BajaF250

[AussieRod]

Do want!!

X 2!!!! (just cant justify the expense right now, though)

[BajaF250]

Do want!!

X 2!!!! (just cant justify the expense right now, though)

Yeah, I think you have other priorities and areas of focus!

[flyinbronco]

From my understanding of brakes, is that the more expensive ones tend to be more performance oriented and need to be warmed up to function their best. The cheapo organic compound ones tend to bite hard and brake well when they're cold. Since in off roading the brakes aren't used quite like they are in on road conditions, the cheapo ones actually are working better.

So, what I'm hearing from you guys is that you don't really need, nor want a Wilwood conversion for the Bronco?

Come on Tom. Obviously these guys don't go fast enough to require GOOD brakes. When will the Bronco conversion be available?

[tcm glx]

From my understanding of brakes, is that the more expensive ones tend to be more performance oriented and need to be warmed up to function their best. The cheapo organic compound ones tend to bite hard and brake well when they're cold. Since in off roading the brakes aren't used quite like they are in on road conditions, the cheapo ones actually are working better.

So, what I'm hearing from you guys is that you don't really need, nor want a Wilwood conversion for the Bronco?

Come on Tom. Obviously these guys don't go fast enough to require GOOD brakes. When will the Bronco conversion be available?

Hahahaha, so true Rick... and You, Tom and Yikes probably could use a set of these judging by the way I have seen you drive!!!!

[toddz69]

So, what I'm hearing from you guys is that you don't really need, nor want a Wilwood conversion for the Bronco?

Ummm..definitely a market for this conversion!

Todd Z.

[BajaF250]

Ok, sounds like there may be some interest... at least to have it as an available option.

[johncharlesb]

Hey Rod... thanks!

Yeah, vented and slotted (or cross drilled) rotors have particular performance gains in certain applications. I've been running vented and slotted rotors for some time now and quite frankly, I have noticed zero performance gains in my application.

So, when I went to purchase the new rotors a couple of weeks ago, the price of the slotted rotors had skyrocketed... they were about $150 each... ZOWEE! That's a lot of clams... Five times the cost... plus they had to be special ordered... So, since I've experienced no performance increase last time I ran them (as a matter of fact that's what was on the truck), I decided to go with the old plain jane cast iron rotors... $30 a piece.

Vented, slotted and/or cross drilled rotors have a significant advantage on road type applications where they use their brakes just a little differently and in greater frequency. So the advantages in outgassing isn't realized as much in my application as I don't do near as much heavy braking for prolonged periods.

The brake work looks really good Tom, congrats on another fine job.

The jury is out on drilled or slotted rotors in road racing. The drilling removes surface area from the rotor and may decrease braking. In addition the machining of the rotors will cause the rotor to crack when it gets hot. The pad life will decrease by about 40% with a drilled rotor too. Porsche is casting cooling holes into the rotor to prevent cracking, and that would be the best way to go. Many roadracers consider drilled rotors about as valuable as chrome oil pans.

On pads, an organic pad will give good initial bite, but will wear fast and will be unpredictable on hard braking. Good braking is not measured on the first lap, but the third. When the brakes overheat the pedal will start sinking and the brakes willl become unpredictable. Good performance pads will remain stable under hard use. If you are towing or running your brakes hard, good pads will make a significant difference. Performance Friction (available at Auto Zone) has a good pad for Broncos and Napa makes an good premium pad and also has a severe duty ambulance pad available for most trucks. These pads will be harder on rotors. I do not think there is really a wrong answer, but there certainly are some answers more right than others. I would not want bottom shelf import pads; OEM is a good starting point.

[BajaF250]

The brake work looks really good Tom, congrats on another fine job.

The jury is out on drilled or slotted rotors in road racing. The drilling removes surface area from the rotor and may decrease braking. In addition the machining of the rotors will cause the rotor to crack when it gets hot. The pad life will decrease by about 40% with a drilled rotor too. Porsche is casting cooling holes into the rotor to prevent cracking, and that would be the best way to go. Many roadracers consider drilled rotors about as valuable as chrome oil pans.

On pads, an organic pad will give good initial bite, but will wear fast and will be unpredictable on hard braking. Good braking is not measured on the first lap, but the third. When the brakes overheat the pedal will start sinking and the brakes willl become unpredictable. Good performance pads will remain stable under hard use. If you are towing or running your brakes hard, good pads will make a significant difference. Performance Friction (available at Auto Zone) has a good pad for Broncos and Napa makes an good premium pad and also has a severe duty ambulance pad available for most trucks. These pads will be harder on rotors. I do not think there is really a wrong answer, but there certainly are some answers more right than others. I would not want bottom shelf import pads; OEM is a good starting point.

Hey John,
Good info, thanks. In my limited experience with the Class 1 and TT guys, some run slotted, some do not... I'd say about 50/50 with maybe some bias towards no slots, again, only from what I've seen.

I'm running the PolyMatrix A compound which is their most aggressive metalilc pad. It does create dust with high wear on the rotor, but that is the trade off to performance. Some of the problems with my stock setup were not enough stopping power and massive fade from high speed stops. The bottom line is it appears I've solved my braking issues and brought my brake performace up to an acceptable level. I like them on the road, they hold good manners, they stop like crazy, and they work exceptionally well in the dirt. I anticipated some grabbing in the dirt, but that is not the case. So, I'm pretty darn happy with the conversion.

[BajaF250]

I spent some time on Saturday decreasing my rear spring rate and then Buck and I headed out to Plaster City first thing on Sunday morning to test the rear. It works much better, but I still need to decrease rear spring. I've attached a few Go Pro vids for those who asked!

This is one of the last test runs after many adjustments. Some deep whoops here and then into some sand whoops... it's a pretty good place to test. This run was (once up to speed) between 50 and 65mph. There are two pretty big whoops that I skip over... but they are trophy truck bumps!


This is one of the test runs looking backwards...


Chasing Buck back to the Plaster City plant. This is a graded road and therefore not much wheel travel, I just threw it in for fun. We ran this at about 50.


This vid is really pretty cool... it's running along Evan Hewes highway heading from Plaster City to Ocotillo. I took a couple of hits... but it was fun! I ran it between about 35mph in the slow sections (big stuff!), there are some good g-outs, and then I got up to 70 in two short sections... I was mostly between 45 and 60mph. Take a look at 06:53... OUCH! I should have slowed down for that crossing... I cleared it though (errrrr.... well, mostly)! Buck was trying to video it from the highway, he said you could see the look on my face when I came up to it (errr, or hit it!)...


These vids really speak for equal length steering! I need!

[Becks_Bronco]

That last video is awesome. any footage from the white truck?

[BajaF250]

That last video is awesome. any footage from the white truck?

We tried, but Buck couldn't drive and video at the same time... well at least keeping the white truck on the road! We tried and the video that came out was mostly of his dash and door panel... I'm pretty sure you won't want to see that! We needed one more out there as a passenger and videographer in Buck's truck.

[philofab]

Truck looks like it's working great. I really like the section next too and just north of the prison. That stuff is fun. What tire pressure were you running in the front? It looked like about 20 psi with all the tire deflection.

[BajaF250]

Truck looks like it's working great. I really like the section next too and just north of the prison. That stuff is fun. What tire pressure were you running in the front? It looked like about 20 psi with all the tire deflection.

Yeah, I agree... it really is fun! It's got a lot of different stuff in it... some good deep stuff, some crossings, some fast stuff, a couple of g-outs... Plus, when we get a videographer... it'll be cool to get some vid of the truck from another vantage point.

I'm running 31psi on this run. I'll most likely lower it to 28psi later.

[tcm glx]

How do you say.... .ehhhh Holy Crap!!! hahaha, looks like a otn of fun Tom!!

Whats next, les spring rate still?

[BajaF250]

How do you say.... .ehhhh Holy Crap!!! hahaha, looks like a otn of fun Tom!!

Whats next, les spring rate still?

Yup, still a little too much spring. The shocks are working AWESOME!

[yikes]

He's turning...he's going straight...nope he's turning...wait...what? Haha! TTB. I love it! Great stuff Tom. The front end looks great! That road crossing looked like a spindle breaker. Wow!

[Silverslk]

I'm sure you would get a thousand offers to shoot for you....... including me. Just say when!!

[BajaF250]

He's turning...he's going straight...nope he's turning...wait...what? Haha! TTB. I love it! Great stuff Tom. The front end looks great! That road crossing looked like a spindle breaker. Wow!

Love the TTB! Is it really the TTB? Or, maybe I just can't decide which way to go... indecision!

Yeah, gonna pull the spindles off and have them NDI'd. Good way to lose a ball joint too! They are brand new, both upper and lower... since they didn't break, I'm sure I knocked off 50,000 miles or so!

[BajaF250]

I'm sure you would get a thousand offers to shoot for you....... including me. Just say when!!

Hey Andy! Wow, thanks! Most of these trips are last minute and before the crack of dawn... I left the house at 0500 to get out there at sunrise. Absolutely beautiful out there! I love watching the sun come up ofver the desert!

[vred]

Tom, next time give me a holler. If early I may be able to go. Awesome videos.