Considering "Big Brake" Upgrade - ASR x AP Racing -vs.- ICB / RCrew Racing
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Considering "Big Brake" Upgrade - ASR x AP Racing -vs.- ICB / RCrew Racing
Hi everyone - been a while since I have posted much of anything as the kiddos keep me more than busy, but I will pop on here every once in a while to check things out.
I have been considering a "big brake" upgrade for a while now beyond the Spoon twin block caliper and DBA 4000 Series rotors (stock replacement size) with Carbotech CT503 XP12 pads. I want to be able to run a 15" rim still so from what I could find, the RCrew Racing kit with the Alcon Calipers / Project Mu rotors and the ASR kit with the AP Racing calipers and rotors are the two options available. Looking to see if anyone has much experience with either or both for track use and if one is clearly better than the other.
Alcon Forged Calipers Project Mu SCR Pro 300mm/11.8" Rotors ICB Rcrew Hat Brake Kit
https://www.asrparts.com/products/asr-big-brake-kit
I have been considering a "big brake" upgrade for a while now beyond the Spoon twin block caliper and DBA 4000 Series rotors (stock replacement size) with Carbotech CT503 XP12 pads. I want to be able to run a 15" rim still so from what I could find, the RCrew Racing kit with the Alcon Calipers / Project Mu rotors and the ASR kit with the AP Racing calipers and rotors are the two options available. Looking to see if anyone has much experience with either or both for track use and if one is clearly better than the other.
Alcon Forged Calipers Project Mu SCR Pro 300mm/11.8" Rotors ICB Rcrew Hat Brake Kit
https://www.asrparts.com/products/asr-big-brake-kit
#2
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Re: Considering "Big Brake" Upgrade - ASR x AP Racing -vs.- ICB / RCrew Racing
The ASR "kit" can be done for less than half the price. I did it 3 years ago and was going to put it into production but slept on it. Profit margin is insane on those kits, but I understand the convenience of a kit rather than piecing it together part by part for much less. Spoon calipers aren't worth it, also in Europe but AP Racing and Alcon are considered lower end than Wilwood. So much in fact that most legitimate high dollar race cars are running Wilwood over the other options. Do we view them as cheap and lower end because of their availability in the U.S. and being common? Not sure. SL6R's are beast for less.
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Re: Considering "Big Brake" Upgrade - ASR x AP Racing -vs.- ICB / RCrew Racing
The ASR "kit" can be done for less than half the price. I did it 3 years ago and was going to put it into production but slept on it. Profit margin is insane on those kits, but I understand the convenience of a kit rather than piecing it together part by part for much less. Spoon calipers aren't worth it, also in Europe but AP Racing and Alcon are considered lower end than Wilwood. So much in fact that most legitimate high dollar race cars are running Wilwood over the other options. Do we view them as cheap and lower end because of their availability in the U.S. and being common? Not sure. SL6R's are beast for less.
Interesting how Wilwood is viewed differently overseas as what feedback I've read online domestically.
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Re: Considering "Big Brake" Upgrade - ASR x AP Racing -vs.- ICB / RCrew Racing
Hey Wes it was nice seeing you at Expo!
Looking at the two kits you posted, I would probably vote for the ASR kit because the rotors are much thicker (32mm vs 25mm).
For the calipers, I have nothing bad to say about either Alcon or AP, but I really dislike the Project Mu rotors, or Project Mu stuff in general. I have used many of their products before and there were always cheaper and much better options.
Looking at the two kits you posted, I would probably vote for the ASR kit because the rotors are much thicker (32mm vs 25mm).
For the calipers, I have nothing bad to say about either Alcon or AP, but I really dislike the Project Mu rotors, or Project Mu stuff in general. I have used many of their products before and there were always cheaper and much better options.
#6
Re: Considering "Big Brake" Upgrade - ASR x AP Racing -vs.- ICB / RCrew Racing
The ASR "kit" can be done for less than half the price. I did it 3 years ago and was going to put it into production but slept on it. Profit margin is insane on those kits, but I understand the convenience of a kit rather than piecing it together part by part for much less. Spoon calipers aren't worth it, also in Europe but AP Racing and Alcon are considered lower end than Wilwood. So much in fact that most legitimate high dollar race cars are running Wilwood over the other options. Do we view them as cheap and lower end because of their availability in the U.S. and being common? Not sure. SL6R's are beast for less.
Wow...I've officially seen it all now. Thank you internet and Honda Tech!
#7
Re: Considering "Big Brake" Upgrade - ASR x AP Racing -vs.- ICB / RCrew Racing
^Plus, doesn't isn't Brembo and AP owned by the same parent company or something? So that implies it's pretty good. I heard that AP brakes were better than Brembo and that's why they're used in F1, but Brembo has the brand recognition so that's why they're used so often in factory oem applications.
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Re: Considering "Big Brake" Upgrade - ASR x AP Racing -vs.- ICB / RCrew Racing
Sad thing is Rboosted had the AP racing kit but it was not a direct fit. There is a thread on ITRCA about it.
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Re: Considering "Big Brake" Upgrade - ASR x AP Racing -vs.- ICB / RCrew Racing
The ASR "kit" can be done for less than half the price. I did it 3 years ago and was going to put it into production but slept on it. Profit margin is insane on those kits, but I understand the convenience of a kit rather than piecing it together part by part for much less. Spoon calipers aren't worth it, also in Europe but AP Racing and Alcon are considered lower end than Wilwood. So much in fact that most legitimate high dollar race cars are running Wilwood over the other options. Do we view them as cheap and lower end because of their availability in the U.S. and being common? Not sure. SL6R's are beast for less.
i would be interested in the alternative kit as well.
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Re: Considering "Big Brake" Upgrade - ASR x AP Racing -vs.- ICB / RCrew Racing
I and a few other guys have used the Rcrew/ICB kit for the last three years on track. It's a durable kit that stands up to any abuse you put to it. Never any brake fade for any of us that run it.
Some of us do back to back sessions on track and still no brake fade or issues with durability.
Some of us do back to back sessions on track and still no brake fade or issues with durability.
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Re: Considering "Big Brake" Upgrade - ASR x AP Racing -vs.- ICB / RCrew Racing
Wes, I own the RCrew v3 (bigger rotor than above) BBK. I can confirm it requires an 8mm spacer for 15x8 TE-37's. I can also confirm the ASR BBK also requires an 8mm spacer for 15x8 TE-37's, despite the ASR website advertising otherwise. My impromptu RCrew BBK review is here.
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Re: Considering "Big Brake" Upgrade - ASR x AP Racing -vs.- ICB / RCrew Racing
Wes, I own the RCrew v3 (bigger rotor than above) BBK. I can confirm it requires an 8mm spacer for 15x8 TE-37's. I can also confirm the ASR BBK also requires an 8mm spacer for 15x8 TE-37's, despite the ASR website advertising otherwise. My impromptu RCrew BBK review is here.
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Re: Considering "Big Brake" Upgrade - ASR x AP Racing -vs.- ICB / RCrew Racing
Ride height and camber are big factors to help/hurt rubbing. I have ~finger worth of gap in the front and ~-2.1 degrees of negative camber on factory UCA's. I did not have rubbing issues until my suspension swap last weekend, and only then, when rebound is set to softer settings. I am still dialing in the new (re: different) setup. For example, the new setup has shorter springs paired with ERS. Switching (back) to longer spring lengths may solve this issue.
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Re: Considering "Big Brake" Upgrade - ASR x AP Racing -vs.- ICB / RCrew Racing
Ride height and camber are big factors to help/hurt rubbing. I have ~finger worth of gap in the front and ~-2.1 degrees of negative camber on factory UCA's. I did not have rubbing issues until my suspension swap last weekend, and only then, when rebound is set to softer settings. I am still dialing in the new (re: different) setup. For example, the new setup has shorter springs paired with ERS. Switching (back) to longer spring lengths may solve this issue.
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