GM/Brembo Performance brakes - thoughts + pics

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ProfeZZor X

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I'm curious how your rig stops compared to a Tahoe PPV in an instrumented panic stop situation.

I would imagine your tires would actually be the limiting factor (and not the brakes) compared to a Tahoe PPV that has the Firestone or the Goodyear Enforcers.
I've been rocking RBP tires, which have a very soft compound. Although they're inexpensive, they're not the cheap plastic-like tires some inexpensive brands push out on the market. I don't think those Tahoe PPV's have 8-pot brakes, but they certainly have skinnier tires which wouldn't do much for stopping. But to their credit, those wheels are definitely not as heavy as mine. They may be forged, but it takes two people to pick one tire-mounted wheel up.

Another thing to remember is that I have a wider tire track than a typical 10 or 12 inch wide tread, so I have more contact with the pavement - which greatly improves my braking. I've been in situations where I've had to slam on my brakes, but there was no skidding or sliding. Just very hard braking and harder g-forces on the body.
 
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ProfeZZor X

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I put these on my Yukon. EVERYONE should have these. This beast stops like a little car. And this brake kit wears like a stock part. No extra noises, np extra dust. Just STOP. on. a. dime.
One negative...Replacement pads? 300+ bucks
Got any picks? ...And a link to getting those $300+ pads.
 

Polo08816

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I've been rocking RBP tires, which have a very soft compound. Although they're inexpensive, they're not the cheap plastic-like tires some inexpensive brands push out on the market. I don't think those Tahoe PPV's have 8-pot brakes, but they certainly have skinnier tires which wouldn't do much for stopping. But to their credit, those wheels are definitely not as heavy as mine. They may be forged, but it takes two people to pick one tire-mounted wheel up.

Another thing to remember is that I have a wider tire track than a typical 10 or 12 inch wide tread, so I have more contact with the pavement - which greatly improves my braking. I've been in situations where I've had to slam on my brakes, but there was no skidding or sliding. Just very hard braking and harder g-forces on the body.

Tahoe PPVs have a 6 piston front caliper design. The Goodyear Enforcer series are pretty soft compounds. They are in the 400s for treadwear rating. They are probably as sticky as you will get for a non-directional SUV tire for 1/2 ton based SUVs.


A "wider" tire does not mean you have a "larger" contact patch. A "wider" tire does usually mean the tire will have a "wider" contact patch. Contact patch "area" is generally determined by tire pressure and tire stiffness - but largely the former. Contact patch "shape" is determined by your tire dimensions.

Since braking in a straight line is a longitudinal motion, having a "wider" contact patch is not as beneficial as having a "longer" contact patch. But braking performance is largely determined by tire compound as well as tread pattern.

Either way, I rarely see MT tires outperform highway all seasons or even AT tires on pavement. This is probably the reason why the most off-road oriented tires that are still pursuit rated are still AT tires (Goodyear Enforcer AT).

The purpose of more robust braking systems isn't usually just for a one time panic stop as tires dictate this performance. The purpose of more robust braking systems is to have repeatable and more consistent braking performance in multiple braking applications in a short period of time. Usually you would only touch these limits on a road course track, towing a load (for SUVs/trucks), or severe duty use like the police fleet. A more consistent and repeatable braking performance allows the driver to apply braking input more precisely and confidently in order to optimize the vehicle's balance from the braking zone to the apex (ie. trail brake).

You can use some of these to perform an instrumented test:


 
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Stbentoak

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If you "Order" these, do they come installed from the factory or does the dealer have to install these?
Also, are they freely available or is this constantly a late availability or out of stock Item?
 

91RS

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Dealer installed. The 21+ lit is available, I think the kit for the K2 and older trucks is discontinued.
 

Polo08816

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If you "Order" these, do they come installed from the factory or does the dealer have to install these?
Also, are they freely available or is this constantly a late availability or out of stock Item?

Dealer installed. The 21+ lit is available, I think the kit for the K2 and older trucks is discontinued.
Based on the order guide:

LPO, Front 6-Piston Brembo Brake Upgrade with
Color Matched Rear Calipers, Red calipers on front
and rear, front 16.1" x 1.3" Duralife rotors, Chevrolet
Performance logo on front calipers (dealer-installed)
1 - Requires any 20” or larger RPO or LPO wheels.

But just for clarification the PPV and the 5JL brakes are not the same. I believe the PPV calipers are bridged.
 

RST Dana

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Not many... 6 months, if that. I was researching aftermarket items a year before I got the AT4 and already had an idea of what I wanted to get. Mine didn't come with the Brembo package from GMC, but I knew I wanted bigger brakes. The GMC Brembo rotors looked a bit small behind the stock wheels, so I did some research on 8 pot calipers and larger rotor options, and ended up with Brembo's GT BM8 kit.
I was asking how many miles on the first Brembo pads?
 

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