , ADR appoved . As good as Geofs Race Brakes .I have driven both .

Capliper ,rotors and a hatted rear can be done with out loosing the handbrake . 4 or 6 pot .

mod Changes to the master cylinder will help balance .

This is all being tested on the new race Cobra .

Make sure you have great tyres .
Warwick.

sambo · #11 (**permalink**) 08-04-2011, 05:13 AM

Warwick thanks I'll be in touch tomorrow.

Paul

Krait · #12 (**permalink**) 08-04-2011, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sambo

Hi Geoff, what combo did Race Brakes provide you with? Standard XF booster?

Hey Paul,

Used the ute series brake setup. Works well for me as I have the Commodore based rear suspension rather than the Nissan. Even my missus commented how well it pulls up and the pedal is very nice. Warwick used the XF booster. Way better than those rally cars I used to peddle even with works Nissan brakes.

The South African setup sounds interesting Warwick, we have a lot of them in our offices.

Cheers

hsv300 · #13 (**permalink**) 08-04-2011, 04:00 PM

Hi Sambo i think i have the one Warwick is talking about he will be able to confirm.

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Merv and Sharon · #14 (**permalink**) 08-04-2011, 05:33 PM

I contacted Matthew Pearce at Race Brakes in Sydney and they suggested the same AP 330 rotor and their 4 pot caliper (as per Geoff), re-drilled rotor for the Ford stud pattern. All up about $2750. As I said, my Nissan rears are good now after re-build, softer pads and the new ute/wagon PBR master cylinder.

Not sure if that AP set up on the front would operate as well without the AP rear that you also have Geoff. I will also call Warwick to compare his new set up, which sounds good.

sambo · #15 (**permalink**) 08-04-2011, 05:58 PM

I just got off the phone to Warwick. The 6 pot Sth African made, ADR approved kit is $2500 per end, as pictured in Greg's (hsv300) post above. There's also a lower spec offering for about $1800 to compete with Race Brakes, Hoppers Stoppers, etc.

I think I'll stick with a new set of DBA slotted rotors and RB74 pads for the back, bed the whole lot in properly and that will be more than good enough for the street and social track days. I'm not running good enough tyres to really push an extreme brake package and don't intend to in the foreseeable future.

For those struggling with brake bias issues, the brake bias valve (rubber o-ring) can be removed from the XF master cylinder giving equal pressure front/rear and a $130 adjustable valve fitted externally. To keep engineers happy this has a removable cap which means nobody can fiddle with the bias after it has been set.

The trick for setting bias involves fitting a torque wrench at 60 ft lbs to a wheel stud on the rear, pressing the brake pedal down and adjusting the valve until the wrench cracks. Thanks to Warwick for all this info.

Sambo

Merv and Sharon · #16 (**permalink**) 08-04-2011, 06:12 PM

Good info Paul. Warwick had a busy morning, as I called just after. Similar story. I am happy with my rear brakes now and also my bias is fine with the new MC. I am getting a quote on the SA setup for 4-pot with one-piece rotors that will fit my Dragway wheels (rotor size is critical in some rims of course).

Wazza · #17 (**permalink**) 08-04-2011, 06:17 PM

Sambo,

Although the big brakes ( 8 pot / 6 pot )are awesome to look at, and certainly work way better after PLENTY of laps on the race track, the "Normal" brakes are more than sufficient for all other normal, and limited track needs.

I only have Nissan brakes on the race Cobra, with good quality pads ( Hawk Performance Brake pads), and they grab pretty well.

The brakes are limited by the grip of the tyres anyway...

Sometimes the tyres win !!

The main difference with the BIG brakes is that they are still "ready" after 25 laps...and the smaller ones are fading......i.e. they can't get rid of the heat build up .

The big brakes that Warwick sells look the goods though, and no doubt when/if I find some money laying around, I'll be looking at the upgrade.

Cheers,
Warren.

sambo · #18 (**permalink**) 08-04-2011, 07:17 PM

Good stuff Merv. Sounds like you have big plans for that rocket.

Warren, you strike me as a bit of a madman on the track (no offense) so if Nissan rear brakes are good enough for you then I'll stick with them for now.

$500 for DBA rear brakes vs $5000 for the big daddies - much easier to get past the book keeper.

Gav · #19 (**permalink**) 08-04-2011, 11:38 PM

I upgraded the stock jag stuff on the front of mr CR to AP 4 pot calipers with 330mm HSV rotors (Thanks Mike). The pedal feel with the AP's is great and they complement the larger territory rear brakes I fitted earlier.

I found the jag calipers to be a pain to bleed, but other than that they where more than capable of trackday flogging. Your tyres will give out waaaaay before your standard brakes will.
I am sure with good pads your Nissan stuff will be fine.

Krait · #20 (**permalink**) 08-05-2011, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merv and Sharon

I contacted Matthew Pearce at Race Brakes in Sydney and they suggested the same AP 330 rotor and their 4 pot caliper (as per Geoff), re-drilled rotor for the Ford stud pattern. All up about $2750. As I said, my Nissan rears are good now after re-build, softer pads and the new ute/wagon PBR master cylinder.

Not sure if that AP set up on the front would operate as well without the AP rear that you also have Geoff. I will also call Warwick to compare his new set up, which sounds good.

Merv, Matthew was good to deal with despite the 13,000km separation. Bias is also influenced by weight distribution and road surface. We ran more rear bias on the rally cars because of the lack of weight transfer due to the lower tyre grip on loose surfaces. The AP's worked for me because the car uses the commodore handbrake so one less problem...plus they look the goods

Cheers