Wilwood Big Brake Kit

[So Cal Mark]

We now have a Wilwood Big Brake Kit for the Spider. It features the same 10.25 vented rotor that our 500 based kit uses. This kit utilizes Wilwood 4 pot calipers, Wilwood performance pads, steel billet brackets and braided steel hoses and hardware.


This kit sells for $590

[PininF]

Hi Mark,
Maybe an odd question but would you consider selling the callipers without the extras as i already have vented rotors and braided steel hoses…If so cost ?

Cheers…:)

[So Cal Mark]

you would need the mounting brackets also in order to put these calipers on a Spider. Contact me directly

[ClarkTheShark]

rears as well?

[KevAndAndi]

Mark,

For the benefit of someone like me who is not very experienced:

1) What accounts for the price difference between your Wilwood kit and your competitors' Wilwood kits that are considerably more expensive?

2) What are the key considerations, other than price, that one should take into account when deciding between your Wilwood kit and your Fiat 500 kit for the Fiat Spider? (For example, differences in terms of design, performance, availability of parts, compatibility, ease of installation, etc.)

Thanks in advance!

[So Cal Mark]

I can't really speak as to a competitors' pricing. One reason we went with the 500 brake parts to begin with was availability and cost. The 500 rotors will be available for decades at a reasonable cost. Brake pads are available in a wide variety of compounds and pricing. Calipers have been a little harder to obtain at a decent price, hence the Wilwood option.
We buy from Wilwood at WD pricing, which is the largest discount they offer. I have a very good deal with braided brake hoses and the machine shop that makes the brackets. And so, I try to pass along deals when I can. We use Wilwood calipers on our X1/9 brake kit, so we're buying them in fairly large quantities.
As for differences between the 500 kits and the Wilwoods, the only difference is in the calipers although they two kits require different brackets. The Wilwood calipers are quite a bit lighter than the 500 brackets. The Wilwood calipers are 4 piston calipers, the 500 calipers are single piston sliding calipers. In theory, the 4 piston caliper will provide better clamping power than the single piston sliding caliper design.

[KevAndAndi]

Thanks, Mark, for your informative response.

[racydave]

Wheel size? I have a set of 14 inch Lancia wheels and Millers adaptors I will be using, will it work with these? How well does it work with the current stock master cylinder, and will it need a proportioning valve to balance the front and rears. I also already have braided brake hoses, are the fittings the same? Thanks.

[So Cal Mark]

I can't comment on how they will fit if you're piecing together a kit using various parts. We designed our adapters to fit the new 500 vented rotor. The calipers use a 1/8 npt thread for the brake line

[PininF]

Hi Mark,
Just wondering if you have received my PM as I haven't had a reply as yet…:)

[So Cal Mark]

no, nothing in my Inbox from you

[Ptoneill]

Dang it!! I have not even got my car running with the 500 calipers and you come up with Wilwoods!!!! Do you offer trade ins? Thanks again for another great alternative!!

[So Cal Mark]

the Wilwoods use a different adapter bracket. The 500 kit won't fit an X1/9 so it required a kit using Wilwoods. Since we had the calipers we decided to do a Wilwood kit for the Spider in addition to the 500 kit. This way we can buy Wilwoods in the quantity to get the largest discount and keep kits prices reasonable. They're both using the same 500 vented rotor so there shouldn't be a huge difference in braking distances. The Wilwood caliper is a little lighter than the 500 caliper