Where to get better brakes?
 

I have a PRO 7 car that has mostly stock brakes and would like to up grade. I don't like the stock rotors or the stock calipers. Is there a place to get heavier duty rotors and bigger calipers and bigger master cylinder? I have heard that the stock rotors are prone to warping and cracking. Also the stock calipers can't take the heat and the rubber seal melt. So if there are some better units that will work I would like to know of them.

I'm not sure where you are getting your info from. I run a 2nd gen in E Production with the SCCA. I have the stock brakes, using Hawk pads and good venting to the front from my air dam. Pads last a full season and I have several seasons on the rotors with no issues. I have a prop valve to adjust f/r bias. I'm using blues in front and black pads in the rear. This setup was good enough for me to win the Eastern Conference Majors Championship in EP last year.

judging by his avatar I'd say he has an 1st gen which have very different brakes.

What rule set are you prepping the car for?

Pro7 had to use stock 12A stuff. We had issues with rotors getting heat cracks towards the end of the useful life. Small cracks were not problematic. We only addressed them if you could feel it in the pedal. I can't say that I ever had a problem with rubber melting on any of the Pro7 cars I was involved with. I'm sure if you get them rocket hot without ducting you could, but that is a lot of heat

I race the car at NCRA at their track day events. I have only been able to run the car one weekend in 2011 and one in 2012. I retired last July so I didn't run it 2013. I am building up the car to run this summer. I heard that the 1st gen cars brakes are prone to cracking and the calipers don't take heat well. I have the high pressure stainless brake lines and Bias control. When I got the car the engine was worn and down on power. I was able to get a few more horses out of it but now I am rebuilding it. This should make three times the power it came with when I got it. I haven't raced the car yet just ran the track days but once I get sorted out I plan on racing it under NCRC. They have the track day event and also two race event each day. There it's you run what you brung. They put you in a class by your lap times. I like NCRC because for years I built cars for other people and it is a blast to be able to do what ever you want to a car and try to get all you can out of it. Thanks for getting back to me. The brakes that are on it now are ok and I will be running vents to them would just like to be better because the speeds will be going up a lot with the way I am setting the car up now.

The easiest thing to do would be to step up to the GSL-SE brakes and buy the kit for the drop off rotor kit KC Raceware

I'm in the same boat right now. I'm getting ready to go big on the front end.

KC stuff is nice. But it really depends on what, or how far you want to take your suspension.
[7's Only][http://www.sevensonly.com/Store.html] has a full brake set up and Strut with bigger spindle and tube (for better shocks). They can also do the same strut with a SE caliper (bigger pads). They also have a set up for a double master.
RE speed have a "Big brake" kit so you can use a 2nd gen hub and calipers.
Willwood has a 1" master that will replace a stock one (just a little mod work). But not as safe as having 2 (front/rear) masters.

For me it's come down to this. I need better brakes and would really like to up grade my Koni single adjustable shocks. I'm not doing the 2nd gen brakes because I want to keep it on 13" wheels.

option 1: Take my struts, cut and re weld new bigger tube (for Double adjustable). Make bracket for SE calipers. Just deal with the stock rotors.

option 2:Same with struts as #1 and make bracket for Willwood Dyna lite calipers. Make stock hubs work with Willwood rotors and hats. This gives you a 10" rotor.

option 3:Same as #2 but with 7's Only hub/10" rotor and ether SE calipers or Willwood Calipers.

Option 4: Full 7's Only struts/hub/rotors SE or Willwood calipers. Eazyest but a little more cash.

I'm leaning towards the 7's Only stuff. Oh and if you want, let Tom or Betty know your looking at the same set up as I am. It will help me, and them. So they have an Idea what you want.

When I'm done I will have a set (front and rear) Single Adjustable Koni's for sale (Only raced one season with them). Far far better then the KYBs, (good for about 2 seconds avg. off your lap times).

I have S5 brakes on my first gen with hawk pads. I'm happy with them and happy that I have bearing that do not burn out as easy as the FB units.

I have fabricated air ducts for the front that should help a lot if not I will do the a upgrade.

you want to try to point it into the center of the disk if you can so it flows out of the disk vents.

I have found that just makes the rotors crack sooner.
Bottom line is the rotors are just to small. the extreme heat/cool down cracks the cast steel rotors.
If you just do the GSL-SE caliper (7's only has the bracket) you will get 1" more pad. But your still dealing with the crapy small stock rotor that will crack.
I have been going through 2 sets a season. The up front cost of upgrading to real race rotors is not fun. But after 2 sets of stock rotors it evens out.