I have been going over the idea of Wilwoods (12.2") brake kit for a while now and have some questions. I've checked the archives and can't really find any solid info so I thought I would post where the tire/wheel experts hang out. I have a 90 CRX Si and am trying to decide on what combination of tires/wheels to get. Tires I have almost decided 100% on Falken azenis but to have the wilwood kit I would need 16" wheels (probably). I believe, and correct me if I'm wrong, that the Falkens only come in 215 for 16" wheels. My question was, are there any 15" wheels that the 12.2" brake kit will fit under without any fender clearance problems from spacers? And if not, will the 215 tires rub very badly? I know pretty much everyone here favors 15" wheels for a lot of reasons but for the price I really like that wilwood kit. Any help from people with experience with any of this would be helpful, thanks!

 

Also I am familiar with the Fastbrakes kit... the only problem is the price starts going up really really quick with that option.

 

I'll get some caliper clearance pics with the brakes tomorrow. However I've got the fastbrakes 11" kit with the teg calipers. http://www.wolfenet.org/gallery/brakes This combo slows you down like you just tossed out an anchor. Cool thing is they don't fade at track days. Ask Kam about his setup, I guess he's had issues with the wilwood calipers. I'm real happy with the fastbrakes kit, and like the fact it's over the counter parts. If you go 12.2" you won't be able to put 15" wheels on the car, and maybe not 16". I don't think you'll gain anything over the 11" setup. Like I said, I'll shoot some pics of the caliper clearance tomorrow with 15x6.5 Slipstreams and it's "tight".

 

I had these wheels made by BBS Motorsports to fit over Wilwood 12.2 inch rotor brakes on my 93 Integra. Magnesium center 15 X 7" (E/P class limit), 116mm back spacing to run 23.0 X 9.0 X 15" G19 Goodyear slicks. They were expensive but there are a very limited number of wheel manufactures who can make a three piece wheel with a spun rim which will provide the inside wheel clearance needed to clear the callipers. And they are all expensive, Kodiak, Jongbloed...... There are no cast or forged one piece 15” wheels that will clear the 12.2" rotor and callipers. I also have a set of 16 X 7" Mugen MF8 for rain tires and they clear the Wilwood 12.2 inch rotor brakes.

Brian at Fastbrakes has a new kit out, FBH09 with a newer radial mounting system 11.4” rotors that is a much better option. Will fit under many 15" wheels, if I had to do it over again I would go this route.






Modified by DB1-R81 at 12:05 AM 6/16/2003

 

Here's my setup. Fastbrakes kit from Brian, using 2 piece 11.75" rotors from the roundy-round guys, that can be bought over the counter for $40 each, and aluminum hats, Wilwood Superlight calipers, steel braided lines, etc...

Wheel is the Axis Mag-Lite in 15x7, 40mm offset, all mounted on an 89 Hatch. The caliper clears the inside diameter of the wheel by about 3/16" (not enough room for wheel weights). I had to massage the fenders rather heavily to clear 225/45-15 Kumhos, but there is absolutely no rubbing. Brakes are a dream. Pedal is firm (not overly so), and super easy to modulate. And the overall package (knuckle, rotor, caliper, brake pad) weighed the exact same (within a couple ounces) as the original Civic STD 9.4" brake setup.




Modified by Jaker at 6:29 AM 6/17/2003

 

Here's the fastbrakes 11" kit with a rota/nippon F2 15x6.5.

 

why do you need a big brake kit?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">why do you need a big brake kit?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Maybe he already has ducting, proper fluid and pads, and is still having trouble with overheating. More material to absorb and shake off all that damn heat.

 

My stock brakes suck after new calipers, pads, rotors, fluid, and a master cylinder. I also want to go a little further than the bigger Integra conversion. I've heard almost nothing but good things about the Wilwood kit but I think I'm leaning towards the 11" Fastbrakes/Wilwood kit now. I think I know what the response will be but what is more recommended, 16" wheels around the full Wilwood 12.2" kit, or 15" wheels with the 11" Fastbrakes kit? I got to thinking I'd probably save enough on 15" wheels to pay the difference in the Fastbrakes kit so about the same price either way.

 

Go 12.2,,, that is what helps you stop, and stop, and stop....

 

what type of pads and tires are you using?

I'd venture to say thats the culprit. If your brakes dont 'feel' good, then bigger brakes wont solve the problem, although a better pad that comes with the kit might. If you're having fade issues (i dont see anything in your sig to suggest a significantly higher than stock power level) then (and only then) big brakes are a benefit.

 

2-piston NSX calipers with 94' Legend GS 28mm rotors are a good fit under 15's.






This setup works better than the stock ITR brakes IMHO and is cheaper than the Wilwood setup. Uses stock ITR pad size.

Rim is 15x6.5" +45mm offset

 

HEllo Big Phat R,

The draw back of the NSX calipers is they weigh 3 times what the Wilwoods weigh and they are only sliding two piston callipers which provides no where near the sensitivity of a true fixed four piston caliper.

Hello Mr. Saturn,

I will mention a few drawbacks of the Wilwood calipers, no dust seals forget regular street use and the hardware is poorly plated almost all the Allen bolts in the kit have no corrosion protection and will rust and corrode almost immediately.

 

And on the plus-side... they probably have twice the swept area of the tiny wilwood pads.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DB1-R81 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">they are only sliding two piston callipers which provides no where near the sensitivity of a true fixed four piston caliper. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Good point here. Also with the low piston (1 or 2 piston) sliding design, pads can wear a little unevenly (more wear on the bottom side of the pads) because with the outer surface being fixed, and the single piston pushing from the other side,, the whole caliper tends to twist up. The only way I can explain it other than just thinking about it is to hold you wrist out all limp like what you would see in The Birdcage , perhaps, and then push on your palm with a closed fist. Your limp wrist twists up! I dunno, I am seriously just rambling on now.

 

Hello Jeff,

Put it against a 12.2" rotor, I think you are dreaming!

 

[edit] Nevermind... I'm misusing the term swept area.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">what type of pads and tires are you using?

I'd venture to say thats the culprit. If your brakes dont 'feel' good, then bigger brakes wont solve the problem, although a better pad that comes with the kit might. If you're having fade issues (i dont see anything in your sig to suggest a significantly higher than stock power level) then (and only then) big brakes are a benefit.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Pads are just a bump above stock replacements, but even stock replacements shouldn't feel as bad as these do. I am also planning for the future with the bigger brakes as well, you'll notice the boosted B18 in my sig, which is underway. The lack of dust seals really changes my mind about the calipers. I thought the dust seals were there, just not the greatest quality.

EDIT
Checked the archives, and guess they don't have any dust seals. Most posts I've seen just say rebuilding once a year is needed then, not too bad after all in my opinion.

 

I should get my buddy Gambit33 in this thread to tell you guys about his 12.2" Wilwood kit. From what i've seen...those are some BIG *** brakes. He's got 16" Volk LE-37's and they just barely clear the calipers. He even has some scratches on the inside due to some rubbing. If you go with the 12.2's, you can kiss good bye the thought of 15's. I would go with the Fastbrakes kit if i were you though.