brake upgrades when you do an s50 swap

[bimmers4life]

This is my current brake setup: powerslot rotors, ATE super blue, stainless lines, and hawk brake pads.

If i have... lets say, 250hp at the rear wheels, will this be good enough for stopping my car??

Do you think i will have too much power for my brakes? would a track day be out of the question? Thanks to anyone who can give me a little info!

[C ///M]

This is my current brake setup: powerslot rotors, ATE super blue, stainless lines, and hawk brake pads.

If i have... lets say, 250hp at the rear wheels, will this be good enough for stopping my car??

Do you think i will have too much power for my brakes? would a track day be out of the question? Thanks to anyone who can give me a little info!

Stopping your car in what context? Any brake setup will stop your car. The idea behind "performance oriented brake setups" is the ability to bring your car down from high speeds over and over again without fade.

That being said, and to cut to the chase, stock e30 sized brakes, with upgraded pads, rotors, lines, and fluid will stop your car just fine as long as your components are in good shape. However, in a track environment, depending on your driving style, I reckon you'll get yourself into trouble quick.

EDIT: for a street car, that will be just fine. If you do indeed plan on attending track events, I recommend track-only pads, Motul 600 or AP Racing 600 fluid, and an aftermarket brake cooling duct kit or a custom big brake kit. You'll likely still get into trouble on tracks without decent straights to give your brakes some time to cool.

[bimmers4life]

thats what i was expecting to hear. dam it! big brakes are expensive!!!!

[redhatpat]

Unless you're doing an enduro event, you should be fine with good track pads, and good, fresh brake fluid.

[rwh11385]

Unless you're doing repeatative 100-0 stops on the street, you should be good. If that was the case, you're mpg would be shit as well and why complain about bbk costs... (might just alter driving style as well).

Probably ducted, most track people I know don't find big issue with stock e30 brakes. Doesn't Akard just have stock e36 m3 brakes on his monster??

[C ///M]

Doesn't Akard just have stock e36 m3 brakes on his monster??

Your not seriously comparing stock e30 brakes vs stock e36 m3 brakes are you?

Like I said, do what I listed and you'll be in good shape. Depending on what tracks you spend the most time at and your driving style, you may find a need for something larger. However, if you're the type of person looking to only do 1 or 2 track events a year, then there definitely won't be a need. You were quite vague on describing exactly what you are looking for.
"is a track day out of the question" = no, you'll be fine as long as you use upgraded components/cooling
"weekend warrior 250rwhp with stock e30 sized brakes" = definitely out of the question

[rwh11385]

scratch that, he has stop-techs.

but i was trying to find an example of someone with a stupid fast car without huge brakes. (not that e30 brakes can compare with e36 m3's).

good pads, good fluid, bled system should still be fine on the street. And doesn't at least Stu still have stock sized rotors for now with his S50 at the track?

[C ///M]

scratch that, he has stop-techs.
good pads, good fluid, bled system should still be fine on the street. And doesn't at least Stu still have stock sized rotors for now with his S50 at the track?

Yea, street definitely isn't the concern. You could have pads with the surface area the size of the tip of your index finger and it would still stop the car in the same distance, but then there wouldn't be any pad left. Same kinda deal goes for rotor size, it'll stop, but doing it over and over again, there isn't enough area for the heat to dissipate and you'll get massive fade. Without a doubt though, a higher hp car that is on a racetrack often enough during the season needs some size. With that much power, you're bringing your car down to the same entrance speed but from a much higher straightaway speed.

Anyway, Stu's definitely on a stock-sized setup. Not sure what pads/rotors/fluid/lines he uses, but they've got to be upgraded. That said, I'm not sure how much he tracks his car these days. To add a little more input, i've boiled superblue fluid on stock e30 brakes when I had my eta. Granted Gingerman doesn't have any real long straights so it's a little tough on brakes and I'm almost positive that my stock calipers desperately needed a rebuild, so take that for what its worth.

[rwh11385]

He gets in a few days. Had some ES100s not enjoy the heat at the track.

[bimmers4life]

thanks for the info guys. i would only be doin a few track days a year, so i think ill just get a duct kit and some track pads and fluid for now and see how it goes. ill be living 15 mins from sears point so it might get a little adicting being so close to the track. lol