Brakes

[azygoustoyou]

Has anyone tried these brakes or bought from here. All thoughts and opinions wanted. I want to make sure I buy the right brake set up the first time. So what do I get I'm not going racing. Just having fun on the street.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... %26ps%3D54

[So Cal Mark]

most experts agree that drilled rotors don't provide any superior braking, especially on a non-vented rotor like Fiat uses. They may actually decrease braking due to a loss of swept area on the rotor. Slots do seem to be effective though. Hard to say what pads they are supplying.
In addition, I'd suggest you replace your rubber hoses with stainless braided hoses. They give much better brake feel and will last indefinitely.

[mbouse]

umm, that's an awful lotta expense for general brake use, if you are trying to solve issues. i put a pair on the front of the '78 and experienced zero additional braking power for the increased cost.

most issues in braking (like mark said) come from failing rubber hoses, or calipers that don't float. stuck pistons in the calipers too.

but, those drilled and slotted rotors look cool if you have the right wheels.

[azygoustoyou]

Well I got the 15" Rota's now and could utilize a bigger rotor. Should I get bigger Rotors or just stay with the stock 13" ones?
I don't want to waste my money on something that isn't going to matter.

[mbouse]

will your calipers tolerate a larger rotor?

[So Cal Mark]

along with larger rotors you will need calipers, brackets and pads

[azygoustoyou]

I know. That's why I'm asking. I need guidance. I could keep the stock 13's stuff I have. I intend on buying stainless steel lines. "OR" should I buy larger rotors, calibers, and pads? Do I stay with 13's or go bigger? If I go Bigger, what type should I get?

[mdrburchette]

I know it's expensive, but why don't you consider the Whoa brake setup? You can get the 4 piston Wildwood calipers, stainless steel lines and any special brackets and instructions for the Spider: http://www.midwest124.com/Whoa_Brakes.htm

I've got a set on my 72 Spider and really like the way they perform under extreme conditions.

[racydave]

I'll roll with Denise on this too. Whoa is a proven product, and Jon is good to work with. Stainless hoses sound cool too! The kits do provide for bigger rotors also. If you got the Go, you need the whoa!

[manoa matt]

http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic ... it=+brakes

Within the thread you will see the links to all the various setups that have been engineered for the spider.

I ended up going with the Performance Fiat setup, but have not installed it yet.

[mbouse]

personally, even if you stay with the 13" rims you have... i'd seriously consider swapping out that stock brake system; especially if you can afford to. the WHOA system utilizes four pistons, not one. the caliper is fixed, not floating. we all know, or should, how difficult it is to keep the stock calipers free floating. failure to do so results in poor braking.

[spiderrey]

I still lean towards performace fiats setup, it just sounds better to me from the specs.

[paook]

personally, even if you stay with the 13" rims you have... i'd seriously consider swapping out that stock brake system; especially if you can afford to. the WHOA system utilizes four pistons, not one. the caliper is fixed, not floating. we all know, or should, how difficult it is to keep the stock calipers free floating. failure to do so results in poor braking.

Call me naive (heck, I am), but what advantage is there to fixed calipers vs free floating? Is it a longer term maintenance thing?

I'm sending my wife's spider into a local Fiat shop in a month and one of the big questions in my head is still "Whoa" or "rebuild the existing calipers". The existing calipers seem fine at the moment, but I'm having the shop do a thorough job on the brake system to make sure the wife can at least STOP the car fine.

[So Cal Mark]

the floating oem caliper only has 1 piston and that just isn't going to exert the same pressure on the pads that a caliper with opposed pistons will. That said, for street use or even spirited canyon runs, the brake system can be upgraded without changing the design of the parts

[maytag]

Has anyone tried one of the aftermarket replacement systems (like "Whoa" or "Perfromance Fiat") combined with removing the brake booster?

in other words, can the larger multi-piston calipers still be effectively actuated without the booster?

I'd like to clean-up the engine bay, and would love to see that booster go away. I'd also love to have a little more feel in the pedal for the occassional track-day.

Anybody?