I have a solution to the PPF, just eliminate it and run a moded rear subframe. Link...

http://www.swapcartech.com/forum/showthread.php?t=884

lots of room to do the E brake you want.

They also use this style on E46 M3's, not sure if it is on all E46 Bmw's but from what I know it wouldn't be that easy to do it on our cars.

The Track edition 350z uses this kind of set up for the two piston Brembo's in the rear. Stop tech makes a rear four pot caliper were the rotor hat still retains this function. Maybe stop tech could make this work for us. This is another idea I have thought of but haven't had the chance to test it and see if it is possible. I have these stop techs installed on our shop car, and I have a couple of FD's also. I think that this would be that best way to get by with a parking brake. Would the hat have to be steel though so that the constant rubbing on the hat, not ware away. I would think aluminum would not hold up the same. I will have to look at our 350z to see what material the rears are made of. I would be afraid that if the rear hats are steal, that the weight might be the only down fall.

The E46 M3 that my buddy has runs a stoptech kit that has this E brake setup and the hats are made from 6061 aluminum, works fine just don't pull the E brake while the car is moving.

I wouldn't think that would be a good idea either. I am sure there is some sort of drag though, after the hand brake is released. Must not be an issue if Stoptech released it that way.

I think they make a 6 pot front caliper upgrade for the 350z. They say it is more for looks though and the 4 pot works just as well. We called to see if we should upgrade and that is what they told us. However a 6 pot in the front with a 4 pot in the rear would look sick on a time attack car. I am sure it would function well also.

warren is adamnant that an iron alloy be the material for any drum brake in a hub. what does he know, he's only an engineer.

certain BMWs use aluminum i am told but it much thicker than the hub assembly. you may wish to debate the material if you wish but as long as RB is envolved any hub/drum/ebrake will be cast iron.

RB just completed an absolutely boffo corvette Z06 setup that includes a drum for the ebrake. mimicking the OEM corvette setup.

wouldn't it be nice if we could fixture something similar. it would be the ultimate FD brake solution.

howard coleman

Howard, I have multiple hi-res pictures of the setup below and schematics with all the dimensions. As usual, I ended up not using it. :)

http://img325.imageshack.us/img325/3341/untitledgx8.png

jim,

thanks.

i now have received a bunch of high res pics of the unit and did spend some time pulling the dimensions out. since the pedal ratio is 4.1 to 1 i figured i would need to add 50% leverage and decided that would produce too much pedal travel. i looked into other pedal options and, while i didn't want to trash the stock pedals, decided from a packaging standpoint that it would require way too much hacking.

i now feel that adding a brake system (rotors/calipers) that moves the bias a few points to the rear and then adding either a Tilton or Wilwood brake proportioning valve, retaining the power brakes is the best option...

stay tuned as i may have something up my sleeve in the braking department. i do feel that a street/track driven 500++ rwhp FD needs supercar brakes.

howard coleman

Updates?!? :D

-ch

hyperion,
nice fd...

i suggest readers of this thread shift on over to another thread in this section entitled "FD, new brake options." for reasons noted above i have decided to retain the power brakes mechanism, change both front and rear rotors. for track oriented cars, calipers will also enter the picture. all properly balanced for the FD.

i will bias the caliper/rotor system rearward from stock so an adjustable proportioning valve WILL bring both adjustment and the correct bias into the system. i will be working w RacingBrake and will probably test a few systems as we move to properly fitting out the FD.

availability is listed in the other thread as well as on RB's site.

BTW, given the snow in wisconsin and the fact that the hard parts are a few weeks off please be patient. the FD will have a new brake system on the road and available in a couple of months.

howard coleman

Hello Howard, I'm in the same boat regarding the weather here in Denmark...ha!

I have been following both your threads from the beginning and just wanted you to know, I also have great interest in your brake system idea's and plan to purchase some RB brake rotors in the near future (building a track car and can't swing it all at once). I'd like to commend both you and RB for making this all come together.

Regards
Oliver

Thanks for the comments, Howard!

I'm over on the other thread now... :D

-ch