Stasis motorsport brake kit with 370mm rotors impressions
01-13-2005, 10:29 AM
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Stasis motorsport brake kit with 370mm rotors impressions
After so many wet days in So Cal, I finally had some time to properly bed and test my recently self-installed <a href="http://www.stasisengineering.com/b5s4-b.shtml#motorsp" target="_blank">Stasis Motorsport</a> brake kit with 370mm (14.5") <a href="http://www.stasisengineering.com/details/rotor.shtml" target="_blank">Alcon rotors</a>.
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/39771/kit.jpg" border="0">
As some of you might remember, I had the 355mm Stoptech kit for about year and a half. There are marked differences between both systems which I will try to explain.
First, the installation went just as easy for both kits. The Stasis was slightly easier to install since the mounting bracket bolts face outboard and the caliper-bracket fasteners are accessed from the radial surface of the caliper. This is important since whenever you want to switch pads, you need to remove the caliper. In contrast, ST uses a very accessible bridge system to change pads without the need of removing the entire caliper. Anyway, I would say that changing pads is equally facile in both kits.
As far as street-friendliness, so far it is where I have seen the biggest differences. In order to keep the ST kit quiet, I had to re-bed the pads at least every 2 weeks. I am sure I could have used a different set of pads (that could have been quieter) but I only used the recommended by ST (Axxis Ultimates). The stasis kit comes with pro-touring SBS pads which have been super quiet and have a fairly constant friction coefficient (0.4 for SBS pro-touring and 0.43 for the Ultimates at 500C) both with a very mild initial bite.
Since I sold my ST kit before I got the Stasis kit, I had the *opportunity* to use OEM brakes for a few weeks. Comparing OEM, ST, and Stasis, the OEMs felt super mushy and made me feel uncomfortable a few times after being used to the ST. I had to leave a bit more distance when driving. The ST have a very aggressive braking characteristic curve, not progressive at all, but rather steppy. Both kits, ST and Stasis were designed with very different "braking styles" in mind, and I think they are very easy to tell apart. Without knowing any specifics on the kits dimensions, piston sizes, etc. I can say that the ST requires greater pedal force, but less travel, while the Stasis requires less force, but slightly more pedal travel to experience similar "actuation". Therefore, I consider that the ST system relies heavily on "force actuation" while the Stasis system has a more balanced force-travel curve to modulate braking. Regarding driving styles, some people can modulate braking better with a stiffer pedal (force feedback), while other prefer a less steep force curve, with some pedal depth. Personally I feel that I wasn't able to get used to the ST way of modulating braking and it was hard to apply the brakes moderately. The Stasis system, with a slightly less stiff pedal and slightly longer travel, allows me to modulate braking much much easier. The braking function of the ST seems to be more on-off than the Stasis kit. On the street, where moderate braking is used more often than at the track, the Stasis kit rightfully outperforms (IMO) the ST in ease of modulation, noise, and bling. So, since I was able to use all 3 (OEM, ST, Stasis) within a couple months for at least a few weeks, I am able to comfortably say that there is a huge difference from OEM to both ST and Stasis and a considerable difference between both aftermarket kits. Even though both ST and Stasis systems do their job of increasing front brake torque, the difference comes from HOW THAT EXTRA TORQUE IS APPLIED. I feel much more comfortable with the way that that extra torque is delivered from the Stasis kit since I am able to modulate braking much easier.
I had a chance of going back to a mountain road to test the performance of the kit with repeated heavy braking and I didn't feel any brake fade with the Stasis kit, while with the ST kit, I would start noticing brake fade about half way up the 20 miles of road. I was using both street pads and for a matter of fair comparison, they are both rated to 550C. It was also much easier to modulate heavy braking and perform smooth transitions when starting to brake and more importantly when letting off on the brakes. I felt like I didn't have to be extremely careful with the pedal to brake. The braking application with the ST came like in a single huge chunk and pretty unannounced compared to a much more gradual feel of the Stasis kit. I will post about my impressions of the differences on the track soon. Is it worth the price so far? Considering that the performance vs cost function is not linear, Absolutely! One more excellent product from the Stasis team. I will also highly recommend <a href="http://www.avalonmotorsports.com" target="_blank">Avalon Motorsports</a> as a superb retailer which you can call if you want to purchase basically anything. Stoptech has also extremely good customer service.
So for those people that say that any aftermarket brake kit is the same for the street, they haven't tried a set of Stasis brakes.
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/39771/st.jpg" border="0">
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/39771/wheel_2.jpg" border="0">
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/39771/kit.jpg" border="0">
As some of you might remember, I had the 355mm Stoptech kit for about year and a half. There are marked differences between both systems which I will try to explain.
First, the installation went just as easy for both kits. The Stasis was slightly easier to install since the mounting bracket bolts face outboard and the caliper-bracket fasteners are accessed from the radial surface of the caliper. This is important since whenever you want to switch pads, you need to remove the caliper. In contrast, ST uses a very accessible bridge system to change pads without the need of removing the entire caliper. Anyway, I would say that changing pads is equally facile in both kits.
As far as street-friendliness, so far it is where I have seen the biggest differences. In order to keep the ST kit quiet, I had to re-bed the pads at least every 2 weeks. I am sure I could have used a different set of pads (that could have been quieter) but I only used the recommended by ST (Axxis Ultimates). The stasis kit comes with pro-touring SBS pads which have been super quiet and have a fairly constant friction coefficient (0.4 for SBS pro-touring and 0.43 for the Ultimates at 500C) both with a very mild initial bite.
Since I sold my ST kit before I got the Stasis kit, I had the *opportunity* to use OEM brakes for a few weeks. Comparing OEM, ST, and Stasis, the OEMs felt super mushy and made me feel uncomfortable a few times after being used to the ST. I had to leave a bit more distance when driving. The ST have a very aggressive braking characteristic curve, not progressive at all, but rather steppy. Both kits, ST and Stasis were designed with very different "braking styles" in mind, and I think they are very easy to tell apart. Without knowing any specifics on the kits dimensions, piston sizes, etc. I can say that the ST requires greater pedal force, but less travel, while the Stasis requires less force, but slightly more pedal travel to experience similar "actuation". Therefore, I consider that the ST system relies heavily on "force actuation" while the Stasis system has a more balanced force-travel curve to modulate braking. Regarding driving styles, some people can modulate braking better with a stiffer pedal (force feedback), while other prefer a less steep force curve, with some pedal depth. Personally I feel that I wasn't able to get used to the ST way of modulating braking and it was hard to apply the brakes moderately. The Stasis system, with a slightly less stiff pedal and slightly longer travel, allows me to modulate braking much much easier. The braking function of the ST seems to be more on-off than the Stasis kit. On the street, where moderate braking is used more often than at the track, the Stasis kit rightfully outperforms (IMO) the ST in ease of modulation, noise, and bling. So, since I was able to use all 3 (OEM, ST, Stasis) within a couple months for at least a few weeks, I am able to comfortably say that there is a huge difference from OEM to both ST and Stasis and a considerable difference between both aftermarket kits. Even though both ST and Stasis systems do their job of increasing front brake torque, the difference comes from HOW THAT EXTRA TORQUE IS APPLIED. I feel much more comfortable with the way that that extra torque is delivered from the Stasis kit since I am able to modulate braking much easier.
I had a chance of going back to a mountain road to test the performance of the kit with repeated heavy braking and I didn't feel any brake fade with the Stasis kit, while with the ST kit, I would start noticing brake fade about half way up the 20 miles of road. I was using both street pads and for a matter of fair comparison, they are both rated to 550C. It was also much easier to modulate heavy braking and perform smooth transitions when starting to brake and more importantly when letting off on the brakes. I felt like I didn't have to be extremely careful with the pedal to brake. The braking application with the ST came like in a single huge chunk and pretty unannounced compared to a much more gradual feel of the Stasis kit. I will post about my impressions of the differences on the track soon. Is it worth the price so far? Considering that the performance vs cost function is not linear, Absolutely! One more excellent product from the Stasis team. I will also highly recommend <a href="http://www.avalonmotorsports.com" target="_blank">Avalon Motorsports</a> as a superb retailer which you can call if you want to purchase basically anything. Stoptech has also extremely good customer service.
So for those people that say that any aftermarket brake kit is the same for the street, they haven't tried a set of Stasis brakes.
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/39771/st.jpg" border="0">
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/39771/wheel_2.jpg" border="0">
01-13-2005, 10:46 AM
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"Considering that the performance vs cost function is not linear..."
There is a HUGE difference in cost. For all purposes that phrase was used to eliminate cost from his value equation. For the rest of us, we have to decide for ourselves. I would expect a nearly two fold difference in cost.
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01-13-2005, 10:47 AM
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Methinks you should have given the Stoptechs a chance with some decent pads.
I've never heard anything good about those Axxis pads (no clue why Stoptech keeps selling them), so it's no surprise that you had to keep bedding them in and that you experienced fade. Besides, a 355 kit should have been more than adequate for your car, even in a track application. To step up to a 370 kit is going way overboard, IMO.
Glad you like them so far, but I'm pretty sure that a $2000 Stoptech kit with some real pads would have done the trick, and you'd be able to fit OEM wheels should you ever need them...
Glad you like them so far, but I'm pretty sure that a $2000 Stoptech kit with some real pads would have done the trick, and you'd be able to fit OEM wheels should you ever need them...
