Brakes, shocks & xenons.

[iPilot]

So guys I just got the rego updated on my car a few days ago and i passed my pink slip but they said my brakes were wearing out so what do i do?
I like the sound of replacing the brakes to brembo disc brakes but is that a little out of league? As if im going to change something, I may aswell change it to something worthwhile right?
(I also am considering putting the car around a circuit in time as i build up my exp so I also need to keep that in mind)

Also I want to make the car abit more comfy to drive in and when purchasing the car I was told it needed new shocks and im assuming thats why the car is also a little bumpy - i'd like something to soak up the bumps.
The only problem is I havnt really gotten the car checked out by anyone from the purchase date of the car so I dont know if i can take their word on it lol.

One last thing, im pretty sure the globes in my car are just shithouse. The lights themselves arent dull or a yellow colour and quite clear (but could do with a polish lol) i'd like to get xenons on them but arent sure if their legal or not koz ive heard different things depending on the year of your car. Im pretty sure mines are 2002 model as thats what it says on my RTA papers and the papers I got from the dealership when I purchased the car.

Thanks

[Sahin]

Oh cool you got the very rare 2002 model :O there's only like 1 of them in the world

[iPilot]

Oh cool you got the very rare 2002 model :O there's only like 1 of them in the world

i doubt theres 1 ...

so im assuming the 02 model would be worth more?

[Vectose]

[Sahin]

Sorry I was taking the piss and you didn't get the joke.
There are no 2002 model fto's they stopped production in 2000
Most likely they fucked up when they registered the car and put the wrong year in like they did with bennoz, taz and a few others...
Mines registered as a 5 seater

[bass_twitch]

brembo disc brakes but is that a little out of league?

Yes, most likely. Just replace rotors and pads. Easy job.

Also I want to make the car abit more comfy to drive in

Cool, sell the car and buy a commowhore. FTOs are just not going to 'soak up the bumps' as you put it.

globes in my car are just shithouse.

Get HIDs.

[Astron_Boy]

They didn't f' up anything with the rego.
The car was complied and therefore was considered to be a 2002 model as it was officially allowed to drive our roads then.

There are a few post 2000 rego models on here.

rotors and pads, plenty of threads, just get some rdas.

Shocks, simple KYB set will suffice.

If you want the ride to be comfier, then 16" rims with factory size tyres and factory height suspension.
Otherwise the ride will always be firm, is the way of the sports car.

Depends on what headlight set up you currently have.
Easiest way is the (+100) series globes, standard connection, but more light output, so keeps the car legal.
HID aftermarket kits are illegal, but.... ehh.

[Taz]

Gonna further everything twitch just said.
FTO's are already overbreaked with the gpx brakes (if you dont have them then that would be the suitable 'upgrade' however the GR brakes are fine as it is. Your tyres will lose traction WELL before you get the potential out of a big 300mm+ set of brembos.
The FTO is a bumpy ride full stop. Low profile tyres, stiff suspension, bucket seats etc = bumpy ride, unless you swap all of these out to MINIMIZE (not eliminate it) then dont bother, will do jack all for your ride, IF you NEED to replace your shocks then get a set of KYB Gas struts, theyre cheap enough and readily available and i guess the gas will act as a very slight dampener (? should i be corrected on this? assuming if its enough to make a difference?)
Yes, HID's are illegal in all states UNLESS they came stock with the car, which only the GPR did, and even then, most were ripped out and replaced on compliance so they still arent.
In saying that if your bent on getting them if you do it right you should be right. Make sure not to get anything too bright or colorful (ive found 6k is good, not too bright, nice white with blue tinge in them) and make sure you line them up right, as in they point at the ground with the cut off point relatively low so you dont blind every driver.

EDIT: lmao wrote this before astron - so +1 to his as well

[iPilot]

brembo disc brakes but is that a little out of league?

Yes, most likely. Just replace rotors and pads. Easy job.

Yea only if you have to tools lol.
Replace them with what? :S

Also I want to make the car abit more comfy to drive in
Cool, sell the car and buy a commowhore. FTOs are just not going to 'soak up the bumps' as you put it.

Ok nah f**k that. My brother wants a VL and cant see further than straight line speed. What a douchebag, - keepin the fto for sho!!

globes in my car are just shithouse.

Get HIDs.[/quote]

But its not worth the risk. If a coppa see's them ill get flagged straight away right?

Gonna further everything twitch just said.
FTO's are already overbreaked with the gpx brakes (if you dont have them then that would be the suitable 'upgrade' however the GR brakes are fine as it is. Your tyres will lose traction WELL before you get the potential out of a big 300mm+ set of brembos.

Well mine is a GPX so it must have the GPX brakes right?
So then whats a good set of tyres to put on em? Quite versatile?

[PHIL069]

Do they do this to only some imports, because mine is 1995, complied in 2001, rego papers read 1995 model?

[Bennoz]

They didn't f' up anything with the rego.
The car was complied and therefore was considered to be a 2002 model as it was officially allowed to drive our roads then.

Do they do this to only some imports, because mine is 1995, complied in 2001, rego papers read 1995 model?

Yup, the missus one is a 94, complied in 2009, rego papers read 2009 - so much so, that because the car is considered less than 5 years old to NSW authorities, we don't need to get it pink slipped for rego until 2014

[bass_twitch]

Yea only if you have to tools lol.
Replace them with what? :S

With new ones
Easy job for yourself, OR a cheap job for a mechanic.

Ok nah f**k that. My brother wants a VL and cant see further than straight line speed. What a douchebag, - keepin the fto for sho!!

Well then suck it up, - want to be able to turn, then handle the bumps

But its not worth the risk. If a coppa see's them ill get flagged straight away right?

I've had mine in for over a year, - no issues yet *touches wood*

Well mine is a GPX so it must have the GPX brakes right?

Yep. - I would assume so.

[Daniel2019]

Info from Bennoz -

GPX brakes are 276mm dual pot rotor.

Learning!

durrr

[dstocks]

I am going to disagree with people on a couple of points:

The stock front rotors are not strong. Under heavy continuous load they warp from overheating. This is one of the weak points of the FTO. As Astron Boy said, get yourself a set of slotted rotors for the front of your FTO. They will improve your braking. If you want to go further, buy a set of braided lines. This will also help.

It is worth exploring the new shocks and they may make a big difference IF:

- Your existing shocks are well and truely shot to pieces. A new set will improve handling and ride.

OR

- You have something like Jap spec coilovers in it. A new set will soften the ride considerably

You need to find out what youve got under there and see what options you have from there

[PHIL069]

Do they do this to only some imports, because mine is 1995, complied in 2001, rego papers read 1995 model?

Yup, the missus one is a 94, complied in 2009, rego papers read 2009 - so much so, that because the car is considered less than 5 years old to NSW authorities, we don't need to get it pink slipped for rego until 2014

WINNER

[Astron_Boy]

The stock front rotors are not strong. Under heavy continuous load they warp from overheating. This is one of the weak points of the FTO. As Astron Boy said, get yourself a set of slotted rotors for the front of your FTO. They will improve your braking. If you want to go further, buy a set of braided lines. This will also help.

In all honesty, I don't even recomend slotted.

Atleast not for the average person.

I can give a set of factory form rotors a good work out and they are still fine.

A good set of pads, some fresh brake fluid and fresh rotors are all that's needed.
Coupled with decent tyres that provide grip and that's a decent setup that will last the average road goer.

If you hit the track, then I would suggest slotted, but for the road, slotted is simply for show in my opinion.

[Daniel2019]

Im going to a brake guy that my dad recommended soon. Will post feedback and experience up here and give a recommendation if he's any good.

[iPilot]

If you hit the track, then I would suggest slotted, but for the road, slotted is simply for show in my opinion.

Well I would definately consider hitting the track.
And its going to cost me more if i dont go for the slotted ones and regret it at a later date to get them on.
Ive also got a 5speed tip so if that dies of the track - manual conversion ftw!

So in terms of headlights, why do u guys say HID? Whats wrong with xenons? I just wanna keep the car legit lol.

[dstocks]

If you hit the track, then I would suggest slotted, but for the road, slotted is simply for show in my opinion.

Well ive warped 2 sets going down the Clyde pass. Have also managed to get brake fade on them which wasnt pretty. If you are going anywhere near a place where you need heavy braking, id say they are a must.

[Shane001]

Dstocks, what rotors and pads are you using?

Slotted's are the way to go for heavy breaking or for circuit work, but you've got to get decent ones. Stay away from the cheaper brands, also RDA / DBA. I've now sourced a set of Brembo's from the States that seem to have held up very well this year at Bathurst, whereas the last 2 years in a row the DBA4000's cracked. Cost me a little under $400 shipped from the US.

If you don't have the coin for slotted's try a set of TRW rotors from Repco. $90 a set and this is what I've been running on the racecar since Bathurst last year, and they haven't warped, and these have seen in excess of 600deg temps at WP. They will heat up more than a decent set of slotteds though.

If you're getting brake fade then run a better pad. If you're heavy breaking you want something that will work up to 800degC. Be aware that brake fade is when you still have solid pedal but nothing is happening at the rotor. If the pedal is going to the floor and you have to pump it back up, this is not brake fade, this is fluid boiling. Completely different thing. If this is the case you either need better fluid or some way to keep the heat from transferring out of the caliper and into the fluid. Hint, the heat is transferred through the pistons.

And if you've got a facelift front bar, drop the foggies and run some brake ducting.

Part number for the Brembo's is 45544 or 33S60082 (don't ask me why they have 2 different part numbers). They're the same rotor as the 3000GT/GT-SL (4/90 - 95). I bought them from tirerack.com but probably won't buy from them again, they only do EFT payment and my bank charged $25 for the privilege and then they're bank charged the same! So cost me $50 more than if I'd been able to pay by credit card