All About Big Brake Kit
A big brake kit is a complete kit that allows you to upgrade your car’s braking system.
A quality big brake kit includes all the components you need, including:
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Rotors (or rotor rings and hats)
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Calipers
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Brake pads
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Brake fluid
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Brake lines
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Fittings
Big brake kits are usually for serious high-performance needs, including:
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Full-on racing
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Street performance
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Any other vehicles that need to go and stop on a dime
How Do Big Brakes Stop Your Car Better Than Stock Brakes?
Big brakes improve performance by increasing the swept area of the brake rotor. This increases the amount of “stopping power” the brake system has. In layman’s terms, the brake rotors and pads are bigger. That means the pads have more surface area to grab onto. To understand this better, rub your index finger and thumb on your arm. You’re creating friction, but not enough to stop your fingers from moving across your arm. Now, wrap your whole hand around your arm. Is it harder to rub your arm now? It’s because you’re grabbing onto a much bigger surface area. This creates more friction.
What’s In A Big Brake Kit?
There are many different types of big brake kits out there. It’s because there are so many different upgrades, add-ons, and options available. For example, some big brake kits include calipers with extra pistons. Some include cross-drilled rotors and/or slotted rotors. Some include stainless steel brake lines. And so on. Let’s talk about some of the most common upgrades and add-ons:
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Calipers with extra pistons: This creates more force against the rotors. That means extra stopping power. It’s very useful for race cars or other high-performance vehicles.
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Cross-drilled rotors: This allows heat to escape better. It also creates more grip, which comes in useful in a wet climate. It also stops the brake pads from glazing.
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Slotted rotors: Like cross drilled rotors, slotted rotors allow hot gases and brake dust to escape more easily. They are also good at shedding water.
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Stainless steel brake lines: This is a huge upgrade from rubber brake lines. They ensure that your brake pedal stays firm and responsive. Stainless steel lasts much longer than rubber, and it doesn’t expand. Rubber brake lines expand when the brake fluid gets hot. This creates a soft feeling brake pedal, and reduces the responsiveness of the braking system.