http://forums.racingbrake.com/showpo...2&postcount=35

 

I'm expecting it when RB and HC are happy with the setup and the setup has been adequately tested and proven out before public consumption. Better safe than sorry, especially with brakes.

 

The caliper design and cost was originally based on aluminum piston like other major caliper manufacturers. However I consulted with Howard about upgrading it to stainless steel as it transfers only 1/10 of the heat of aluminum piston so with stainless steel pistons you can hardly boil the brake fluid.

We could have offered stainless steel as optional upgrade w/o delaying the delivery but Howard suggested at least for those pre-orders we should supply stainless steel pistons (see his high expectation), so we made that decision and had to tool “two” sizes of stainless steel pistons (instead of cutting from aluminum) -Understand RB caliper have differential bores (36 and 38mm) which will eliminate the uneven pad wear and provide more controllable brake power and extended pad life

In the meantime we are working with Howard to test the system and different brake pad compounds for their suitability and source all the needed hardware (bracket bolts and brake lines etc.) to assure trouble free and easy installation meaning no wheel spacer to buy (our caliper requires about 4 mm less axial clearance than OE caliper), no longer studs to install etc.

Please refer to our latest announcement (shipping around July 10), which has duly reflected to the latest improvement and status instead of quoting what we estimated in the past. The anxiety of waiting is understandable but I am sure most of the pre-order customers will agree that for the products enhancement that we built into the system (including the late accommodation of caliper color and pad selection etc) should well justify two weeks’ delay.

Warren - RB

 

Ok, I wasn't aware that there was a more recent announcement. I had signed up for this trackday assuming that my brakes would be set by then, but I can buy track pads in the mean time. I wan't my brakes to be engineered in the best way possible.

 

WOW. I am SUPER impressed with the attention to detail that is going into all of this regarding the decision to use SS pistons etc.

Thanks again to RB and Howard for going through all of this. GREAT JOB!

 

I think it'll definitely be worth the wait!

 

We shall have all the hardware and components (including calipers) ready for assembly and packaging by end of next week and start shipping orders week of July 8.

Meantime we are shipping ET700 and ET800 brake pads to Howard so he can test both compounds and provide you with a better definition on pad choice. We also have the calipers hard anodized to the color of your choice and we are almost sure that no matter whatever color you chose you are going to like it.



We are also releasing Corvette Z06 caliper kits (front and rear) and here is the latest link:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1743054

 

I want the best brakes possible with racing in mind and I'm sure everyone does as well. No wheel spacers or longer studs needed for sure.

If there is a 2 week delay for a better product (ie s/s pistons) with some changes... so be it.

I'm upgrading from M2 AP brakes with 13" Alcon rotors and '99 RZ rears with 2 piece rotors. I want no compromises and want a superior product/results. I'll be motivating the car with about as much power as HC has (575rwhp/500rwtq).

Glad to hear about the update.

HC- get that car on the track and punish it

 

i placed my order last night ^_^b. its going to be worth the wait

 

Howard, where's the feedback? In all sincerity, most of us don't give a rat's ... regarding your opinion of the brakes on the street. I'm dissappointed that you have not tested these brakes (as well as the various pad compounds) on the track as of yet. I would imagine that RB would also be VERY interested as to the results of your testing. Futher, I would expect they would REQUIRE this info prior to "mass" producing the final products.

"Where's the beef?"

Jeff

 

Well, there has been a boatload of 'beef' with their products on Z06s, STis, and Evos. Wouldnt that test data apply to our FDs?

 

in all sincerity snow cones i received the RB track pads yesterday afternoon.

do the math

 

I'm interested in HC's track and street opinions of the new brakes.

 

That quote is from 6/5/07...how about YOU do the math. Oh btw, how did you plan on testing the ET500s trackability, if not on the track?

Next time, save the play on words and provide an answer.

Jeff Iafrati

 

Please note that Howard is not an RB employee; he is just an RX-7 owner helping his cronies out. Not trying to argue with you, but I think a bit more patience is warranted here.

Rob Labardee

 

Sorry "boss". I don't think a lot of the people on this board knew that they had to answer to you. I am sure they will be more compliant in the future.

 

Wow, what's with the attitude? If you're in such a big-azz hurry why don't you test them yourself?

I for one am glad Howard has stepped forward and offered to do this.

 

Howard has been the point person on this from day one. In that role he has indicated to those following the progress that he would be testing the product. No doubt he stands to profer from his efforts - as well he should. However, I would have expected at least as much effort toward evaluation of the brakes as he invested in marketing them.

For those interested in how the brakes perform on the street... you don't quite get it. For the remainder of us, we are extremely interested in the performance characteristics of the brakes as well as the various pad compounds.

I believe that I am not the only one who expected that Howard would provide the real world track feedback on the "prototype" setup for the FD to assure RB (and its customers) that they got it right well BEFORE they shipped the product to customers doors. While theory is well and good, I expected track testing.

As far as the comments from the peanut gallery, you certainly are entitled, however, given my understanding of Howard, I expect he's not terribly offended by my inquiries (nor should he be).

 

To some degree, I agree. However, any time you create a custom product based upon theory (albeit good theory) there is chance for "error". Also, the added variable of the change to the rears requires additional attention.

What will be most interesting to hear is the performance of the RBs to Howard's previous setup (AP). A number of us are ditching our existing BBK to squeeze every ounce of braking potential out of our track driven FDs.

Also given that this kit is being designed as a complete FR & RR solution, there should be a significant amount of time invested in evaluating the various available pad compounds. This evaluation is very important to those intersted in every tenth of a second. Many of us have spent much time settling in on the pad compound that works best for our needs, these brakes - more specifically rotor compound - may change the equation.

Jeff

 

^Everyone who has purchased these brakes before testing has done so through his own volition. Howard has already stated that he will be testing the brakes and pads as you describe above, this is a simple matter of impatience (track testing street pads is not going to accomplish this brake maximization that you seek). If you want substantive feedback then you would be best served to continue using your current setup and wait until adequate data is available. Your comments accomplish nothing productive, and at the end of the day you will be required to make a pad decision based on your own evaluations and preferences. You are the peanut gallery friend as your sage comments have zero bearing on any of this.

Rob

 

my apologies to all for the detour in what has been a constructive thread.

while it may seem that things are moving slowly it does take time to work the details and that is exactly what i and RB have been doing. when the first shipments go out they should be spot on.

as to track testing... yes, in a perfect world we would have lots of data but since the track pads arrived friday at 2:30 i haven't had an opportunity.

yes, of course the ET500s will be track tested but i was not going to rent the track to test one set of pads.

i want to be able to carefully compare them, maybe mix them all on one day. warren has been busy, see a recent post of his, coming up w new compounds. he is highly consistant about delivering a superior product, down to comparing various thicknessed lock washers for fit.

so track evaluation from my perspective has not been delayed. i will find an open date at Blackhawk on monday.

in addition to track testing some do run their pads dual purpose... i will be very interested to run the ET700s and ET800s on the street and will be doing that today. when i say "street" i am talking back county roads in wisconsin. i routinely do testing up to 120 in a couple of spots w no sideroads... or police.

so i can get a pretty good feel for things.

i am interested to the point that i drove home from my lake home (221 miles) after a party last night just to be back to start some sunday testing.

i think we all are in the same boat.

very interested in what we may have here...

hc

 

That's good to hear Howard. Thank you for the substantative post. Given RBs support of Hawk products, as well as the FD community's general preference for Hawk track pads, I would hope that your extensive testing would include the comparable Hawk compounds as well.

Jeff

 

ET 700..... a big thumbs UP

i just returned from 25 miles out in the countryside and am honestly surprised at how GOOD the ET700s are on the "street." the street being repeated panic stops from 80 mph.


zero hint of fade.
zero noise.
not much dust
good looking rotor surface

very nice FEEL, like the ET500s, very easy to sense where traction ends and drifting begins. real easy.

this does jibe w Warren's recent rewrite of the characteristics of his pads...

ET 500 good to 1000 F. good at ambient temp.
ET 700 good to 1200 F. good at ambient temp
ET 800 good to 1400 F. good at ambient temp
ET 900 good to 1600 F. good at 300. not for street.

the most remarkable thing so far is how much feedback i get. i can really read the brakes in advance.

next up the ET 800s.

BTW, it doesn't take long to change pads...

i wasn't rushing but did note the time.

10:22 car on ground
10:47 rear pads done
11:02 front pads done
11:14 car down w wheels torqued.

h c

 

ET 800s are my pick

as you might suspect they are quite similar to the ET700s. it did appear that they added just a touch more rear braking power and it now seems the car is right where i want it front to rear...

like the 700s, the 800s exhibited no noise, they were extremely easy to modulate just short of lockup and were quite powerful.

since RB states that they work without needing to heat them and they add 200 additional degrees up top before fade i will run them. as mentioned i especially like the added rear brake power although it could be as simple as my rotors becoming broken in.

BTW, the pads do make their usual burning clutchplate smell when you lean on them repeatedly.

there is a ton of manageable braking power here and it will be interesting to get it on the track.

hc

 

Thanks for the feedback howard

So both the 700s and 800s exhibited *zero* noise, even when cold? Maybe I should have chosen 700s over 500s.......