AP racing calipers

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beefio
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AP racing calipers

Post by beefio » Sat Jul 08, 2017 9:40 pm

Is there significant performance different between the 2 and 4 pot calipers?

Is it worth the cost difference?

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colintf
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Re: AP racing calipers

Post by colintf » Sat Jul 08, 2017 10:32 pm

Depends on what you do with your F; city maybe not, playing in the Alps then they are a must!. I wouldn't want to be without my 160 brakes for sure :)

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Re: AP racing calipers

Post by Bigfootmgf » Sat Jul 08, 2017 11:07 pm

Not wanting to upset anyone but standard size discs and high spec brake pads are good for track days but the ap's 4pots look quite good tho!
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Re: AP racing calipers

Post by John SS » Sat Jul 08, 2017 11:43 pm

beefio wrote:Is there significant performance different between the 2 and 4 pot calipers?

Is it worth the cost difference?
Huge difference in braking performance. As to whether it's worth the cost, that's a personal value judgement.
Agree with Colin, I wouldn't be without mine.

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Re: AP racing calipers

Post by colintf » Sun Jul 09, 2017 6:57 am

Bigfootmgf wrote:Not wanting to upset anyone but standard size discs and high spec brake pads are good for track days but the ap's 4pots look quite good tho!
Maybe, but on mountain passes 4 pots are better. Ask any of the European Regulars, or our European friends 8-)

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Re: AP racing calipers

Post by beefio » Sun Jul 09, 2017 8:04 am

Bigfootmgf wrote:Not wanting to upset anyone but standard size discs and high spec brake pads are good for track days but the ap's 4pots look quite good tho!
So you're saying standard calipers/discs? What pads do you use? Are they also ok for normal road use?

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Re: AP racing calipers

Post by beefio » Sun Jul 09, 2017 8:33 am

Ok just talking about normal road use.

Just to be clear, I appreciate there's a big improvement over standard brakes, but is there a significant difference between the AP 2 pots and 4 pots?

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Re: AP racing calipers

Post by colintf » Sun Jul 09, 2017 9:29 am

If you are spending money on janspeed manifolds etc you probably owe it to yourself to fit the better brakes, you just never know when or where you may need them!

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Re: AP racing calipers

Post by beefio » Sun Jul 09, 2017 9:51 am

colintf wrote:If you are spending money on janspeed manifolds etc you probably owe it to yourself to fit the better brakes, you just never know when or where you may need them!
Agreed that's why I'm looking at it. But are the AP 4 pots significantly better than the AP 2 pots, that's all I'm trying to establish.

Often you think something is better because it costs more but actually in a real world comparison there isn't that much difference to justify the extra cost.

So has anyone used both?

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Re: AP racing calipers

Post by BodgeItAndScarper » Sun Jul 09, 2017 4:00 pm

beefio wrote:
colintf wrote:If you are spending money on janspeed manifolds etc you probably owe it to yourself to fit the better brakes, you just never know when or where you may need them!
Agreed that's why I'm looking at it. But are the AP 4 pots significantly better than the AP 2 pots, that's all I'm trying to establish.
If you can lock the wheels with two-pots, four-pots offer literally no advantage and have the disadvantage of extra weight. Bigger rotors offer better heat dissipation and more leverage, so if you can only get bigger rotors with the 4-pots, that might be a reason to have them.

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Re: AP racing calipers

Post by beefio » Sun Jul 09, 2017 5:02 pm

I have ABS so shouldn't lock up...

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Re: AP racing calipers

Post by colintf » Sun Jul 09, 2017 7:55 pm

beefio wrote:
colintf wrote:If you are spending money on janspeed manifolds etc you probably owe it to yourself to fit the better brakes, you just never know when or where you may need them!
Agreed that's why I'm looking at it. But are the AP 4 pots significantly better than the AP 2 pots, that's all I'm trying to establish.

Often you think something is better because it costs more but actually in a real world comparison there isn't that much difference to justify the extra cost.

So has anyone used both?
Yes I have driven a 160 with and a 135 without back to back, new demo cars, the 135 first and the 160 brakes were considerably better. I know several that have upgraded and none have regretted it :thumbsu:

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Re: AP racing calipers

Post by Bigfootmgf » Sun Jul 09, 2017 9:25 pm

I have never upgraded to ap's because they don't fit with my wheels which I like and don't want to change. I use yellow stuff pads with grooved discs and they work very well on the road but not tried on track yet as having a break!
I also have abs and have my doubts as to what the abs system will make of the different size bakes & will it confuse it in a emergency.
Also my age of car was setup to have the same size discs front & back, changing that will alter the brake balance.
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Re: AP racing calipers

Post by mgtfnut » Sun Jul 09, 2017 9:55 pm

No one has answered your question yet, and I don't think anyone will be able to.

The standard brakes for road use were extensively tested pre production and are fine. Bigger AP brakes with four pistons have a few advantages. Bigger heat sink, better mechanical advantage due to increased rotor radius, probably a hydraulic mechanical advantage as well due to relative piston sizes. A two piston AP caliper has the first two advantages of course, but the the third is a little iffy as so few two piston units made their way onto the road, and I would imagine hardly anyone has swopped two piston for four piston calipers !!

The biggest advantage is the feel of the bigger rotors, which gives the impression of "better" brakes because you don't have to push on the pedal so hard to get the same retardation as 280mm rotors. It's not really the number of pistons at our level, more the size of the rotor. I bet you can lock the wheels on both set-ups if you really had to in an emergency, but for for road use it's your choice as to cost/optics etc. I swopped to 304mm rotors and AP four piston calipers years ago, and only really appreciated them three years ago when in the company of a Porsche in the Swiss Alps :lol: I've also had 280mm rotors on the rear for seven years as well :roll:

If you want to get down to race/track levels of performance, you need a specialist supplier. As said, better pads can make a difference, but you have to balance why you "need" better brakes against the cost and messing about.
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Re: AP racing calipers

Post by beefio » Mon Jul 10, 2017 7:54 am

Thanks some good points well made.

I thought that I may need better brakes as I have made a few performance mods and will continue to so thought it would be sensible to upgrade the brakes to.

I suppose the bottom line is if spending the extra reduces the risk of me hurting myself in an accident then it must be worth it...

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Re: AP racing calipers

Post by Bigfootmgf » Mon Jul 10, 2017 1:51 pm

I have been amazed by how quickly you can stop with the standard brakes with Yellow stuff pads. I do have braided hoses and a bracket on the master cylinder to stop it moving. (also cup cars didn't have ap brakes)
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Re: AP racing calipers

Post by beefio » Mon Jul 10, 2017 2:38 pm

Bigfootmgf wrote:I have been amazed by how quickly you can stop with the standard brakes with Yellow stuff pads. I do have braided hoses and a bracket on the master cylinder to stop it moving. (also cup cars didn't have ap brakes)
What brand discs are you using?

How long do the yellow stuff pads generally last?

I have fitted braided hoses and planning to fit a servo bracket.

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Re: AP racing calipers

Post by John SS » Mon Jul 10, 2017 5:08 pm

I have AP four pots, braided hoses and a servo bracket. The result is a rock hard pedal and brakes that are way sharper than my my modern Mazda CX-5 and my wife's modern Mini Cooper. For me this is how it should be for a sports car.

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Re: AP racing calipers

Post by Bigfootmgf » Mon Jul 10, 2017 5:41 pm

beefio wrote:
Bigfootmgf wrote:I have been amazed by how quickly you can stop with the standard brakes with Yellow stuff pads. I do have braided hoses and a bracket on the master cylinder to stop it moving. (also cup cars didn't have ap brakes)
What brand discs are you using?

How long do the yellow stuff pads generally last?

I have fitted braided hoses and planning to fit a servo bracket.
I think the brake discs were black diamond because I tried there pads but I found they needed some heat in them to really bite on the road! But its the pads that will Make the difference and bracket improve the feel!
Probably if money no object I would go ap's front, big discs back with better calipers and probably yellow stuff pads! Oh and new wheels! But for me that's not a option at the mo!
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beefio
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Re: AP racing calipers

Post by beefio » Mon Jul 10, 2017 6:39 pm

Bigfootmgf wrote:
beefio wrote:
Bigfootmgf wrote:I have been amazed by how quickly you can stop with the standard brakes with Yellow stuff pads. I do have braided hoses and a bracket on the master cylinder to stop it moving. (also cup cars didn't have ap brakes)
What brand discs are you using?

How long do the yellow stuff pads generally last?

I have fitted braided hoses and planning to fit a servo bracket.
I think the brake discs were black diamond because I tried there pads but I found they needed some heat in them to really bite on the road! But its the pads that will Make the difference and bracket improve the feel!
Probably if money no object I would go ap's front, big discs back with better calipers and probably yellow stuff pads! Oh and new wheels! But for me that's not a option at the mo!
Roughly how low long/many miles are you getting out of the yellow stuff pads?

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