Goodbye Brembos

Okay, so I said this update would be better than the last.  You let me know if this is getting interesting yet.



I was doing some research on the inter-web, and heard some mumbling about how Eclipse owners were using Evo Brembos as a direct bolt on upgrade for their stock 2 piston.  So I decided to reverse their idea(probably not a new idea).  I ordered up a loaded caliper (has pads and hardware already installed) and brake rotor for a 2000 Eclipse GT to test fit.  The stock Brembo rotors are 12.75" across.  The new Eclipse rotor is 10.75".  The smaller cast caliper weighs about the same as the aluminum Brembo, so no huge weight savings.  The rotor slid on like butter.  The caliper bolted directly up only needing 5mm shorter mount bolts (they contacted the rotor otherwise) with a 12x1.25 thread instead of the 12x1.5 of the Brembos.




As you can see, there is a noticeable clearance difference.


The biggest gain with these brakes is the caliper over-hand.  The Brembo caliper extends 1.650" past the hat surface.  For the 16" 3-piece wheels I will be using, there is only a .650 over-hang allowance.  So to avoid running 20mm spacers, I chose smaller brakes.



When it comes down to over-all stopping power, I am not too worried.  These 2-piston in-board calipers were originally designed for a car weighing in at 3120lbs (auto trans was 3190lbs).  That is only 40lbs lighter than my Evo was in STU trim.  So size-wise, stopping a 2400lbs car shouldn't be a problem.  Autocross runs aren't long enough to generate the kind of heat that would require larger brakes.  These will obviously not be used for track days.  Some biasing may be in order, but I plan to continue to run Hawk HP Plus in the front, and stock in the rear.  This should keep the car pretty balanced for braking. 



Next, the new Buschur Racing intercooler goes in, along with the short route intercooler piping.  Here are two pictures for size comparison between the stock intercooler and the Buschur. 




Also notice the entry points.  The Buschur enters at the bottom most point, rather than having downward curve from just off center.  The stock intercooler uses a mounting bolt on each side where the new pipes run.  The new intercooler instead uses one of the bolts behind the crash beam as a new mounting point.

Installed, it provides a more direct route (under the intake and through where the stock battery was rather than over and around) to the intake cutting 15"+ of intake piping, while still increasing cooling capacity.


Next step is to get the required 52mm restrictor made up, and modify the AEM intake for it's fitment.



-Mike