Sedan
2001 Alpine White BMW 540i 6-speed, courtesy of Maria Zeckhausen, Maplewood, NJ
Why Upgrade your Brakes?
Big brake upgrades give your car greater resistance to fade by absorbing and shedding heat more efficiently. Stock brakes were designed for one or two stops from high speed, not repeated heavy braking events with limited time to cool off. For fade resistance on the track, size really does matter. On the street, fixed-mount, multi-piston calipers yield a firmer pedal and quicker reaction time in panic stops than stock, floating calipers. A mere 0.2 second reaction time improvement can translate into 21 feet of stopping distance at 70 mph. On the street, quicker reaction time can help you avoid an accident. You don't need to be a racer to benefit from brake upgrades.
If you track your car regularly, your stock brakes probably are not up to the task. The correct approach is to start with better brake fluid, more aggressive brake pads, cooling ducts, and stainless braided brake lines, addressing problems as they arise. But as you progress from novice to intermediate to advanced, carrying more speed into the braking zones, your track events will be characterized by boiling brake fluid, sinking brake pedal, and pad fade. Losing confidence in your brakes makes you slower and takes the fun out of a track event. Big brake upgrades allow you to dive deeper into the braking zones and brake harder than you ever thought possible. Even more than horsepower, brake upgrades allow you to gobble up the distance between you and the cars ahead of you.
Zeckhausen Racing can help you choose the most cost-effective way to improve your brakes.
![Ferodo DS2500 race pads - front (D681) [1 box required]](images/pad_DS2500.jpg "Ferodo DS2500 race pads - front (D681) [1 box required]")
Ferodo DS2500 race pads - front (D681) [1 box required]
Ferodo DS2500 Club Race pads can be used on the street and for light to medium track duty. Good cold…
- Manufacturer
- Ferodo
- Model
- 63-360-0681
Ferodo DS2500 race pads - rear (D396) [1 box required]
Ferodo DS2500 Club Race pads can be used on the street and for light to medium track duty. Good cold…
- Manufacturer
- Ferodo
- Model
- 63-360-0396
![Hawk HP Plus brake pads - rear (D396/D692/D763) [1 box required]](images/Hawk_Race.jpg "Hawk HP Plus brake pads - rear (D396/D692/D763) [1 box required]")
Hawk HP Plus brake pads - rear (D396/D692/D763) [1 box required]
Hawk HP PLUS high performance street pads have moderate dust, moderate rotor wear, high initial bite and a Maximum Operating…
- Manufacturer
- Hawk
- Model
- 63-420-0396
![Hawk HPS 5.0 brake pads - rear (D396/D692/D763) [1 box required]](images/HPS_50.jpg "Hawk HPS 5.0 brake pads - rear (D396/D692/D763) [1 box required]")
Hawk HPS 5.0 brake pads - rear (D396/D692/D763) [1 box required]
Hawk HPS 5.0 high performance street pads produce higher bite and better pedal feel than Hawk HPS, with even lower…
- Manufacturer
- Hawk
- Model
- 63-411-0396
![Hawk HPS brake pads - rear (D396/D692/D763) [1 box required] (1 set in stock)](images/HPS.jpg "Hawk HPS brake pads - rear (D396/D692/D763) [1 box required] (1 set in stock)")
Hawk HPS brake pads - rear (D396/D692/D763) [1 box required] (1 set in stock)
Hawk HPS high performance street pads have low dust, low noise, and low rotor wear. Slightly higher in friction level…
- Manufacturer
- Hawk
- Model
- 63-410-0396
Hawk HT-10 race pads - rear (D396/D692/D763) [1 box required]
Hawk HT-10 Race pads have intermediate to high torque, with smooth initial bite, making them ideal for the weekend warrior.…
- Manufacturer
- Hawk
- Model
- 63-490-0396
![Hawk Performance Ceramic brake pads - rear (D396/D692/D763) [1 box required]](images/Ceramic.jpg "Hawk Performance Ceramic brake pads - rear (D396/D692/D763) [1 box required]")
Hawk Performance Ceramic brake pads - rear (D396/D692/D763) [1 box required]
Hawk Performance Ceramic street pads have extremely low dust, low noise, and low rotor wear. These represent the latest technology…
- Manufacturer
- Hawk
- Model
- 63-443-0396
![Porterfield R4 race pads - front (D681) (Special order) [1 box required]](images/Porterfield.jpg "Porterfield R4 race pads - front (D681) (Special order) [1 box required]")
Porterfield R4 race pads - front (D681) (Special order) [1 box required]
Porterfield R4 Full Race pads are extremely rotor friendly, with consistent modulation throughout their temperature range. The Carbon Kevlar material…
- Manufacturer
- Porterfield
- Model
- AP681-R4
Porterfield R4-S high performance street pads - front (D681) (Special order) [1 box required]
Porterfield R4-S High Performance Street and Autocross pads are designed for heavy-duty street driving, with better fade resistance and lower…
- Manufacturer
- Porterfield
- Model
- AP681-R4S