Posted this in the Lexus Section but not much activity there so hope you don't mind me posting here too. Thought this to be a great upgrade for 997's also so really just want to get the information out there that we offer Brembo Sales, Installation, Custom Paint, Custom Brake Lines, Etc. Any questions please let me know.


We are doing a bit of work on this Lexus ISF. One of the projects for this Lexus was a Brembo Gran Turismo Kit which included 6-Piston Monoblock Front Calipers and 15" 2-Piece Cross Drilled Rotors with Stainless lines for the front. The Rear is a Brembo 2-Piece Cross Drilled Rotor which retains the parking brake and re-uses the stock Brembo Caliper. We had Stainless Steel Brakes Lines made for the rear. The new front Brembo Caliper with pads weighed about the same as the stock Brembo Caliper with pads, however, the new Brembo Caliper provides a pad surface area about 20% larger than the stock pad and going from a 14" rotor to a 15" provides a greater lever arm for more braking leverage and allows greater heat dissipation. The Stock Front Rotor's weighed 25 lbs each, the new 2-piece Brembo Front Rotor's weighed 19 lbs each. The Stock Rear Rotor's weighed 21 lbs each, the new Brembo 2-piece Rear Rotor's weighed 14 lbs each. The brake pedal feel and overall braking performance of this new set-up are excellent.


Stock Brakes:








Successful test fit of stock wheel with the new front Brembo GT Kit.




Paint process begins:
















Done with paint, ready for install:












Rears:








Fronts, starting with the Brembo Caliper Mounting Bracket:








We also lowered the car slightly with new Eibach Springs and some new wheels are being built to really show off the Brembo's and should set things off a bit more. Here are some pictures of it now, will have more to share later with new wheels and some other additional modifications.

 

Wrong forum.

 

nicely done!

 

I think he knows that...just want to share it w/the pcar world..
nicely done...fresh coat of paint cleans up very nicely..

 

Gary, how do you find the paint holding up to high temperatures compared to something like powdercoating?

bob

 

Thank you for the compliments.



Bob we haven't exposed these calipers to a great amount of heat yet.
However Brembo recommends paint vs. powdercoat. If we ordered
a custom color from Brembo they would have them painted also, but
they do not offer custom colors for used calipers. We hope to have this
car on track at Buttonwillow in a month or two, will see how it handles
the heat there.

 

Good to know.

Thanks Gary.

- bob

 

Very nice job, Gary! Looks awesome! How much does it cost to have a set (front and back) painted?

 

Good job as always, Gary.

When did you get your own paintbooth?

 

Wouldn't upgrading the front brakes and not the rears throw the car into a braking imbalance?

 

^Aren't breaks always biased toward the front anyway? Also, an upgrade like this would probably only be felt on the track...when normal breaks begin to fade. Doubt this car would ever be put into that situation. Point is, under normal driving conditions, I doubt this break upgrade will be felt at all...it's for looks. Not a bad thing, just my opinion.

Looks good by the way; Got to love big breaks and that blue is awesome.

J

 

Yes brakes are usually set for front bias, however if the addition of larger brake piston are introduced in the front and there isn't any other changes the amount of fluid forced into the front caliper piston will remain the same. The result is that with the same pedal pressure will engage the rear brakes as they normally do, but will require more pressure to activate the front brakes.

I agree that they probably won't feel the difference, as it looks like it is all about show.

 

Thank you for your interest in braking and after talking with the guys at Brembo I have some interesting truths and information straight from Brembo for you.

Brembo engineers worked directly with Lexus on the development of the OEM brake system for the IS and ISF and are as equipped with data and information regarding that vehicle, it’s braking system, and the stability, dynamics, and handling as one can be. Brembo designs all of their GT Kits to provide Optimum Brake Bias® (whether front only, or front and rear) based on the OEM master cylinder, ABS, traction control, with the intent of providing improved braking performance while maintaining or improving control and drivability.

The Brembo GT Monobloc Calipers are the key to that system. Since they are engineered and available with a variety of different piston combinations, they are able to provide a firm and confident pedal feel with improved response, quickly and uniformly, every time. The majority of the braking performance will come from the larger diameter rotors that offer increased leverage, heat capacity as well as more efficient cooling.

Let me know if you have more questions regarding the brakes or this build. We modify cars with our main emphasis on making them perform better. These brakes definitely slow down the car better with improved car dynamics, pedal feel and driving confidence all while reducing unsprung mass by 6lbs per each front corner and 7lbs per each rear corner. If we can also improve the looks, personalize it to where the owner enjoys their car more, that is a great thing too and being accomplished here.


God Bless

 

Outstanding Gary!

 

Thanks for clarifying Gary.