One of the reasons why the aftermarket industry is thriving is because of car modifications. For example, if you are not satisfied with your vehicle’s speed and power, you can buy aftermarket components that can help boost your engine’s horsepower. These may include a supercharger, performance chips, and a cold air intake. The same goes with your braking system. But instead of purchasing multiple high-performance parts, all you need to increase your vehicle’s braking power is a big brake kit.
As the name implies, a big brake kit comes with big brake components like an oversized brake caliper and an oversized brake pad. This particular type of brake kit is used to upgrade a braking system, increasing its stopping power and improving the overall handling of the vehicle.
Other than the bigger brake components like the caliper and brake pad, the big brake kit is pretty much the same with other aftermarket brake kits. It has all the components needed to change your stock braking system. However, since the big brake kit is designed for high-performance vehicle applications, the brake parts—from the rotors and calipers to the sensors and fittings—are engineered to dish out better braking performance than your average brakes.
It all boils down to the purpose of your vehicle. If your ride has no other use than to get you from one place to another, then there's really no need for you to get a big brake kit. The factory-installed brakes in your vehicle would be enough to get the job done—which is to stop or slow down your vehicle.
On the other hand, if your vehicle is used for high-performance applications like street or track racing, having a big brake kit installed can really help you out. The large brake components are made for heavy and frequent braking, so rest assured that they can withstand the wear and tear that comes with this kind of high usage.
Having a big brake kit installed in your high-performance vehicle is a good choice. Here’s why:
As mentioned earlier, a big brake kit is specially designed for racing. Whether it’s on a track or on the streets, you can guarantee that your brakes will come through, slowing down or stopping your vehicle whenever you press the brake pedal.
Since the brake pad in a big brake kit is bigger, it is capable of absorbing more heat. This can reduce the high temperature of other braking components like the brake caliper and even the brake fluid.
Using your stock brakes on the track is not a good idea since they won’t be able to withstand the heat and pressure that come with constant braking, especially when the vehicle is running at high speeds. To ensure your safety while on the track, it’s better to equip your ride with a big brake kit.
Consider the following factors when you are shopping for a big brake kit.
Make sure that your big brake kit is made from heavy-duty raw materials. Although the parts are bigger and can absorb more heat, the friction that comes with high-performance applications can still speed up the wear and tear of your brake components. If you don’t want to replace your brakes after a few runs on the track, be sure to choose a sturdy big brake kit.
Don’t waste your time and money on a big brake kit that won’t fit your vehicle. Ensure from the get-go that you are purchasing an aftermarket big brake kit that is specifically made for your vehicle’s year, make, and model.
For your disc brakes, there are various rotor types to choose from. Each one has its own advantages and disadvantages. Smooth rotors, for instance, generally have a more sound structure when compared to other rotor designs. Drilled and slotted rotors, however, are more suitable for performance applications since they provide additional biting surfaces and prevent gas and dust to build up between the brake pad and disc.
If you already have experience in installing new brakes in your vehicle, working with a big brake kit would be a cakewalk for you. As long as you have the right tools and equipment, you can do this task on your own. You can save on costs by skipping the services of a professional mechanic.
Typically, the price of an aftermarket big brake kit ranges from $550 to $1,200. Each kit is available as a two-wheel set or a four-wheel set, and it has all the braking components you need to upgrade your vehicle’s factory-installed brakes. If you want to have better consumer protection, make sure you purchase a product that comes with warranty. Depending on the brand, you may get a 3-year or 36,000-mile limited warranty, which is typically enough to cover you in case the brake kit fails.
With the help of our built-in vehicle selector, searching for the aftermarket parts and accessories that you need is quick and easy. Simply provide the year, make, and model of your vehicle and we’ll provide a comprehensive list of parts and accessories that will fit your ride. So if you are looking for a Jeep JK big brake kit or Miata big brake kit, just enter the correct vehicle information to ensure that you won’t purchase the wrong part.
You can also use other filtering options to narrow down your search results. You can sort them by price range, brand, material, color or finish, location of the part, quantity sold, and more. Doing this will help you stay within your budget and exclude the products that do not meet your requirements.
Sometimes, you can't fight off the adrenaline rush you get from engines with high horsepower and torque. Whether you deny it or not, gaining speed gives you a grin as if you are a child riding the carousel for the very first time. But going fast is just half of the equation when you are out there driving on the road. The other half relies on the ability of your vehicle to slow down and stop. Your stock brakes only work best if you have kept the rest of your components stock. But if you begin to beef up and boost the engine, it would be a good idea to invest on a big brake kit. This will definitely help you control your vehicle on the track. How do you actually decide which ones would work the best for you? Here are some tips:
Rotors
Most conventional vehicles with disc brakes that come out of the assembly plant are equipped with smooth rotors. Its design allows optimum surface area that comes in contact with the pads when you need to stop. We can also say that is more structurally sound compared to other rotor designs. It can work on the track for a weekend warrior. Not bad overall for a design meant for street applications.
Slotted and drilled rotors are more inclined for performance applications. The spaces provided are meant to serve as an escape route for gases that build up as you run your vehicle hard on the tarmac. More than that, these designs can assure you a more consistent response and stopping power. But along with the deviation comes integrity issues. Because of the inconsistencies on its surface, it is more prone to crack if it takes too much stress.
Brake Size
It has already been emphasized that an upgrade to a big brake kit means larger components. Now, you have to consider the maximum size you can use that can still fit in the diameter of your wheels. That's unless you are quite open to getting bigger wheels as well to go along with the brake mod.