The Brake Man - Anyone use them?

[blk-majik]

The title pretty much sums it up: I'm looking at a deal on a custom brake kit from The Brake Man. Kit is slightly used on a show car and only a few 100 miles. Some info here (http://thebrakeman.com/evo_kits). Anyone have an experience with them?

The kit in question was designed in a joint R&D effort between RobiSpec and Brake Man. That alone puts them in good company, but I have to wonder why Robi isn't offering a kit yet (I mailed them to ask). The kit offered in the above link is similar to the one I'm looking to buy, except it was installed at RobiSpec with Wilwood SS lines instead of the BrakeMan SS lines.

Calipers are each about 5lb lighter than stock. Rotors shed 12lb each off stock (thats 24lb of rotating mass). not bad

To get the deal on the kit, I have to send back my OEM brake system (all calipers, pads and lines, plus front rotors), hence why I'm looking for any opinions. If something does wrong, I can't just revert to the stockers. Not that I'd have a backup if the stock brakes failed, but at least I know the odds are low :) This is a pretty big unknown.

They seem to have a good reputation in the subie world, with big trucks, and with various forms of oval racing. Anyone have any experience with them? Should I be concerned about reliability with them in a DD situation?

[Kuruma]

Never heard of them. Any pictures, what calipers(manufacturer).

[blk-majik]

calipers are Brake Man calipers :)

urm, sure... pics..... here ya go

http://i.b5z.net/i/u/351269/i/storm_kit_procasthalf_size.jpg

http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/1/2182/2981/5453990006_large.jpg

http://i.b5z.net/i/u/351269/i/EVO_FRONT_DRAG_KIT_2_CROP.jpg

http://www.realitydesign.tv/iws/venting.jpg

http://i.b5z.net/i/u/351269/i/f4.jpg

[mike.p]

man those are some crazzy ass looking rotors..

[Tray@Forged]

I think the Subaru guys use Brake man. Check out Nasioc if you want to do some digging.

[blk-majik]

yup, i guess it's uncharted water. Looks like I'm gonna be the guinea pig :) For the price, I really can't go wrong.

Grats on the move btw, Tray! If these things are worth their salt, it might be a good opportunity for you since they seem awful at marketing ;)

[bomjoon]

the looks of them are horrible. if it didnt have the cnc'd logo in the caliper it would be super hot.

do some research and if it checks out it will be a super set up.

[Kuruma]

Drag racing brakes? Looks like really horrible brake fade! The only car I have ever seen those style rotors was on a drift car and a sprint car, both never use brakes very long and both were dedicated racecars. Not practical, are they going to warp when you get them hot and drive through a puddle? Not worth it for DD or even road racing IMO, never ever seen anything like that on a car that runs more than 20 minutes on a track. IMO

[blk-majik]

those weird rotors (revolution rotors (http://thebrakeman.com/revolution)) aren't the ones that comes with the evo kit. They're used a lot in dirt oval and sprint car racing, not road racing in heavy production cars. the advantage to them is that they only weigh 3lbs! they're made from steel instead of iron. The stock 1-piece evo x iron rotors are 24lbs. the cast iron / forged steel capped 2-piece rotors that come with the evo kit are these ones:

http://i.b5z.net/i/u/351269/i/storm_kit_procasthalf_size.jpg

[blk-majik]

After talking (a lot) with the guys at Brake Man and getting the blessing from Robi Fuller from robispec (he runs this exact kit on his MR), I pulled the trigger and ordered the kit. It was being sold by Driveline Motoring off their show X. Pics of it here (http://cheapturbo.stores.yahoo.net/drmoev.html). The full kit with low miles, all street, cost me about as much as a set of slotted rotors and pads (plus my stock setup, which would just collect dust). Not bad! The race pads included with the kit alone cost over $400 for the set and last most SCCA guys an entire season. I got a set of street pads so I can save the big guns ;)

Anyway, it showed up today and is going on this weekend :) I'll weight everything at the shop and get some size comparison pics. For how, here's some pics of the parts. They're still a bit dirty *shrug*

back of rotors
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_mB6hmh5qjnM/S3TIVtX7lOI/AAAAAAAACYk/xJFm-pl3J6g/s400/2010-02-11-22.06.28.jpg

rotor venting. The vents are sharp as shit! cut myself on them already =/
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_mB6hmh5qjnM/S3TIWcBo4PI/AAAAAAAACYo/MIx8qp5lC3Q/s400/2010-02-11-22.06.52.jpg

rotor fronts
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_mB6hmh5qjnM/S3TIXa9MyLI/AAAAAAAACYs/x5_7IjGJyNw/s400/2010-02-11-22.07.17.jpg

front caliper:
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_mB6hmh5qjnM/S3TIYVtSH5I/AAAAAAAACYw/tYj-1mATgoI/s400/2010-02-11-22.07.49.jpg

inside rear calipers. pads are huge!
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_mB6hmh5qjnM/S3TIZdSMmlI/AAAAAAAACY0/oZVdIowdRo8/s400/2010-02-11-22.08.04.jpg

rear top:
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_mB6hmh5qjnM/S3TIaY7aKvI/AAAAAAAACY4/zJQQH3ixMLI/s400/2010-02-11-22.08.18.jpg

rear back with bracket:
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_mB6hmh5qjnM/S3TIbM47jrI/AAAAAAAACY8/efIgsehP0SI/s400/2010-02-11-22.09.04.jpg

out of focus big picture:
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_mB6hmh5qjnM/S3TIcBclnFI/AAAAAAAACZA/JV2j89S8Wa8/s400/2010-02-11-22.09.19.jpg