VE brake upgrade kit: is this safe!?

[savage1987]

http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/ee345/sam_brown_05/my%20VN/VE%20brake%20upgrade/IMGP3115.jpg

^This is how the kit came in the box, there are no bushings for this. It's the "Big Brake Kit":

http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/ee345/sam_brown_05/my%20VN/LS1%20transplant/IMGP3092.jpg






Anyway people are telling me the rim will hold it in place just fine when it's bolted on, but no, surely all that will hold it is friction!! and i bet there is less friction there than there is on the rotors under full brakes!!

Now I know realistically, chances are that once you've bolted the wheel on, etc the first time you brake, the studs will bunk up against one side of the hole then after that it'll probably stay there, unless you do lotsa hard breaking in reverse.

That said, it still does not seem right to me.

Also, for a full kit at $765, it should really come with some instructions on how to fit those gay little metal clips that retain the brake pads. I was told by the supplier that these can be put in 2 ways and that one of those ways is wrong and will score the rotor. Guess what, mine are the wrong way then. WTF. :( I had a bit of a hunt on google but could only find a guide for rear brake pads on VE, not fronts.


Also was told 100% this kit would fit under my 15s, since they are VY 15x7s, but they definitely do NOT. I was then told to reverse the caliper adapter bracket to bring the caliper in toward the hub a little. I did this, and it does not bolt on at all, the rotor interferes with the caliper :(

Anyway main point, someone explain to me how this kit possibly passed ADR with that much rotational play in the rotors!!

[James_2007]

holly shit have a look at the clearance in the holes for the studs.

[mitchy]

VE brakes use 14mm studs over the 12mm studs of previous models, you should sleeve them as they will move through braking and acceleration, and likely oval out holes/damage the studs.

VE's also come with 16" steel rims over 15" steel rims of the previous models, i'm sure that was though necessity to clear the brakes as well.

if you don't know what you're doing with brakes, i'd advise you get EXPERT help, as they are a pretty important part.

[Scaf]

The discs look like VE discs as the ve's have larger wheel studs. I wouldn't be using them.
Take them back to the supplier and get a VT-VZ upgrade, they are just as good and actually fit an early model commodore.

[savage1987]

also just been in contact with another guy selling VE kits..




my enquiry when he said he had some info I should know about the kit:
hey mate

interested in any info you can give me

there's a couple of things i'm not happy with at the moment.

1. no instructions supplied for fitting those gay shims/clips that come with the pads.. and the way I put them in they interfere with the rotor and will score it.

2. There is rotational play between the rotor and the studs, the rotor being an M14 appropriate drill, and the studs being M12.. LOTS of play. Not entirely happy with this.. will go inspect wheels to see if they'll hold it in place adequately once bolted together. Not keen to shear wheel studs.



Sam


his reply:
yep all that and the brake lines are not adr approved to boot
if you give me a call at work on 9*** **** i can help you out with it the rotor needs to be redrilled the clips well i have one kit here thats got it all done i can swap the lines but i would have to make them up for you so i cant swap them

[savage1987]

holly shit have a look at the clearance in the holes for the studs.
That's the main problem I'm concerned about.

VE brakes use 14mm studs over the 12mm studs of previous models, you should sleeve them as they will move through braking and acceleration, and likely oval out holes/damage the studs.

VE's also come with 16" steel rims over 15" steel rims of the previous models, i'm sure that was though necessity to clear the brakes as well.

if you don't know what you're doing with brakes, i'd advise you get EXPErT help, as they are a pretty important part.
I'm aware of the stud size change from VN-Z to VE, and also the wheel size change. I was told by the supplier that this kit has DEFINITELY been fitted to a VN running VT 15s before, and they therefore should fit my VY 15x7s. Guess what?? They don't. I have half a clue when it comes to brakes, enough to know this kit certainly appears to fail hard. I'm more than confident enough to instal an upgrade kit myself - it's just those pad retaining clips I'm unclear on - but this particular kit is just riddled with problems. Hopefully RDA tech support can help me out, I've been given a contact there to speak to about it all, will ring when he gets back to work shortly.

The discs look like VE discs as the ve's have larger wheel studs. I wouldn't be using them.
Take them back to the supplier and get a VT-VZ upgrade, they are just as good and actually fit an early model commodore.

The supplier do not sell VT upgrades any more as they are obsolete thanks to this apparently superior kit. I elected for the VE kit for its simplicity, in that when upgrading to a VT-Z kit the master cylinder also needs changing to a VT style quick-fill unit, which must either be adapted to a VN booster, or used in conjunction with a VT booster adapted to the VN firewall.

I'm certainly glad I'm not the only person who thinks this kit does not look safe.

[mitchy]

"should" being the keyword in there...

if you were aware of the stud size change, why is the overly large holes a surprise to you?

[DISTRBD]

Also, for a full kit at $765, it should really come with some instructions on how to fit those gay little metal clips that retain the brake pads.

Anyway main point, someone explain to me how this kit possibly passed ADR with that much rotational play in the rotors!!

LOL $765 is fucking cheap , get what you pay for :)

[Skitzo]

My recommendation is to just by another set of standard brake calipers and bolt them on aswell, but on the other side, so you have 2 calipers per rotor. WINNER!

[savage1987]

"should" being the keyword in there...
if you were aware of the stud size change, why is the overly large holes a surprise to you?Because it's a kit to suit VN, I expected either re-drilled rotors, or sleeves supplied to suit. It's not like I just went out and bought a set of VE rotors and expected them to bolt straight on. The kit comes with adaptor hubs, and rotors "to suit", which do not suit.

LOL $765 is fucking cheap , get what you pay for :)Nah, I paid for a brake kit to get my car engineered, not something that'll shear off the studs and fucking kill me.. The kit's more at full price as I understand it, got a discount from a forum sponsor elsewhere.

[DISTRBD]

Nah, I paid for a brake kit to get my car engineered, not something that'll shear off the studs and fucking kill me.. The kit's more at full price as I understand it, got a discount from a forum sponsor elsewhere.

Again you get what you pay for champ , kits we do that fit correctly and work and signed off on cost double what you paid for and thats just the small kits :)

[Zuicider]

talk to ben from kenwick he has a set of these on his vp

[savage1987]

Again you get what you pay for champ , kits we do that fit correctly and work and signed off on cost double what you paid for and thats just the small kits
I was unaware of the variety of VE kits available. You are right, this is my fault for buying a shithouse kit, I think I will just get money back for it and burn down the car

[DISTRBD]

I was unaware of the variety of VE kits available. You are right, this is my fault for buying a shithouse kit, I think I will just get money back for it and burn down the car

Sounds like a good idea

[Bridantay]

I was unaware of the variety of VE kits available. You are right, this is my fault for buying a shithouse kit, I think I will just get money back for it and burn down the car

Wise, your wheels falling off isnt worth it, ebay the brakes since you got them dirst cheap you will probably get more for them.

[savage1987]

I will know on Monday if I can return the kit for full refund.

Have just been in touch with Brake Fabricators WA and they can do me a VE V8 kit for $828 +$cost of braided lines (~$60 x2 lines), so I'm still getting away with a brake upgrade for just under $1k, it just means I have to upgrade to 17s :( but on the flip side the upgrade is a healthy amount larger :)

need to find some 17s that do not look gay on a VN

[AGIT8D]

Keep the kit, I like the little comma's in the rotors!

[[RX2]]

http://www.nvu.com.au/products_single.php?action=showproduct&cat=4&id=649&page=1&section=1

[savage1987]

"WILL SUIT VT-VX-VY-VZ MODELS"

no love for early girls :p

[savage1987]

And I now have some 17s lined up to borrow from a mate, VP GTS spec. Should look non-gay enough on a VN :) if I decide I like them I might even buy them later on :)



I was going to get a VT upgrade instead and keep my chasers, because I do like them, but decided that it would be stupid to buy the smallest brakes I can get away with for the job when a far better set can be had for not much more money, so VE big jobbies it is :)

[DISTRBD]

but decided that it would be stupid to buy the smallest brakes I can get away with for the job when a far better set can be had for not much more money, so VE big jobbies it is :)


I did upgrade using 33 gts-t calipers , 300mm rotors behind a 15x4 rim ..

[savage1987]

I did upgrade using 33 gts-t calipers , 300mm rotors behind a 15x4 rim ..

Impressive, wouldn't think skyrine setup would bolt to a VN though, don't they share the Ford stud pattern 5x114.something ?

[matty12]

I did upgrade using 33 gts-t calipers , 300mm rotors behind a 15x4 rim ..

did the same on the vl only using vt 280mm,just fit behind 15x6 interceptors yeah!

[grogers]

comon guys.... just weld it! :P

[dattoman]

I wasn't going to comment but

1. Thats crap
2. Bet you get the same thing again from supplier 2 (since they buy from supplier 1)
3. Hahahahahahahahahha

[savage1987]

I wasn't going to comment but

1. Thats crap
2. Bet you get the same thing again from supplier 2 (since they buy from supplier 1)
3. Hahahahahahahahahha

I lol'd


yeah supplier 2 will supply the same kit with

1. rotors drilled to suit M12 studs
2. braided hoses that will actually pass engineers
3. bigger rotors/calipers since these won't fit under 15s so I may as well go bigger anyway

= safety, legality issues addressed, and size issue overcome in my own mind :( shame I'll have to lose the chasers

[DISTRBD]

Impressive, wouldn't think skyrine setup would bolt to a VN though, don't they share the Ford stud pattern 5x114.something ?


Yes but we think here :) Order rotors as blank then have drilled to suit PCD needed and dog bones fabricated to suit car n caliper . Why my shit is not cheap like the shit you got online :)


For shits n giggles post up pics of the 2nd kit for all to see


LOL Dattoman

[savage1987]

Yes but we think here :) Order rotors as blank then have drilled to suit PCD needed and dog bones fabricated to suit car n caliper . Why my shit is not cheap like the shit you got online :)


For shits n giggles post up pics of the 2nd kit for all to see


LOL Dattoman

OK thanks for the info :)

Will post pics but the shit won't be here til end of next week so I have altogether given up on getting this engineered and done before I leave :(

Shits me right off when pingpingpingpings sell a product that isn't what it claims to be. CAE, RDA, I'm looking at you.