Thinking of sticking with stock brakes... could use feedback

[polloelastico]

My brakes are old and tired, and a caliper is now sticking.

Of course, my first thought was to go with a front and rear big brake kit, but then I got sticker shock. I figure for about half of the cost, I can get all new stock calipers and wheel cylinders, brembo rotors and drums, textar pads and ? shoes, ss lines, and new front bearings (can't deal with rear bearings right now).

Question: are stock brakes as good as people say if they are 'like new'? Keep in mind, this is for my daily driver, so street use only.

I really like the idea of big brakes because.. well, you know, more is more!

[SteveJ]

IMHO, the stock brakes are just fine for a car in stock form ~if~ they are in GOOD condition.

As soon as you make changes to the suspension or the power output of the motor, all the other systems will need to be upgraded to be on par with everything else. It is a balancing act. The factory did the same balancing act when they built these cars. The needed to offer the safety and performance, but also meet the cost requirements. Sometimes they tend to err more to one criteria than another.

You could spend a bazillion dollars on a monster brake upgrade, but would you really need all that brake if the rest of your car wasn't going to be performing at those levels? As in, why put wheelie bars on your car if the front wheels never leave the ground when you hit the throttle.

Figure what you will be doing with the car, then use the best components to fit your needs.

[c.d.iesel]

.....NEW O.E.M brake are the hot ticket.

Been stoping me plenty fine for 5 years and 20,000 miles

of mixt road & track use.

The key is ALL new - not a mix of 30 year old, worn, rusty,

worn beyond min spec. parts - but ALL NEW stock BMW parts -

pads, rotors, BMW fluid.

[andrewro]

I'm going to go all stock as well. I won't be able to do it all at once but I'll have it done within the year.

[polloelastico]

Thanks for the advice folks, I think I am going to go ahead with all new stock parts, it makes the most sense for my car and how I drive (and my wallet!).

[Beaner7102]

New components (or rebuilt) and a stock 02 will stop on a dime. Even if you have a beastly suspension setup it will not affect braking much. But if your engine is putting out 160BHP, then the BB upgrade would be worth it. Remember to keep the rear brakes in adjustment (2 ecentrics from the back of the drum shield) as they greatly affect the performance of the fronts. Ive had stock for 12 years in a daily driver, saved me many times. Beaner7102

[Pierre]

The SCCA specifies stock brakes and the racers use them. Those 4-piston calipers are awesome. But as CD said. New stuff all around. SS lines are nice too. ATE rotors (better than Brembo), and your choice of pads. I like PBR deluxe for the street and Metalmasters for the track but that's me. (That debate has raged in the past) BMW pads are too dusty for me but they work great.

And keep in mind that the rear drum adjustment is critical for a properly functioning brake system. It is AMAZING how much the rear brakes affect the effectiveness of the fronts.

Good luck.

[FL02]

I'm running stock brakes and they work great. The backs weren't engaging at first when I got the car, but I used the adjustment bolt to set them up and now it works great. I haven't put them under too much of a performace grade load, but w/ the backs adjusted right, the little car stops on a dime, and keeps the handling characteristics true to what BMW engineers thought would be best. I had to replace a master cylinder though, which was messy, but overall stock brakes work good.