Greetings fellow E30 enthusiasts! I want to start this review stating that I consider my review biased. I am friends with many at UUC. I am a long time repeat customer(over 7 years) and I have not to this point had a problem with any of their products. With that said there review is going to be overall positive but there are some things that are not positive. Constructive criticism if you will of the install, parts and the time frame for receiving them.
Parts Quality:
Pros - Everything seems to be of very nice quality. The machine work, fitment and everything is stellar. Top quality here IMO. I am not expert on metals, fasteners and the like but there is nothing to complain about the quality of the UUC parts. Very happy to open up all the boxes and get this type of stuff.
Cons - The power coat ran over some parts of the passenger side caliper. UUC's fault directly? I don't believe so as they don't have a powder coating setup that I have ever seen. The problem? Getting the line to go into the caliper was a massive pain. There was PC down in the threads and overhanging the top thread. So I had to use my Snap-On right angle pick to work it out. It was frustrating because the PC isn't supposed to come off... that is the point. Not a huge deal in the end.
Installation:
Pros - Straight forward. Decent guide. No real problem here. Everything went together without much hassle. Hard to really put up a long winded pro remark here because it simply just installed.
Cons - This is not really a con but a recommendation for UUC to add to the install guide. Since you are installing machined parts with machine bolts attaching the rotor to the hub can be a bear. They line up nicely and you have to work them into their 'home' in a star pattern. The problem is that even though they start nicely it feels like you are having to provide a decent amount of pressure... and you are. Well just even pressure and make sure you aren't stripping it. Don't get frustrated. Work at it with a level head and even pressure. A little note stating this would help those that are not 'mechanics' IMO.
Fitment:
Pros - It fits. Everything threads, bolts and installs how it should.
Cons - I don't know if this is an issue with my setup or with UUC's brake lines. I run a 16x8 et20 wheel with a 225.45.16 tire. Obviously at some point of hard driving the wheel contacted the line. The outer blue 'rubber' is rubbed down slightly. The fix? A little extra padding of some type of loosening the lines and twisting them so they bend more 'inward' towards the strut assembly. Just something to watch out for. The lines are pretty long so it is something to watch out for. Again... a little note on line placement would be a good addition IMO(Or maybe I missed it in the guide!)
Performance:
Pros - Very enjoyable. World's better feel than stock. Now of course the pads installed(DTC30 Front HP+(stock sized) rear) the feel is better. With that said the overall bite and feel is just plain and simple better than stock. I have had a full set of HP+ installed in a brand new stock/bled system. This is better.
The main thing noticed though is you can drive longer and harder than with the stock setup. With performance pads(street performance) and also Axxis Ultimates(garbage) I could easily fade the system in North Ga Mountains. Like... faded dead faded. Using this system with this pad choice it stops when they are dead cold. It stops when they are very hot. Not a single issue in terms of performance on long drives. This includes one drive through the dragon, U-Turn and right back into it. 22 miles of curves... love them.
Cost:
Pros - The pros for cost come in when they need service. Replacement rotors are cheap. Replacement pads are 50%(or possible less) than the equal pad to put into the stock brake caliper. It won't take long if you track the car to make up the cost.
Cons - It is expensive to get started with the kit. I will admit that. Unless you are buying a built 24V swap car the brakes cost is going to be 25, 30 or more percent of the value of the car. Is that worth it? It depends on your use IMO. For me? I drive it almost daily. I got drive mountain raods. I will track it. Worth it? Yes.
Overall:
Pros - I am extremely happy with them. Rob answered all my questions before purchase, during install and post install. Cannot say enough about the service I received with this product. I even had a problem post install and hard driving and I got the 'bring it over and we will look at it'. No cost. Problem fixed(see below in cons). Great service. Great product(s). Great people.
Cons - First off DTC30 dust like mad. So you have to clean the wheels a lot. Be prepared! Go with something else for the street if you don't wanna clean your wheels. Track pads dust... and if left will ruin your wheels.
This is not really an issue with the product. I hope Rob will jump in and fully explained what happened because I honestly don't know how exactly things happened but I got a 'dragging' noise while camping/dragon/skyway weekend. It sounded like air trapped in the caliper was heating up, increasing pressure and dragging the brakes. I took it apart multiple times while camping and the brakes worked. Just made noise and only on the passenger front.
Drop it at UUC and somehow the inside pad had pulled outwards towards the retaining clip/bolt. Now it was rubbing ans thus causing noise. When it cooled down and everything wasn't expanded the noise went away. As said it was dropped off after I ID'd the problem in my garage. Rob and Matt took care of it. I went out and beat on it and they are as new. No noise. WooT!
In the end I recommend the product. I love having them. Get compliments at every meet I have intended. One reviewer(local e30 friend) said after a hard 1, 2 and 3rd gear pull(M52 OBD1) "Damn. I was thinking we are gaining on that merc really fast and fuck we stopped".
So get some UUC brakes. I love them. I bet you will too... little candy to sweeten the deal.
Parts Quality:
Pros - Everything seems to be of very nice quality. The machine work, fitment and everything is stellar. Top quality here IMO. I am not expert on metals, fasteners and the like but there is nothing to complain about the quality of the UUC parts. Very happy to open up all the boxes and get this type of stuff.
Cons - The power coat ran over some parts of the passenger side caliper. UUC's fault directly? I don't believe so as they don't have a powder coating setup that I have ever seen. The problem? Getting the line to go into the caliper was a massive pain. There was PC down in the threads and overhanging the top thread. So I had to use my Snap-On right angle pick to work it out. It was frustrating because the PC isn't supposed to come off... that is the point. Not a huge deal in the end.
Installation:
Pros - Straight forward. Decent guide. No real problem here. Everything went together without much hassle. Hard to really put up a long winded pro remark here because it simply just installed.
Cons - This is not really a con but a recommendation for UUC to add to the install guide. Since you are installing machined parts with machine bolts attaching the rotor to the hub can be a bear. They line up nicely and you have to work them into their 'home' in a star pattern. The problem is that even though they start nicely it feels like you are having to provide a decent amount of pressure... and you are. Well just even pressure and make sure you aren't stripping it. Don't get frustrated. Work at it with a level head and even pressure. A little note stating this would help those that are not 'mechanics' IMO.
Fitment:
Pros - It fits. Everything threads, bolts and installs how it should.
Cons - I don't know if this is an issue with my setup or with UUC's brake lines. I run a 16x8 et20 wheel with a 225.45.16 tire. Obviously at some point of hard driving the wheel contacted the line. The outer blue 'rubber' is rubbed down slightly. The fix? A little extra padding of some type of loosening the lines and twisting them so they bend more 'inward' towards the strut assembly. Just something to watch out for. The lines are pretty long so it is something to watch out for. Again... a little note on line placement would be a good addition IMO(Or maybe I missed it in the guide!)
Performance:
Pros - Very enjoyable. World's better feel than stock. Now of course the pads installed(DTC30 Front HP+(stock sized) rear) the feel is better. With that said the overall bite and feel is just plain and simple better than stock. I have had a full set of HP+ installed in a brand new stock/bled system. This is better.
The main thing noticed though is you can drive longer and harder than with the stock setup. With performance pads(street performance) and also Axxis Ultimates(garbage) I could easily fade the system in North Ga Mountains. Like... faded dead faded. Using this system with this pad choice it stops when they are dead cold. It stops when they are very hot. Not a single issue in terms of performance on long drives. This includes one drive through the dragon, U-Turn and right back into it. 22 miles of curves... love them.
Cost:
Pros - The pros for cost come in when they need service. Replacement rotors are cheap. Replacement pads are 50%(or possible less) than the equal pad to put into the stock brake caliper. It won't take long if you track the car to make up the cost.
Cons - It is expensive to get started with the kit. I will admit that. Unless you are buying a built 24V swap car the brakes cost is going to be 25, 30 or more percent of the value of the car. Is that worth it? It depends on your use IMO. For me? I drive it almost daily. I got drive mountain raods. I will track it. Worth it? Yes.
Overall:
Pros - I am extremely happy with them. Rob answered all my questions before purchase, during install and post install. Cannot say enough about the service I received with this product. I even had a problem post install and hard driving and I got the 'bring it over and we will look at it'. No cost. Problem fixed(see below in cons). Great service. Great product(s). Great people.
Cons - First off DTC30 dust like mad. So you have to clean the wheels a lot. Be prepared! Go with something else for the street if you don't wanna clean your wheels. Track pads dust... and if left will ruin your wheels.
This is not really an issue with the product. I hope Rob will jump in and fully explained what happened because I honestly don't know how exactly things happened but I got a 'dragging' noise while camping/dragon/skyway weekend. It sounded like air trapped in the caliper was heating up, increasing pressure and dragging the brakes. I took it apart multiple times while camping and the brakes worked. Just made noise and only on the passenger front.
Drop it at UUC and somehow the inside pad had pulled outwards towards the retaining clip/bolt. Now it was rubbing ans thus causing noise. When it cooled down and everything wasn't expanded the noise went away. As said it was dropped off after I ID'd the problem in my garage. Rob and Matt took care of it. I went out and beat on it and they are as new. No noise. WooT!
In the end I recommend the product. I love having them. Get compliments at every meet I have intended. One reviewer(local e30 friend) said after a hard 1, 2 and 3rd gear pull(M52 OBD1) "Damn. I was thinking we are gaining on that merc really fast and fuck we stopped".
So get some UUC brakes. I love them. I bet you will too... little candy to sweeten the deal.
Comment