[DeTomaso] Brake Upgrade

[JDeRyke at aol.com]

A 1.25" wide ventillated rotor will survive lots of open track use without 
warping. A 0.81" thick (stock Pantera size)- vented or not- will not. Street 
use is a far different proposition frm heavy track use. It has to do with 
the rotor's thermal mass, not rotor diameter. More mass= better 
very-hard-use-stopping and lifespan. The GR-4/GT-4, GT-5 and GT5-S cars all had 1.25" 
thick rotors.
And a wider than stock rotor will require some sort of aftermarket e-brake 
system- there's no chance of tacking on the stock toy rear calipers for 
e-brakes. This is especially necssary if your area requires annual road 
inspections for registration. There are many articles on brake & e-brake upgrades in 
the POCA archives, mostly for street use so be careful to read the whole 
thing. 
If you intend to do heavy-duty track events, I suggest you call your 
favorite vendor for advice and not try to piece a system together based on price 
or a member's report. Brakes are much more important than engine horsepower; 
if the motor doesn't go, you won't be injured (mad, maybe but not hurt) but 
if the brakes malfunction at speed, you and possibly others will be hurt. 
All the vendors sell grades of brake improvements and many are ex-racers. Good 
luck- J deRyke