Thread: I know its worth it, but is it really necessary???

Ive browsed through many forums looking for an answer to my number 1 question about a brake upgrade. I know that there are many options available for the 04+ GTP when it comes to brake upgrades such as drilled/slotted rotors, dual piston calipers, 12 inch rear rotor upgrade, but are all these really necessary?

I have a 2004 GTP and one of the next mods I would like to get was a brake upgrade. Right now i have stock rotors and semi decent pads. I was considering buying drilled/slotted rotors, stainless brake lines and hawk pads. When i asked a good friend of mine who races NHRA proffesionaly, He suggested that I simply purchase a new set of stock rotors and stainless brake lines with Hawk pads and that would be just as good as going out and forking up loads of money on custom rotors, because im not looking to do any sort of hardcore road racing. Simply the occasional 1/4 mile passes.

What do you guys think i should do?

nothing will make a giant improvement in braking power besides a good set of pads.

Napa Gold rotors are pretty good actually, coupled with Hawk HPS pads they tend to be a good setup over OEM.

Rotorpros on ebay make decent Rotors too (what I am running with Hawk HPS pads and Corvette calipers)

Drilled and slotted do nothing for you expect add to the aesthetics, there is absolutely no performance gains to having them, its just for looks. I know I'm gonna have people object and say but race cars have them and thats why....They are Race cars running 14" 2 piece rotors with 8-10 piston calipers. I've been playing with brake setups for years, they don't have any advantage except for heavy track used cars. Another thing to note about drilled rotors, that unless they are molded with the drilled holes, they do have a tendency to grow weak over time and crack. Granted I did buy drilled rotors, but thats for the appearance not performance

Another upgrade would be the F-body caliper upgrade which gives you dual pistons and more surface contact on the rotor. This will keep your 12" rotors.

The other option if you can find them are the GXP brakes w/ rotors, they pop up on here in the classifieds from time to time and on ebay. they run f-body style calipers (dual piston) and 12.6" rotors