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Big Brake Upgrade For Gen. III

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by shawnb2, Oct 8, 2010.

  1. shawnb2

    shawnb2 Active Member

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    I know this is totally unnecessary, but I have to know if anyone knows or have seen a big brake kit available anywhere. Not sure if the person I saw about a week ago on Malibu Canyon Rd. in Malibu, CA is here on these forums, but someone has them and they looked good. Way overkill, but being I'm getting ready to put 19's on my car this next week, our dinky little brakes just won't cut it for looks and besides, what's a little more safety gonna hurt. It was a blacked out II-IV, no fog lights with black aftermarket wheels and big bright yellow calipers front and rear. I was too focused on the calipers to see and notice how big the rotors were and the wheels looked to be maybe 17's. 18's tops. If anyone can help, it would be great. I'm going to call some local shops that have been doing work on the Gen. III's and see if they know anything as well. Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.
     
  2. Nuckz23

    Nuckz23 Member

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    I would like to know this as well.
     
  3. andino

    andino Senior Member

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    Someone has a BBK on their Gen3? I would like to know more as well!
     
  4. roypaik

    roypaik Member

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    Maybe check out other cars with the same/similar chasis(interchangeable suspension parts), like the xb, Matrix (?) or maybe even Corolla (?).

    In most Honda setups (it may not be similar for Toyotas, but), as long as the bolt pattern is the same, it should be able to fit. Acura TL BBK can fit Accord v6, tsx, and so on. I hope this can shed some bravery to try and research other venues.
     
  5. Nuckz23

    Nuckz23 Member

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    Any updates on this?
     
  6. shawnb2

    shawnb2 Active Member

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    Nothing as of yet. Been busy working on the house after work these days and haven't had much computer time.
     
  7. dopey423

    dopey423 New Member

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    i've emailed StopTech regarding this. they have informed me that they are under contract to not manufacture brakes for new model Toyota cars. if we wish to get some upgrades, it would be a good option to contact TRD. i have tried to find a webform/email to contact TRD without success

    i've also checked TOM's and they only have sport pads as well.
     
  8. a_gray_prius

    a_gray_prius Rare Non-Old-Blowhard Priuschat Member

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    Theoretically, could you mount up the Brembo GranTurismo BBK to a Prius? For people who upgrade, it seems like a pretty popular kit. You'd probably need 18s to do it.
     
  9. sc24vr6

    sc24vr6 Member

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    Shawn there are many shops can custom make bbk for our cars if you really want I can ask around for you but price wont be cheap

    BR

    Robert
     
  10. shawnb2

    shawnb2 Active Member

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    That would be awesome Robert. Please do. I know it will be expensive but may very well be worth it. Let me know what you find out.. Do you still have my number?
     
  11. shawnb2

    shawnb2 Active Member

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    Checking in again to see if anyone has seen or come across anymore info. Any new info would be greatly appreciated. Maybe someone has figured out if another cars brakes will interchange with the Prius so we could use that kit instead? Just throwing it out there.
     
  12. Nuckz23

    Nuckz23 Member

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    anybody? I want some bigger brakes....
     
  13. deltron3030

    deltron3030 New Member

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    wouldn't a corolla or scion TC brake kit work? matrix owners have successfully used TC brake kits....

    I don't believe there is any "hybrid technology" at the caliper/pad/disc/ level. assuming you guys are upsized for wheel clearance of the kit, i don't see why it wouldn't work.

    only issue that comes to mind is the car's computer may be programmed to react to the OEM brake kit, but even there, I can't imagine this would even be a problem, considering that we could all replicate the effects of a BBK with our OEM brakes by doing something like speeding towards a hill and rapidly braking as we hit the incline....i don't think the car computer cares what slope you're on, it still figures out how to brake properly.
     
  14. andino

    andino Senior Member

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    ^^ Using a BBK from a Scion tC or Corolla could work. Only thing would be the bias that the car calculates the amount of physical braking vs regen braking with the BBK installed. Not sure how that would effect the braking overall though. We would have to know the algorithm used to determine how much braking force is used and if it would have to altered with more pistons and larger rotors.
     
  15. deltron3030

    deltron3030 New Member

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    i agree with the notion, but if we take it a bit further, we can see that it's possible to create a variety of braking situations with a stock gen 3, with ABS (recall aside) reacting normally in each of them.

    ABS is reacting to what the wheels are doing, regardless of why. if the wheels lock, or experience rapid deceleration, ABS will react accordingly.

    seems to me a BBK is just something that induces a state change in wheel rotation, and from there ABS will react to whatever it "sees".

    as for pistons and rotors, we could use the matrix/tc braking needs and therefore aftermarket matrix/tc BBKs as hypothetical benchmarks.

    the curb weight of a 2010 prius is 3060lbs, with a 2010 TC at 3600lbs and a Matrix at 2865lbs.
    so, there is definitely "more car to stop" in the case of the Prius, but what this ultimately means for Prius BBK (considering its the lowest HP of the bunch) is uncertain to me.
     
  16. Tech_Guy

    Tech_Guy Class Clown

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    From a practical position, why would anybody (like a real company, not an individual) want to undertake the project of integrating a new brake system on the Prius? If there were even one minor accident, people would come crawling out of the woodwork filing lawsuits....

    Keith
     
  17. deltron3030

    deltron3030 New Member

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    while i dont completely disagree (and for the sake of conversation), the same question can be asked of anyone upgrading their brakes. countless thousands have done so, at their own risk of course, and there doesn't seem to be many instances of BBK mishaps. most of these modern cars that receive brake upgrades have very complicated computer controlled braking systems, yet it doesn't seem to have any detrimental effect.

    arguing why a prius owner might want a BBK is another matter entirely, one who's only real answer is "because people to do what they please"
     
  18. Pinto Girl

    Pinto Girl New Member

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    I feel like it needs more power, before bigger brakes.
     
  19. andino

    andino Senior Member

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    There's quite a bit of brake fade when running under autox and pushing it down the canyons. You don't necessarily need more power to warrant bigger brakes. You won't actually stop faster but it will help you a lot with brake fade and such.
     
  20. shawnb2

    shawnb2 Active Member

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    Well, as I told the guys I saw today at the So. Cal Meet I have finally found a company making a Big Brake Kit for the Gen. III cars. I will supply the link to the website. Very nice indeed. I will be looking at either the 13" or 14" rotor setup. Mostly like I said to fill up the inside of my big wheels and of course it will look really nice and the fact it will stop better, can't complain about that either. This link is for the 13" kit but of course you can access the other sizes once you're there. I emailed them and they said they can do different colors than the orange and black calipers if you'd like although didn't specify any additional costs. If anybody gets to these before I do, please let me know.

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