lbowroom
Plaid, white on black, CF, 8/27/21, Track Pack
Well now I feel dumb, I'm only half done
-
Want to remove ads? Register an account and login to see fewer ads, and become a Supporting Member to remove almost all ads.
Model S Plaid Brakes Are Terrible!
- Thread starter theslimshadyist
- Start date
lbowroom
Plaid, white on black, CF, 8/27/21, Track Pack
lbowroom
Plaid, white on black, CF, 8/27/21, Track Pack
Guy's,
I did not understand the statement about anyone serious would not go with 19's.
I have almost all of your suspension parts on my M3P for autocross, and run 18 x 10.5s.
On the Plaid, if I do get it set up for our autocross and round course, the only tires I would plan to use would be Hoosier's. Although there are some options in 20s, they are much better options in 19's. I do not plan to run stock calipers, so I am hopeful there is an after market BBK where 19's will fit. Not necessarily the OEM 19's. I would like to run 19x11 or 19x11.5 all around with -3 caliber on the front and 315 Hoosiers.
lbowroom
Plaid, white on black, CF, 8/27/21, Track Pack
Ok, weird result. Sounds like a box of rocks when I’m free wheeling. Could it be the seals haven’t let the pistons advance and the pads are rattling in the free space?
MFrunkerOG
Active Member
theatrus
Member
Is there some sort of active-pullback on the brake booster or ABS side? Normally you drop enough pressure but I doubt the springs would push the pistons that far on their own.
(Dislcaimer: still have springs, never looked closely at the S LR brakes, etc)
MFrunkerOG
Active Member
lbowroom
Plaid, white on black, CF, 8/27/21, Track Pack
Must have missed that.
Had to pull the wheels to get the clips back in the proper position. Back to silence. Didn’t sound just like rattle, sounded like pebbles intermittently making contact. Anyways, All good now.
MFrunkerOG
Active Member
I'm thinking of trying out some new brake pads from EBC or Racing Brake in the interim... if that doesnt help, then I'll think of a brake kit...
Does EBC have a pad yet for the Plaid?
On their website, you can select 2021 and it lists part numbers. But the part numbers are all the same as the 2017-20 Model S. So it does not appear that they have a pad yet available.
Did it gives them a more firm feel?
My guess is cheap brake lines.
lolachampcar
Well-Known Member
Right, so to eliminate the pad rattle some different clips will need to be made which push the pads down, but not away from the rotor.
Pad rattle is certainly annoying!
Pad rattle is certainly annoying!
lolachampcar
Well-Known Member
I seemed to have stepped in something and can not get it off the bottom of my shoe.
Rambino
Member
Thanks for all the helpful info.. Do you think these spring clips can be modified by cutting off the part that pushes the pads apart leaving it just securing them downwards?
Rambino
Member
I live off a highway where 150mph runs can be done over and over easily and from my experience with many runs under my belt on this car, the stock brake pads and rotors and pressure feel is terrible.. I can over heat and fade them easily after 1 hard stop from 140.. and on regular streets I need 2x the stopping distance for quick pulls to 60..
The thing is, the brakes are actually strong.. its the crap rotors which over heat and the pad material is very soft and does not withstand a high temp at all combined with regular brake fluid which quickly boils.. its a terrible combo.. Also ill mention that since im doing high speed stops... im usually already coasting at a high rate of speed, so there isnt any pre-heating of the brake from accelerations..
Upgraded rotors, some stainless lines, some castrol srf brake fluid and proper high temp pads will make this car stop great..
So the true answer.. yes the brakes are good and strong.. no they do not hold up at all for the 4800 lbs and 1000hp this car is.
Most daily drivers of the car wont care or have an issue.. but if your drive hard, do a lot of high speed runs or any tracking you will def want to upgrade..
I find most factory brakes on cars are good enough once a proper pad, and fluid is installed...and yes in stock form they are about as bad as a Toyota Camry
In comparison, I drove a Model 3 Dual Motor locked in normal mode and beat the crap out of it for a month.. the Oem brakes were "Excellent" in comparison to this Plaid. Tight, great pedal feel and stopped on a dime.. The Plaid feels like I have the brakes of a school bus pedal basically to the floor before any real pressure is felt and then they melt almost instantly under duress... I brake significantly earlier than I need too and have been very gentle on the brakes until upgrades come out..
* 15 years track experience + instructor status, extreme canyon racing, 36 cars and countless custom brake kit setups is my background...
The thing is, the brakes are actually strong.. its the crap rotors which over heat and the pad material is very soft and does not withstand a high temp at all combined with regular brake fluid which quickly boils.. its a terrible combo.. Also ill mention that since im doing high speed stops... im usually already coasting at a high rate of speed, so there isnt any pre-heating of the brake from accelerations..
Upgraded rotors, some stainless lines, some castrol srf brake fluid and proper high temp pads will make this car stop great..
So the true answer.. yes the brakes are good and strong.. no they do not hold up at all for the 4800 lbs and 1000hp this car is.
Most daily drivers of the car wont care or have an issue.. but if your drive hard, do a lot of high speed runs or any tracking you will def want to upgrade..
I find most factory brakes on cars are good enough once a proper pad, and fluid is installed...and yes in stock form they are about as bad as a Toyota Camry
In comparison, I drove a Model 3 Dual Motor locked in normal mode and beat the crap out of it for a month.. the Oem brakes were "Excellent" in comparison to this Plaid. Tight, great pedal feel and stopped on a dime.. The Plaid feels like I have the brakes of a school bus pedal basically to the floor before any real pressure is felt and then they melt almost instantly under duress... I brake significantly earlier than I need too and have been very gentle on the brakes until upgrades come out..
* 15 years track experience + instructor status, extreme canyon racing, 36 cars and countless custom brake kit setups is my background...
Last edited:
sflgator
Active Member
Many of us agree with you 100%. I will let everyone know by Thanksgiving holiday weekend what the difference is with the RB drilled/slotted brake rotor/pad kit. btw - I'm in your area.
lolachampcar
Well-Known Member
U doing them yourself? If so, we can do them at the hangar if you want.Many of us agree with you 100%. I will let everyone know by Thanksgiving holiday weekend what the difference is with the RB drilled/slotted brake rotor/pad kit. btw - I'm in your area.
If you are, be careful torquing the caliper bolts. They felt “soft” to me which made me think Tesla tapped the raw casting and did not use an insert.
Similar threads
