Upgraded Brakes & More

[kpaske]

Hey all,

I'm getting ready to do some brake system rebuilding/upgrading and have a couple of questions.

First, I'm replacing all four rotors with SP Performance Diamond Slotted rotors and putting some SP Performance Street pads all around. I've already got steel braided brake lines on all four wheels. I'm replacing both rear calipers with rebuilt sets because the slide rails have rusted out and one broke off inside. I'll be sure to keep the new ones well lubricated. I was wondering if anyone had any other suggestions for upgrades / preventative maintenance while I've got the rear broken down? From what I understand the rear bearings don't require any sort of maintenance or eventual replacement?

Second, when I rebuild my front end, I'm also planning to replace all four CV Boots with the Mecatech kit from Independent4x, and install some Superwinch manual hubs to reduce highway driveline drag. I've done the balljoint flip, torsion bar lift, and recently replaced all my front bearings. Any other suggested upgrades or preventative maintenance for the front end?

With regards to the manual hubs, Independent4x sells rebuilt Aisin hubs ($110), and new Warn ($190) and Superwinch hubs ($125). I'm not sure if they stock Warn hubs that fit our VX, but they have both Aisin and Superwinch available. The Superwinch hubs look nice, and only cost $15 more NEW than the rebuilt Aisin hubs. I don't do much hardcore offroading, but I never install any component on my VX that is weaker than the stock part it is replacing. The Warn hubs are new and look very nice, but they are a lot more expensive and may not be available. Am I making a good choice buying these Superwinch hubs?

Thanks in advance!! ;Db;

[Tone]

Flush the system well and take extra time bleeding it since replacing calipers will let a lot of air into the system.

[kpaske]

Do you recommend any particular brand of fluid? I've been using some sort of synthetic - Castrol Syntech I think is what it's called.

[Joe_Black]

There are a number of good synthetics on the market, but they're typically not available as most auto parts locations. You can find "synthetic" brake fluids, but just be mindful of what you put in. This is the part of the VX that keeps you from hitting things you don't want to, so do the research.

Here's a great page from Pagasus Racing's web site that has a listing of all the synthetic fluids they carry along with a chart of their comparative properties: Brake Fluid Comparisons (http://www.pegasusautoracing.com/group.asp?GroupID=BRAKEFLUID)

I've liked the ATE Super Blue for it's affordable performance and good track record. Plus it's available in an alternate color, amber, so you can change colors at each flush to be sure you got all the old stuff out when using the MityVac bleeder. You've probably been using the Castrol LMA which is good, but wait 'til you see the Castrol SRF. At about $60 a liter it's about the best you can get! The highest wet/dry boiling point of all the synthetics by a good margin too.

As for the rotors, I don't know if you'e ordered or not but have you looked at Frozen Rotors? They've got a good following on the autocross circuit and are one of the more innovative braking products out there. Essentially, they're cryogenically treated which does some wonderful things for the material used in the rotor. This has in the past been a very expensive process, but like most things has come within the financial reach of the enthusiast. Tire Rack has pretty fair prices for the VX: PowerSlot Frozen Rotors for Isuzu VehiCROSS (http://www.tirerack.com/brakes/brakes.jsp?&make=PowerSlot&model=Cryo-Treated+Rotor&group=Cryo-Treated+Rotor&autoMake=Isuzu&autoModel=Vehicross&autoYear=2001&autoModClar=&perfCode=S)

http://www.tirerack.com/images/brakes/search/medium/PowerSlotCryoFrozenRotor.jpg

I'll be looking around to check for better pricing as I've got to replace the rotors on the IronMan and this is what is on the top of the list, along with Axxis Ultimate brake pads. All the top competitors in our rallycross series have used the Axxis pads and they do the job on the street, in the sand, in the mud and in the gravel. ;)

[kpaske]

Thanks for the info, Joe... I checked out info and prices on just about every brand of rotor I could find: PowerSlot, PowerStop, EBC, R1 Concepts, Brembo, SP Performance, Magnum... There may have been one or two others. Most of them don't make a rear rotor, and as silly as it may sound to those who know anything about brakes, I really wanted the rear to match the front, which narrowed my choices down to Brembo, R1 Concepts, PowerSlot, and SP (and STOCK). I liked the diamond slotted design that SP offers, and since Brembo only offers a solid and PowerSlot only offers slotted, I eliminated those two choices. R1 Concepts offers a drilled, slotted rotor and pad set for a VERY good price, but I just didn't get a warm and fuzzy about them. So the bottom line is SP was the only company that offered everything I was looking for. I opted for the SP pads because I'm assuming that like brands of pad and rotor should theoretically work well together. I like the EBC Green Stuff pads, but I was told that they were on back order from the UK, so I didn't bother pursuing those.

[kpaske]

Grrrr :mad:

It turns out that SP won't do rear rotors for the VX in diamond slotted. They couldn't tell me why they wouldn't do them, but I'm guessing that it's a thickness issue. I can't think of any other reason that makes sense. So I'm back to the drawing board.

I did look at the PowerSlot Cryo rotors, but haven't been able to find anyone who has actually run them to tell me if there is a measurable difference. Do you think they are worth the extra money or are they all hype?

Anyone care to offer an opinion on the manual hubs? Superwinch, Warn or Aisin? Are they all pretty good quality?

[Cyrk]

I have been running Power Slot Rotors for almost 2 years now...

These were the #'s for my Power Slot rotors..

PRS567PSL - Left Front Slotted Rotor

PRS567PSR - Right Front Slotted Rotor

PRS569PSL - Left Rear Slotted Rotor

PRS569PSR - Right Rear Slotted Rotor

Got them from here:

http://truckperformance.com/products/category_Brakes/productcategory_Brake+Rotors/searchtype_4d/sortorder_ADAA/sf1_ISUZU/sf2_1999/sf3_VEHICROSS/


http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/515/thumbs/39brakes1.jpg (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/515/39brakes1.jpg)http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/515/thumbs/39rear_brakes.jpg (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/515/39rear_brakes.jpg)http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/515/thumbs/39front_brakes.jpg (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/515/39front_brakes.jpg)http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/New_duals3.jpg (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/New_duals3.jpg)

[Tone]

SP will make them any way you want them as they are essentially made to order here in the US. You emailed me and I sent you a lot of info - what's up with that? EBC is made in UK but are excellent products. Brembo is hype and very difficult to work with refusing to supply me with rotor rebuild seals ($5 part) but would happily sell me a $5000 replacement set of rotors! Cryo is hype unless you are a competitor but you can send any new rotor to them and they'll treat them.

Rears are seldom replaced so it does not make sense for many companies to tool up for them. Seldom can you see enough of both front and rear rotors especially with stock rims anyway but it is your money.

[kpaske]

Tone,

I'd be more than happy to purchase products from you - I have before, and I've always been satisfied. Thanks for the hitch and seat brackets, BTW. I got them installed this past weekend and both are GREAT mods. You never responded to my last two e-mails so I figured you either got too busy or you couldn't help me, so I started looking elsewhere. If you can get SP to cut the rear rotors, lets get it done! I've had two resellers so far tell me that SP won't do them.

This project is starting to get crazy... I'm looking at doing all new shocks and the diff drop brackets and modified cross member from Darlington now too. The flood gates are officially open! ;Db;

[orion]

I just bought a set of the R1 concept drilled and slotted rotors. i think the quality is just fine. tho i'll never need the performance of them, they cost about the same as solid (stock) rotors, and they are zinc coated so they wont rust.

[Maugan_VX]

excuse my ignorance, but wont the zinc plating rub off on a brake rotor, leading to rust?

[Ldub]

excuse my ignorance, but wont the zinc plating rub off on a brake rotor, leading to rust?

So the center (vents) won't rust.

[Ldub]

Just a FYI...
There is a set of four, drilled/slotted/zinc (R-1 concepts) for $164.99 on e-bay.

[Jolly Roger VX'er]

Just a FYI...
There is a set of four, drilled/slotted/zinc (R-1 concepts) for $164.99 on e-bay.

I just bought a set of four, drilled/slotted/zinc (R1 Concepts Inc.) for $154.99 from their website today. Shipping was just over $48 for me in PA.

http://www.r1concepts.com/