124 Spider Brake Upgrades

Joe Clemente · Post by **Joe Clemente** » Wed May 10, 2006 6:53 pm

Actually, Petryfly is exactly right Dan. Drilled rotors look cool but they do absolutely nothing whatsoever to cool or stop the car better. That is unfortunately a lot of marketing hype from vendors who don't particularly understand their purpose. Easy to get caught up with it too. It all sounds like it makes sense. The truth is that cross drilling is simply featured for weight reduction, that's it. Cooling comes from added surface area, it is the real reason one would increase the size of his rotors. And only the minimum increase necessary to effectively reduce the problem of overheating. Bigger rotor, more surface area, slower to heat. Smaller rotor, less surface area, quicker to heat up. Drilled rotor, less area, easier to heat up. Plus, they have an added propensity for cracking and grating brake pads. The other effective method of cooling is through correct ducting and focused ventilation. Hosing needs to be routed to the center of the rotor hat from the rear and vented outward from there.

Better idea, get slotted rotors instead.

Steel lines are also a good idea regardless what rotors you use as they'll help reduce system compliance and firm up your pedal.

I have to add, it is quite mind boggliing to behold the kind of the equipment that some local young guns here in Vancouver are sporting behind their big bling alloys today. Particularly frustrating is the fact that so many are mounting the mondo big brake conversions without having any clue what they've got, what it does nor how it works. It's just a look and it's just chump change to boot. Whatever amount you spend, make informed purchases you guys.

Cheers!

J.

bandit · Post by **bandit** » Wed May 10, 2006 9:08 pm

I would of ran forced air to the brakes but thought it would be
over kill on a car thats more for the street the racing oh well
to late now i have the rotors they are to pretty to not use them
hehe ...

Daniel

bandit · Post by **bandit** » Wed May 10, 2006 9:11 pm

BTW found a supplier who has the 2500 brake pads but not the Mintex
any ideals on who may carrie them here in the states ??

Dan

Joe Clemente · Post by **Joe Clemente** » Thu May 11, 2006 12:17 am

True. Ducting won't do too much for the street as your brakes should not normally heat up enough on the street to warrant their use or that of big huge rotors. But it was really just a point about cooling vs weight savings. Anyway, don't throw your new rotors away Dan. By all means use them but if you do intend to boogie a bit with your car on the odd track day event, make sure you keep an eye on them for cracks and check your pad wear too. That's all.

There is an aftermarket company name IRP, in Monroe Washington that deals in Mintex pads. Not sure if they stock anything for the 124 but they may be able to order them in.

425-357-6818

Good luck Dan

J.

bandit · Post by **bandit** » Thu May 11, 2006 2:43 am

Cool

Thanks Joe I'll give them a call I'm going to try Vassilis brake setup
and see how it feels .
I have had brake fade on some down hill coanyon runs and was
in a friends spider that did it real bad once so upgrading is a good
ideal for me plus this isn't a normal Fiat any ways, border line race
car but plan driving it on weekends for fun .
I will be posting photos of the work as i go along .

Dan

jacksplace · Post by **jacksplace** » Thu May 11, 2006 2:17 pm

Because of my age (70) this discussion is all academic. My competition days are long gone now. However, I suspect that most of those drivers who actually spend money on items such as improved braking systems, low back pressure exhaust systems, polished cam tower covers, etc. are actually throwing away money on ego. One of the dumbest things you can do. If your machine never sees the start line on a track, what could you possibly need these things for? You'll never see any benefit from it on the street and you'll never get it back in resale value. Joe pointed this out in his post but he did it in a more diplomatic fashion.

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Thu May 11, 2006 3:46 pm

um, I'll disagree with you on that. If you want more performance, then modifications are needed, even for street use. And if nothing else, improving the braking ability of any car is a good idea. Every car is a compromise by the original mfg, many of the design features dictated more by the accountants than by the engineers.

spiderrey · Post by **spiderrey** » Thu May 11, 2006 6:58 pm

ill have to disagree too. polished cam covers arent about going fast.. they r just eye candy. ive done alot of things to make my car run faster. and ive done some to improve apperance. its not an ego thing , its about having fun with what ever your hobbie is. and really, if apperance dosent hold any value, why do people get dressed up for special occassions, it dosent make them smarter, or even make them better people. and why were we not all trying to get a date with the homely girl back in school? lol. just trying to make a point dont get mad. i beliieve you need a good mixture of whats for show, and whats for go. ive seen cars totally restored, bone stock, and i can appreciate them as much as a go fast resto job. it all comes down to the quality of the work, and matching the right parts, not just bolting on everthing that fits.

jacksplace · Post by **jacksplace** » Thu May 11, 2006 7:57 pm

For competition I've always considered every investment in going faster, stopping faster and getting through the turn faster as a good investment. For the street, I've always assumed that the team of professional engineers who designed the machine to be more knowledgeable than even the most experienced mechanic/technician. Usually there's no harm done with an exhaust system or brakes but when you start messing with the geometry of the suspension by using wider tires and lowering kits I believe you've probably done some harm. Cosmetics are another thing and what's attractive or of value is in the eye of the beholder. Maybe I'm simply too old and practical now.

spiderrey · Post by **spiderrey** » Thu May 11, 2006 8:21 pm

that team of professional engineers, designed the car for the general public in order to sell as many cars as possible. they will always give up some perfoformance driving in order to get a more comfortable ride to please more of the general public, thus selling more cars. high performance cars arent the bread and butter of car companies, so they will always cut corners to save the almighty doller. a properly modified car will out run and out handle the same model in stock form, and it will even be safer to drive because it will be more responsive to driver input. dont get me wrong, some mods do have there draw backs, but if the trade off is worth it to the owner and its not a safty issue, there is no real downside. a perfectly stock car is fine if thats wht the owner prefers, he may just enjoy crusing it around and enjoying the ride. and NO your not to old just because you want to keep it stock. age is only in the mind. ive been accused of being mindless, so i guess im just very young at heart. enjoy your ride, its that simple

bandit · Post by **bandit** » Fri May 12, 2006 12:51 am

Well Jack

I geuss you sumed it up when you said " your competition days are long gone" for me i still have the itch to race from time to time and my project is the scratch .
This car never handled very well stock (131 Fiat ) it was made for
confort smooth driving no where as tight as a stock 124 but with some
changes it can handle just as good if not better then a 124 .

About the ego well i am sure every guy with a sports car has 1 some are
bigger then others but thats just my thought on that but this is a hobbie
for me and i am having fun with it my Fiat will never be the fastest car
on earth but will be fun to drive when i feel spirited and want some thing
rough around the edges instead of a 2000 some thing daily driver .

I do like looking at polished parts on other cars so mine will be as well
plus side to that is it cleans up easyer then cast finnish so theres an
up side to it .

Dan

bandit · Post by **bandit** » Fri May 19, 2006 3:14 pm

Hi Vassili

I called the company Joe told me about and they looked into getting me a set
of those Mintex brake pads they called me back and said they stopped
making them in 2002 any ideals on who may have some ?

Daniel

bandit · Post by **bandit** » Fri May 19, 2006 3:38 pm

I called Vicks and they carrie the Ferodo 2500 FCP29 pads
now i am hunting for the Mintex rears ????????????

Dan

TVST*R · Post by **TVST*R** » Fri May 19, 2006 8:32 pm

What's a good pad and rotor set up for stock 13" wheels?
I do a good deal of spirited braking.
T

bandit · Post by **bandit** » Fri May 19, 2006 8:57 pm

It seems like the Ferodo DS2500 - FCP29 Fronts & rears are another part #
but thats about the best street performance pads i can find at the moment
only being carried at Vicks .

Daniel