Another approach to upgraded brakes
Discussion
I think everyone here agrees that the standard brakes on Monaros are seriously lacking. Well, I recently snapped a bleed screw and it finally gave me the push I needed to find a solution.
After doing some research it quickly became apparent that there aren't a whole lot of options. APs are the obvious answer in this country, but whilst they are a vast improvement over stock, I have seen mixed opinions on build quality and issues with the discs corroding.
The Americans are miles ahead with their modifying scene for the Pontiac GTO so I decided to have a look at what they've come up with. As a lot of you will be aware, a popular option in the USA is to use adapter brackets and fit CTS-V Brembo calipers.
I quickly settled on the Bohnman Customs rear kit which allows fitment of 4 pot CTS-V Brembo calipers and 350mm HSV DBA discs. This kit also uses the existing handbrake mechanism, which makes things simpler.
I also looked at the Bohnman Customs kits for the front capliers as they offer the option for 4 or 6 pot CTS-V Brembos. However, the issue with these kits is that they use discs with offsets that put the calipers closer to the front of the wheels. This is an issue with a UK Monaro LS2 VXR as the factory 19" wheels have thick spokes and actually have less clearance than the factory GTO 18" wheels.
Getting desperate, in a moment of madness I decided to break out some CAD software and fabricate my own solution. So, two 3D printed bracket prototypes and plenty of swearing later, here we are:
R35 GT-R 6 pot Brembos with fully floating 380mm R35 GT-R discs!
And the rears:
I'm running DBA T3 rotors front and rear along with Hawk HPS 5.0 pads and Russell braided lines.
I can't get over how phenomenal these brakes are. The stopping power is frankly ridiculous. Balance and feel are also fantastic.
I'll get some better pictures up when there's a break in the weather.
After doing some research it quickly became apparent that there aren't a whole lot of options. APs are the obvious answer in this country, but whilst they are a vast improvement over stock, I have seen mixed opinions on build quality and issues with the discs corroding.
The Americans are miles ahead with their modifying scene for the Pontiac GTO so I decided to have a look at what they've come up with. As a lot of you will be aware, a popular option in the USA is to use adapter brackets and fit CTS-V Brembo calipers.
I quickly settled on the Bohnman Customs rear kit which allows fitment of 4 pot CTS-V Brembo calipers and 350mm HSV DBA discs. This kit also uses the existing handbrake mechanism, which makes things simpler.
I also looked at the Bohnman Customs kits for the front capliers as they offer the option for 4 or 6 pot CTS-V Brembos. However, the issue with these kits is that they use discs with offsets that put the calipers closer to the front of the wheels. This is an issue with a UK Monaro LS2 VXR as the factory 19" wheels have thick spokes and actually have less clearance than the factory GTO 18" wheels.
Getting desperate, in a moment of madness I decided to break out some CAD software and fabricate my own solution. So, two 3D printed bracket prototypes and plenty of swearing later, here we are:
R35 GT-R 6 pot Brembos with fully floating 380mm R35 GT-R discs!
And the rears:
I'm running DBA T3 rotors front and rear along with Hawk HPS 5.0 pads and Russell braided lines.
I can't get over how phenomenal these brakes are. The stopping power is frankly ridiculous. Balance and feel are also fantastic.
I'll get some better pictures up when there's a break in the weather.
Outstanding effort that! Well done. 
I'm sure there would be enough interest from other Monaro owners for you to consider getting a batch of these adaptors made?
How much do the calipers, discs and pads run at?
As an AP kit owner though, I do have to say I've been very happy with every aspect of them so far.
I'm sure there would be enough interest from other Monaro owners for you to consider getting a batch of these adaptors made?
How much do the calipers, discs and pads run at?
As an AP kit owner though, I do have to say I've been very happy with every aspect of them so far.
Andy616 said:
I think everyone here agrees that the standard brakes on Monaros are seriously lacking. Well, I recently snapped a bleed screw and it finally gave me the push I needed to find a solution.
After doing some research it quickly became apparent that there aren't a whole lot of options. APs are the obvious answer in this country, but whilst they are a vast improvement over stock, I have seen mixed opinions on build quality and issues with the discs corroding.
The Americans are miles ahead with their modifying scene for the Pontiac GTO so I decided to have a look at what they've come up with. As a lot of you will be aware, a popular option in the USA is to use adapter brackets and fit CTS-V Brembo calipers.
I quickly settled on the Bohnman Customs rear kit which allows fitment of 4 pot CTS-V Brembo calipers and 350mm HSV DBA discs. This kit also uses the existing handbrake mechanism, which makes things simpler.
I also looked at the Bohnman Customs kits for the front capliers as they offer the option for 4 or 6 pot CTS-V Brembos. However, the issue with these kits is that they use discs with offsets that put the calipers closer to the front of the wheels. This is an issue with a UK Monaro LS2 VXR as the factory 19" wheels have thick spokes and actually have less clearance than the factory GTO 18" wheels.
Getting desperate, in a moment of madness I decided to break out some CAD software and fabricate my own solution. So, two 3D printed bracket prototypes and plenty of swearing later, here we are:
R35 GT-R 6 pot Brembos with fully floating 380mm R35 GT-R discs!
And the rears:
I'm running DBA T3 rotors front and rear along with Hawk HPS 5.0 pads and Russell braided lines.
I can't get over how phenomenal these brakes are. The stopping power is frankly ridiculous. Balance and feel are also fantastic.
I'll get some better pictures up when there's a break in the weather.
What's the cost breakdown? Great industry by the way - dependent on price (of the whole kit) I'd buy a set of brackets.After doing some research it quickly became apparent that there aren't a whole lot of options. APs are the obvious answer in this country, but whilst they are a vast improvement over stock, I have seen mixed opinions on build quality and issues with the discs corroding.
The Americans are miles ahead with their modifying scene for the Pontiac GTO so I decided to have a look at what they've come up with. As a lot of you will be aware, a popular option in the USA is to use adapter brackets and fit CTS-V Brembo calipers.
I quickly settled on the Bohnman Customs rear kit which allows fitment of 4 pot CTS-V Brembo calipers and 350mm HSV DBA discs. This kit also uses the existing handbrake mechanism, which makes things simpler.
I also looked at the Bohnman Customs kits for the front capliers as they offer the option for 4 or 6 pot CTS-V Brembos. However, the issue with these kits is that they use discs with offsets that put the calipers closer to the front of the wheels. This is an issue with a UK Monaro LS2 VXR as the factory 19" wheels have thick spokes and actually have less clearance than the factory GTO 18" wheels.
Getting desperate, in a moment of madness I decided to break out some CAD software and fabricate my own solution. So, two 3D printed bracket prototypes and plenty of swearing later, here we are:
R35 GT-R 6 pot Brembos with fully floating 380mm R35 GT-R discs!
And the rears:
I'm running DBA T3 rotors front and rear along with Hawk HPS 5.0 pads and Russell braided lines.
I can't get over how phenomenal these brakes are. The stopping power is frankly ridiculous. Balance and feel are also fantastic.
I'll get some better pictures up when there's a break in the weather.
Thanks. I hadn't thought there might be a market for them. I'd want to get some decent testing miles on them first before even considering making more.
Cost wise.... not cheap. The discs are mounted on custom aluminium bells using AP fittings so they are at the same offset as the stock discs. The calipers don't come up for sale that often as a pair and are a popular swap for Skylines, so they fetch strong money.
The calipers are also radial mounted so the brackets aren't cheap to machine and I used 7075 aluminium:
Factor in all the bolts, pads etc. and it comes to a little bit more than than an AP kit just for the fronts. Although this is for a batch of one set so the costs are higher. The rears are about a third of the price of the fronts.
Cost wise.... not cheap. The discs are mounted on custom aluminium bells using AP fittings so they are at the same offset as the stock discs. The calipers don't come up for sale that often as a pair and are a popular swap for Skylines, so they fetch strong money.
The calipers are also radial mounted so the brackets aren't cheap to machine and I used 7075 aluminium:
Factor in all the bolts, pads etc. and it comes to a little bit more than than an AP kit just for the fronts. Although this is for a batch of one set so the costs are higher. The rears are about a third of the price of the fronts.
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