When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Last in the update series, I've got new wheels and carbon. The hood and headlight blanks I've detailed previously, here's the final matte clear-coated cool.
I decided to sell my BBS locally, and go for larger wheels with more brake clearance, and I wanted super-light. I got in on last years black friday sale at Apex Wheels for a set of VS-5RS in anthracite. These are 18x10" +40 front, 18x11 +52 rear (with a 10mm spacer, 18.4 and 19.2 lbs respectively. The intent was to run 285/30 front, 295/30 rear. I selected Michelin Pilot Sport Cups to be run as street tires, figuring they'd be very grippy, and very light (if you compare specs, Michelins are sometimes 3-5 lbs PER TIRE lighter than other top brands. The issue, however, turned out to be the +40 front offset. The Michelin 285/30 is HUGE, larger than the Hoosier, and it rubbed. I could have gotten another two 18x11s and that would have stretched the tire inward enough to work, but I didn't feel like buying more wheels. Instead I sold the tires and got 255/35 and 275/35 Michelin Pilot 4Ss (the sizes I ran on the 9" and 10" BBS). True street tires, less aggressive sizes. Each is the on the largest rim in the manufacturers suggested range now, and they've got a fair amount of stretch, but I'm used to it, I'm maximizing them, they're light, and the car feels great on them.
It took me a little bit, but I'm LOVING the new look. It's a lot less subtle, and more in keeping with the character of the car now.
Last in the update series, I've got new wheels and carbon. The hood and headlight blanks I've detailed previously, here's the final matte clear-coated cool.
I decided to sell my BBS locally, and go for larger wheels with more brake clearance, and I wanted super-light. I got in on last years black friday sale at Apex Wheels for a set of VS-5RS in anthracite. These are 18x10" +40 front, 18x11 +52 rear (with a 10mm spacer, 18.4 and 19.2 lbs respectively. The intent was to run 285/30 front, 295/30 rear. I selected Michelin Pilot Sport Cups to be run as street tires, figuring they'd be very grippy, and very light (if you compare specs, Michelins are sometimes 3-5 lbs PER TIRE lighter than other top brands. The issue, however, turned out to be the +40 front offset. The Michelin 285/30 is HUGE, larger than the Hoosier, and it rubbed. I could have gotten another two 18x11s and that would have stretched the tire inward enough to work, but I didn't feel like buying more wheels. Instead I sold the tires and got 255/35 and 275/35 Michelin Pilot 4Ss (the sizes I ran on the 9" and 10" BBS). True street tires, less aggressive sizes. Each is the on the largest rim in the manufacturers suggested range now, and they've got a fair amount of stretch, but I'm used to it, I'm maximizing them, they're light, and the car feels great on them.
It took me a little bit, but I'm LOVING the new look. It's a lot less subtle, and more in keeping with the character of the car now.
Well this just settled a question I had regarding wheel fitment in the front. I'm assuming you are still on stock front fenders by the looks of it?
I have some Advan RZ-F2's laying around in 18x10 +40 and wanted to see if I could swap them onto the RX-7. I have a whole garage full of wheels now that seem to be interchangeable with my Supra and RX-7 so I think I'll give those a go and see how they look instead of the RG-D2s.
Well this is an update I've been waiting to make for a while. The ultimate four wheel brake setup, paired with the MK60 ABS and 1-1/16" EVO Master Cylinder I already installed comes a 14" all around setup with AP Radi-CAL nickel (ENP) calipers and a functional parking brake. I decided I'll probably never have a 3-rotor or 4-rotor, so I'll have the 4-rotor of brakes! I've been working on this for about a year, it's installed and working, and I'll be offering it to the community in the near future. I'm just working out the business particulars, and want to respect forum advertising rules, but I'll be at DGRR to reveal this, and a couple other exciting things I have in the pipeline. Come find me. The Setup:
Front: 355x32mm, 72-vane, floating Paragon rotor ring, AP 9660 Caliper, aluminum hats/bracket.
These rings are interchangeable and similar spec to AP j-hook version. Total weight was actually slightly better than my StopTech setup.
Rear: 355x28mm, 48-vane, non-floating Paragon rotor ring, AP 9451 Caliper, Mechanical spot parking brake, Steel prototype single-piece bracket for both calipers, will be aluminum on final version.
A suitably sized, compatible j-hook rotor ring wasn't available, but this is an AP interchangeable shape (you could order the genuine one from Europe, but AP doesn't offer it with j-hook), and there are other slot designs available that may match the j-hook more closely if you want to go that way. There is a weight penalty here over a stock based setup, but not as much as you'd think for how big an upgrade it is.
The pads in both cases are massively larger, especially in the rear. I'll be using Hawk HPS 5.0 streets at DGRR, in anticipation of DTC70/60's on track. Lots more details and testing to follow, but couldn't wait any longer to share.
Oh man, looks amazing. Bravo Peter. Can't wait to learn more about piston sizing and corresponding F/R bias.
Thanks man, sure. On my calculator, stock bias is 68/32.
My original StopTech front kit actually had smaller-than-stock pistons to account for a larger rotor to balance with a stock rear. I had the RB upgrade rear, and it worked out to 65/35. When my stock ABS broke, it would lock rears first on track, even with a lower-torque rear pad.
The 9660 is the larger of the two piston sets for that caliper body (38.1, 31.8, 27mm). The 9451 is the smaller of the two piston sets for that caliper body (28.6, 25.4mm). The bias works out to 67/33. If you used the larger pistoned 9450 (31.75, 26.9mm), it would be 64/36.I feel like that might be what you'd want on a 911 or something.
Anecdotally, the race ABS doesn't cycle below about 15mph. If I step on it and leave the pressure on till a near stop, it's still the rear that locks, so I think it's pretty on the money unless you've got something wildly different in the rest of your setup. Of course I need to do further testing with track tires, pads, and aero.
Also, that's a **** load more piston, so you'll want the 929 master at a minimum, or the EVO kit I got from Japan, or a custom dual if you want to minimize pedal travel.
What are your thoughts on the yumi lights at night? Curious if there are any sacrifices in light output with the headlights being so low
So far, so good. I've only had them out in truly dark county area once, but the light is really astonishing. Just like headlights on a new high end car. I'm looking forward to getting more night miles on them at DGRR. I haven't seen any issue with them being mounted low.
Leaving in the morning for DGRR. Looking forward to seeing everyone, and showing some of the things I’ve been working on, but here are some detail shots of the brake components pre-installation, and a video.
Leaving in the morning for DGRR. Looking forward to seeing everyone, and showing some of the things I’ve been working on, but here are some detail shots of the brake components pre-installation, and a video.
