Aftermarket Brake Kits – Your Options

While adding a set of aftermarket wheels to your ride will give you a great look, it does expose an additional flaw. OEM brakes are usually dwarfed by custom wheels, detracting from the look of your ride. In addition, adding over-sized wheels adds additional weight, which detracts from stopping power. There is a single solution to both of these problems, however. Aftermarket, over-sized brake kits are available that can give you a better, more comprehensive custom look, as well as improve your stopping power. What should you look for in a brake kit? What are your options? Several standard components make up a kit:

Lines – Most brake lines (to the caliper) are made of rubber. However, braided stainless steel lines give you a longer lasting solution, as well a good look. These provide better fluid flow to the caliper (necessary with larger calipers).

Rotors – OEM rotors are designed to provide sufficient stopping power under normal conditions. However, when you begin to modify your vehicle, those conditions are no longer considered normal. Getting rid of your OEM rotors can have big benefits, in terms of both looks and performance. The most common type of rotor is what is termed cross-drilled. These rotors have a pattern of holes drilled through the rotor.

In addition to being larger than OEM rotors, the drilled holes allow your rotor to remain cooler during braking, providing longer rotor and pad life, as well as less chance of warping. Brake dust and gases are vented through the holes, allowing your brake pads to grip more firmly, which also enhances braking.

Brake Pads – Custom brake pads are a great way to add additional performance, as well. Kevlar blends provide enhanced stopping power, as do ceramic blend brake pads. Full Kevlar pads are used in the racing industry because of the superior stopping power under high-heat conditions. However, ceramic pads offer less visible brake dust and a long life, as well.

Calipers – Changing your rotors will necessitate lager calipers. The good thing about this is that custom calipers are available in a wide range of color to help add style and flair to your ride. Larger calipers are available in single and dual piston design and allow better grip over a larger surface (such as an over-sized rotor). Replacing your calipers is an important part of upgrading your brake system. The caliper is what squeezes the pad against the rotor to produce car-stopping friction.

Don’t know if I’m sounding ignorant here, but what does OEM mean? I’m guessing they are stock brakes…and do aftermarket brakes really make that much of a difference? Meaning, could a good set of brakes save your life whereas OEM brakes wouldn’t?

Also, how much will a set of good brakes set you back? From what I’ve heard they are rather expensive.

OEM stands for “Original Equipment Manufacturer.” In other words, OEM parts are what comes on the car, and what is normally replaced on the car - the same parts that it came with.

Generally, OEM brakes on your car are fine, but if you’re adding power, then you’ll need brakes that can handle the power. For example, if you have a 9″ factory rotor with standard calipers, but upgrade your car to add 150 horsepower, you’ll want to get bigger rotors with better calipers. This, of course is assuming you’ll be driving it faster as well. Upgraded brakes will help not only in the safety front, but also racing. They help stop much faster, and won’t fade nearly as quick.

Price on upgraded brakes vary wildly. On my 300ZX for example, I could simply buy drilled & slotted rotors and leave it at that, and it would cost only the price of the rotors. But they also sell brake kits with new rotors, calipers, brake lines, and the whole system for a few thousand dollars. I even see some that make you get bigger wheels because the rotors won’t fit inside the stock wheel.