Tires, Wheels, & Brakes Discussion about wheels, tires, and brakes for the new MINI.

DIY "Brembo" brakes (lots of pics)

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 08-15-2006, 11:07 AM
cooper99's Avatar
cooper99
cooper99 is offline
Banned
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 1,179
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
DIY "Brembo" brakes (lots of pics)

So I just finshed my all day long brake project. First of all, I have already had some OEM size Brembo cross drilled/slotted rotors on my car for about a year along with EBC Green Stuff pads. So here is what I did today...






Here is what I started with (below)








Some Brembo decals from Ebay (below)





The finished product:

 
  #2  
Old 08-15-2006, 11:52 AM
skitelluride531's Avatar
skitelluride531
skitelluride531 is offline
Former Vendor
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Austin, TX & Boston, MA (Babson College)
Posts: 1,447
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hey! That's pretty clever...nice work.


Are those decals just plastic? Do you think they will survive the higher tempatures of the calipers?
 
  #3  
Old 08-15-2006, 03:01 PM
AndyRew009's Avatar
AndyRew009
AndyRew009 is offline
2nd Gear
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
i dont want to sound like im hating, but dont fake the funk
 
  #4  
Old 08-15-2006, 03:14 PM
MSFITOY's Avatar
MSFITOY
MSFITOY is offline
OVERDRIVE
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Greensboro, NC
Posts: 7,914
Received 35 Likes on 24 Posts
Originally Posted by skitelluride531
Do you think they will survive the higher tempatures of the calipers?
That's what I'm wondering too Any update on how it held up on the first drive?
 
  #5  
Old 08-15-2006, 03:23 PM
jerjer's Avatar
jerjer
jerjer is offline
4th Gear
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 501
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
thats so cute, baby brembo.. haha!
 
  #6  
Old 08-15-2006, 03:39 PM
pure&simple's Avatar
pure&simple
pure&simple is offline
3rd Gear
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Wilmington, DE
Posts: 230
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I'm wondering what satisfaction you get out of faking Brembo calipers? Does that automatically make your car cooler or something? What are you gonna tell the folks who ask you if those are really Brembos? You could just wind up with a bunch of people laughing at you. My advice - better to be genuine.
 
  #7  
Old 08-15-2006, 03:41 PM
Iggy-MCS's Avatar
Iggy-MCS
Iggy-MCS is offline
2nd Gear
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Looks good. I'm digging the paint, want to do it if I ever had a free day to spend on it. Was it easy enough without removing the caliper assembly? How about the rears?

And my question is where are the stainless brake lines in your picture? Wasn't that a rubber hose?
 
  #8  
Old 08-15-2006, 03:41 PM
cooper99's Avatar
cooper99
cooper99 is offline
Banned
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 1,179
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Thanks for the comments everyone. AndyRew009, I understand where you are coming from, but I didn't like the look of my dirty silver calipers, and wanted to either paint them black or red. I thought the Brembo decals would be fun thing to try out. The Brembo vinyl decals claim to withstand a constant temperature of 300 degrees. I only used 2 of them because my rear calipers were too small. $8 buys you 6 decals, so I still have 4 extra ones here. Does anyone from this site with real Brembo brakes know if the Brembo sign is painted on the caliper or is it a just a sticker?

And in response to a couple PMs, if anyone notices in my signature, you see I have goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3s, but in the photos, they are BFGoodrich KDW2s. The KDW2s are old and I already replaced 2 of them. I bought 4 new GS-D3s onsale and $40 back and only had 2 installed in the rear.
 
  #9  
Old 08-15-2006, 03:45 PM
pure&simple's Avatar
pure&simple
pure&simple is offline
3rd Gear
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Wilmington, DE
Posts: 230
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
BTW, I'm all for painting calipers... and I think your ride looks sweet. But I'm definitely not diggin' the fake baby brembos.
 
  #10  
Old 08-15-2006, 03:57 PM
MSFITOY's Avatar
MSFITOY
MSFITOY is offline
OVERDRIVE
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Greensboro, NC
Posts: 7,914
Received 35 Likes on 24 Posts
Originally Posted by cooper99
Thanks for the comments everyone. AndyRew009, I understand where you are coming from, but I didn't like the look of my dirty silver calipers, and wanted to either paint them black or red. I thought the Brembo decals would be fun thing to try out. The Brembo vinyl decals claim to withstand a constant temperature of 300 degrees. I only used 2 of them because my rear calipers were too small. $8 buys you 6 decals, so I still have 4 extra ones here. Does anyone from this site with real Brembo brakes know if the Brembo sign is painted on the caliper or is it a just a sticker?

And in response to a couple PMs, if anyone notices in my signature, you see I have goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3s, but in the photos, they are BFGoodrich KDW2s. The KDW2s are old and I already replaced 2 of them. I bought 4 new GS-D3s onsale and $40 back and only had 2 installed in the rear.
I believe they use powder coating or something stronger to withstand nearly a 1000F...300F is standard vinyl designed to be pasted on the side of a car...the body side would see those temperatures sitting still on a hot day...I have a feeling the first time you do a panic stop, they'll fry
 
  #11  
Old 08-15-2006, 05:27 PM
kenchan's Avatar
kenchan
kenchan is offline
6th Gear
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 31,439
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
i would do a more natural titaninum or gun metal and leave it.

my Legacy's calipers look like crap...i should try that when i do the
tire rotation soon... hummm...

MISFITOY- do you just spray that cleaner over the caliper and
rotor? no issues damaging the cv boots, etc? does it have to
be covered before spraying?
 
  #12  
Old 08-15-2006, 05:36 PM
DrDiff's Avatar
DrDiff
DrDiff is offline
Coordinator :: Northwest Indiana MINIacs
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Valparaiso, IN
Posts: 2,412
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
BTW Nice wheel studs. Someday MIB will have a set of studs...
 
  #13  
Old 08-15-2006, 05:44 PM
MSFITOY's Avatar
MSFITOY
MSFITOY is offline
OVERDRIVE
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Greensboro, NC
Posts: 7,914
Received 35 Likes on 24 Posts
Originally Posted by kenchan
i would do a more natural titaninum or gun metal and leave it.

my Legacy's calipers look like crap...i should try that when i do the
tire rotation soon... hummm...

MISFITOY- do you just spray that cleaner over the caliper and
rotor? no issues damaging the cv boots, etc? does it have to
be covered before spraying?
Brake cleaner is very corrosive stuff...rotors ok...it rusts anyway but don't drive with it still wet (it dries pretty fast)...you'd have to be a monkey to get it all over your CV boots LOL...definitely keep it off painted surfaces
 
  #14  
Old 08-15-2006, 05:47 PM
AZMCS's Avatar
AZMCS
AZMCS is offline
6th Gear
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 1,335
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Go real or go home

 
  #15  
Old 08-15-2006, 06:07 PM
MSFITOY's Avatar
MSFITOY
MSFITOY is offline
OVERDRIVE
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Greensboro, NC
Posts: 7,914
Received 35 Likes on 24 Posts
Be nice... Maybe his budget doesn't allow it yet...It does look nice...
 
  #16  
Old 08-15-2006, 06:22 PM
defylogik's Avatar
defylogik
defylogik is offline
5th Gear
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Alexandria, VA - Old Town
Posts: 935
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
i have seen a lot of rice "boiyze" around the area with vinyl cut lettering on their calipers. they seem to hold up pretty well, surprisingly.

the way i drive, they would melt off in a day though.

heat makes the adhesive stick harder in the long run anyways.
 
  #17  
Old 08-15-2006, 06:39 PM
MSFITOY's Avatar
MSFITOY
MSFITOY is offline
OVERDRIVE
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Greensboro, NC
Posts: 7,914
Received 35 Likes on 24 Posts
Originally Posted by defylogik
i have seen a lot of rice "boiyze" around the area with vinyl cut lettering on their calipers. they seem to hold up pretty well, surprisingly.

the way i drive, they would melt off in a day though.

heat makes the adhesive stick harder in the long run anyways.
Just one hard brake approaching a turn would probably do it for me
 
  #18  
Old 08-15-2006, 06:39 PM
kyriian's Avatar
kyriian
kyriian is offline
6th Gear
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Toronto, ON
Posts: 2,501
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by MSFITOY
Be nice... Maybe his budget doesn't allow it yet...It does look nice...
agreed.... not everyone can afford the nice 2000 dollar pricetag for a set of brembos

i like it... looks good...
 
  #19  
Old 08-15-2006, 06:48 PM
nypepper's Avatar
nypepper
nypepper is offline
3rd Gear
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Babylon NY
Posts: 258
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
so they should spend under 1k on a set of wildwood or detroit tuned
 
  #20  
Old 08-15-2006, 06:54 PM
skitelluride531's Avatar
skitelluride531
skitelluride531 is offline
Former Vendor
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Austin, TX & Boston, MA (Babson College)
Posts: 1,447
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by nypepper
so they should spend under 1k on a set of wildwood or detroit tuned

Or, he can spend $8 dollars on brembo stickers, a couple hundred on brembo rotors and pads. I don't know why people have to be so critical here of what one chooses to do with his/her MINI.
 
  #21  
Old 08-15-2006, 07:14 PM
MSFITOY's Avatar
MSFITOY
MSFITOY is offline
OVERDRIVE
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Greensboro, NC
Posts: 7,914
Received 35 Likes on 24 Posts
It's tastefully done...but I'm still curious how long it'll last with the heat...
 
  #22  
Old 08-15-2006, 07:42 PM
ArmyDog's Avatar
ArmyDog
ArmyDog is offline
Coordinator::Asia
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 845
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Looks OK except for the concept of "counterfeit" Brembos. Go with the real deal or not at all.

BTW my Brembo GTs and rear Brembo rotors will be going on this week. Pics posted soon.
 
  #23  
Old 08-15-2006, 07:52 PM
fiveover's Avatar
fiveover
fiveover is offline
3rd Gear
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: So. Calif.
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I like the red, not the stickers. Just my 2¢
 
  #24  
Old 08-15-2006, 08:21 PM
kenchan's Avatar
kenchan
kenchan is offline
6th Gear
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 31,439
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally Posted by MSFITOY
Be nice... Maybe his budget doesn't allow it yet...It does look nice...
yeh, those garage cabinets are expensive.

i might try this painting thing on my Legacy... will study more.
i should paint it skyblue and put a Endless decal on it. lol jk
 
  #25  
Old 08-15-2006, 09:02 PM
kyriian's Avatar
kyriian
kyriian is offline
6th Gear
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Toronto, ON
Posts: 2,501
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by kenchan

i might try this painting thing on my Legacy... will study more.
i should paint it skyblue and put a Endless decal on it. lol jk
endless? that's for schoolboys.... paint it bright pink and slap a STI logo on it! tell the rice boys that its a one of a kind STI kit!

and endless brakes are a darker medium blue than sky blue... sky blue is more SPOON
 


Quick Reply: DIY "Brembo" brakes (lots of pics)



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 02:44 PM.