Brembo Brakes?

[YVRSpider]

Has anyone here know if Brembo has a relatively easy to mount brake system for the Spider. I know they make rotors for them but I haven't been able to find any calipers for them. Does anyone know if they exsist?

[So Cal Mark]

custom installation only

[YVRSpider]

Thanks Mark,
After some further looking around I've come to that same unfortunate conclusion.

[So Cal Mark]

I'm working on a front system utilizing the new 500 brakes for the Spider. I hope to have it worked up soon

[BEEK]

i was wondering how soon that would happen, i was figuring it should be an easy adaptation. mounting brackets, what size is the 500 master cyl internal diameter?

[vandor]

i was figuring it should be an easy adaptation...

The 500 rotor has a much smaller 'hat', so it may not be that easy.

[So Cal Mark]

we're already pretty far along with it, not that big of a deal but braking performance will be greatly increased by subsituting a 10 1/4" vented rotor for the Spider system

[BEEK]

yes much better, what ive been wanting all along. vented rotor and more pad area, really dont need 4 piston calipers to make things better

[Exit98]

Mark, Beek,

So let me ask you something that's been on my mind for a while. Back in the day Spider 4 wheel disc brakes were pretty much state of art for small sports cars. Now though we are well aware that they don't compare to modern stuff, ABS aside.

My Spider has stock wheels and new modern 13 in. tires. New stock rotors calipers and pads.

Aren't the tires the weak link in the system? I mean, if I can lock up the front wheels from a high speed stop with the existing system would a bigger better and so forth braking system reduce stopping distances?

Well, yeah, they may be easier to modulate prior to lock up and give better feel, agreed, but ultimately once the tires stop spinning it doesn't matter how much stronger the system is.

It seems to me you'd have to go to wider, larger, stickier tires to benefit from a brake upgrade.

Am I missing something?

[baltobernie]

I second Doug's emotion.

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to drive new 911's and Gina at VIR (what a beautiful track!). What I found interesting was that I was braking at virtually the same point regardless of the car I was driving. Of course, I'd arrive at that placard at significantly higher speeds in a 911, but I was able to brake to the point of lockup in the Spider over the span of several laps without issues. The entire 4-day rally was 973 miles in the Blue Ridge mountains, with what seemed like a mile of elevation change every day. The limiting factor on road and track were the 185/70-13 tires. I have manual brakes, Ferodo street pads and a tuned prop valve; maybe those things make a difference. Unless I dramatically change the appearance of the car (and let's face it; wheels and tires on any car, particularly a small one, are the biggest visual change one can make), I don't see any benefit to bigger brakes. Didn't the factory Abarth Spiders use stock brakes?

[So Cal Mark]

if you're serious about performance, why would you use stock tires? And, it's not just about one stop, but how will the brakes fare after an hour of abuse? It's proven that stopping distances are shortened with bigger, better braking and I'm not talking about locking up brakes and skidding.
But hey, if you're happy with your car's braking then no one is suggesting or forcing you to change. For those of us that are making the cars go much faster than they did originally, better braking is a must. I've found with the improved system on my 500, I can drive much deeper into a corner before braking and that means faster lap times

[Exit98]

Whoa, Mark, take it down a notch.

Please re-read my post. I'm asking for your professional opinion.

I don't have to justify why I want to keep my Spider kinda stock, wheel size anyway.

I'm just asking with my set up would performance brakes provide me with a real world improvement or would I just be gilding the lily?

[So Cal Mark]

sorry, didn't mean to come off heavy-handed. I just went through a similar discussion on the 500 forum.
Basically, the tire patch is what will determine traction whether on acceleration or braking. I've found the stock brakes to be lacking in both stopping ability and ability to recover during long periods of abuse. Most owners have upgraded to drilled or slotted rotors, stainless hoses and better quality pads. Like I wrote, it's not just about one stop. Mere spirited mountain driving will overwork the stock brakes to the point of serious fade.

[Exit98]

Thanks Mark,

Your point about extended heavy use makes sense.

[divace73]

everyday ho hum driving, the standard system is fine, but as like Mark says, go to a track with the same standard system and you will get brake fade in no time. Do higher than average speeds then try and stop quickly in quick successions and it get VERY SCARY
I have had success at the track with updating the standard rotor for slotted and drilled with good pads and high boiling point fluid, I did all 3 at the same time so could tell you if the standard solid rotors would have given me the same results?

A set of decent pads and braking fluid will make a difference, but the next step is for bigger vented rotors, don't forget until the 1985.5 all the braking system was designed for 13" Wheels and a car that originally came out with a 1.4 engine. I guess they over engineered it in the beginning, but as soon as the power starts to increase considerably more than stock brakes need a serious look at.

On the Abarth note, I have seen somewhere that they used two sets of callipers on the one rotor, can't remember when or where but I have seen it.