Tuning monster brakes

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Tuning monster brakes

I can say, pretty categorically (from experience) that the brakes fitted to the Abarth 500 are exceptionally unlikely to ever overheat under normal (or even abnormal) circumstances.

It isn't that they don't get hot but the tyres will give out a long time before the brakes do (and then it won't matter how good your brakes are)! Put the car on slicks or even proper semi-slicks and it might be another matter but that is about the only time you'd ever need brakes like these.

As far as I can tell they are basically the same as the brakes fitted to the Assetto Corsa cars.

You could do almost as much for just the cost of a new set of brake pads on the Abarth.

The standard 500 is of course a whole different kettle of fish but again I don't think you need spend anything like so much to get the level of braking required.

Save these for serious track/race use only (and I mean really serious).
 

Stop reading my mind! :D

I'm actually in discussions with him about this now. It's a 280mm kit.

I reckon I can fit 2 part discs in 285mm with slimline calipers under my 15" wheels using a competing manufacturers stuff.

When I PM'd the guy re the GT package he said the issue isn't the wheel diameter so much as the width. The fatboy brembo calipers often don't clear the smaller wheels.

I've given him my exact wheel and told him if he can guarantee me it'll fit I'd be tempted.

Are the 500 Abarth brakes bigger discs/more piston calipers/better fluid/better hoses than the standard 500? Aside from the disc/pads being brembo stock I thought the rest of the hardware was the same as a normal 1.4 500. In which case I'd challenge the assertion that they're good enough in all but the most extreme cases.
 
The front discs are bigger 284mm vs 257mm, but the rears are the same 240mm. The callipers are ZPH 4.1.2 floating front calliper, ø 54mm piston for the Abarth but I don't have the caliper info for the normal 1.4 system.

The Assetto Corse brakes are lifted directly from the Abarth GP (note normal vented discs not the SS cross drilled) with special pads. The AC is more AGP than A500 though
 
Steve from CBP is sending me the dimensions drawings for the test fitting. Hopefully know if these will fit behind my wheels. If so I'm seriously tempted. Otherwise I'm going down plan b route of making something up from components.
 
Can i just add if anyone is interested PM me!! ;)

I didn't get a chance to check it out over the weekend. Other chaos intruded. Including dropping off the spare gearbox to get the Quaife installed. Which it has been. Collecting tomorrow and hopefully have fitted to the 500 by the end of the week. Mwhuahahahahaha.
 
The effect of 10 pots is not ti directly increase the bracking force.

It gives a far more even support to the back face of the pad however, so the force from the pots is applied more evenly across the area of the pad.
Yes but 10 is more than 6 so if you're not driving that hard at all and just want bragging rights 10 is better :p
 
Yes but 10 is more than 6 so if you're not driving that hard at all and just want bragging rights 10 is better :p

10 pistons = overkill: Article 11.2.3 of FIA's F1 redulations state: "No more than one caliper, with a maximum of six pistons, is permitted on each wheel."
http://www.formula1.com/inside_f1/rules_and_regulations/technical_regulations/8696/fia.html

If 6 is enough for F1, it's enough for a 500.

Perhaps you'd be better off investing £5000 in carbon discs instead? :D
 
Ah, but F1 also restrict induction, no turbos, does that mean that all turbo cars are 'overkill?'

F1 cars already produce 750bhp+ (depending who you believe) from 2.4 litres - so yes, turbos would be overkill on those. It's just not required for good racing

When you've got an engine which only produces a fraction of that power, and with significantly more weight, it wouldn't be.

The point is, 10 piston calipers on a road car, or even a fully blown f1, is a pointless idea - 6 pistons is more than enough to get the job done
 
Thinking about it, my brakes would be more effective if I wasn't so chunky. Has anybody thought about losing excess body weight in order to improve braking? It'll be cheaper than those enormous discs and calipers, for a start!
 
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