Who has installed the TCE front brake kit?

[Matt Johnson]

Just had the Plus 1 (front kit for stock wheels) installed today and the caliper clearance is scary tight...barely clear the wheels.

I'm wondering if this is par for the course, or if I may have received the wrong calipers and not the 'narrow' ones that were supposed to come with the kit. (I have e-mailed Todd but he's out of the office until after the 4th. Not intending to dis on TCE at all...just curious about the clearance because the installers themselves were really surprised and raised the question as to whether or not these were the right calipers. They said the torque specs were off - they had to tighten them much more than suggested in the directions included from TCE.)

Brakes are working great, very positive, amazing light touch, all the soft mush gone.

I can e-mail or post a pic if that helps.

[BK_GrandMarquis]

You shouldn't do any panic stops or anything harsh for the first few hundred miles. You should take it easy while braking them in.

Have you gone through the bedding process?

[HwyCruiser]

I've had the front 13.1" kit on for over two years now. They should have come with a thin spacer (1/16"?) to allow a little more clearance to the caliper. They are definitely close, but I have had no issues so far. If you got the wheel on then you probably got the right ones.

I have around 20k miles on the original pads and they are still going strong. Just bed those suckers in good and have fun!

[Matt Johnson]

You shouldn't do any panic stops or anything harsh for the first few hundred miles. You should take it easy while braking them in.

Have you gone through the bedding process?

The only 'bedding process' I know of involves beautiful women...

Will you please enlighten me on the one that involves these brakes?

And I've been taking it very easy on them...the brakes that is.

[Matt Johnson]

If you got the wheel on then you probably got the right ones.


I figured as much. Was just shocked to see how close they are...but man they feel great. So much more confident and positive action. Huge difference.

[HwyCruiser]

I figured as much. Was just shocked to see how close they are...but man they feel great. So much more confident and positive action. Huge difference.

Matt, I sent you a copy of TCE's bedding procedures via PM.

I freshen mine up when I start to feel some pad buildup on the rotor (pulsating pedal) by running through the procedure again.

[RF Overlord]

Matt, I also have the TCE/Wilwood Plus 1 kit, and like HwyCruiser, I love it. The calipers ARE a very close fit, but when braking hard the car just hunkers down and stops...no nose-diving and a nice pedal feel.

[jdando]

Here is a picture of my fronts. It is hard to get a decent picture

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/3/1/0/2/frontcaliper.jpg

The rears have a little more clearance.

A good bedding process involves lots of smoke coming from the brakes:D I currently have the HPS pads up front. Lots more dust than the Wilwood BP-10? pad, but much better stopping power.

I ran a Wilwood H pad at the track and it was fabulous, no fade and enough grip to get my track tires into the ABS.

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/3/1/0/2/BMW06_BIR05_1665np.JPG

This was going into turn three; hard braking 100 down to 40. Looks like I might what to get some stiffer springs up front:beatnik: Only problem with the pads was dust out the yahoo and the car sounded like a garbage truck stopping.

jeremy

[Todd TCE]

That pic: that's a ton of clearance!

I can assure everyone that it's the right (or only) caliper. All the other larger BSL6 calipers will be over 1/4" wider to the spoke. The wheel wouldn't even come close to fitting.

Here is a pic of some six pots:

Left is the "narrow body" BSL6.
Center is the "standard" BSL6.
Right is a six pot Integra racing caliper.

All three are built in this case for a 1.25" rotor but show how body and pad size effect fit.

[JamesHecker]

Who installed them for you Matt?

[Matt Johnson]

Hey James...

STI Motorsports in Culver City.

The brakes really make a difference. Feel great. Very solid.

MJ

[Tom Doan]

I still love mine and have had other Wilwood brakes and I like the easy rebuilding and the loads of different parts I can get for them. Tom