Wilwood vs SSBC Disc Brake Conversion?

[Phillip_L]

I was orginally look at Stainless Steal Brake Company to upgrade my brakes.

The kits from Summit would cost:
SSBC Force 10 13" Tri-Power big brake kit w/ master (A123-14) $1,809.95
SSBC Force 10 11 1/4" Single Piston rear kit (A125-30) $999.95


The Wilwood kit is considerable cheaper from Precision Brakes Company compared to SSBC.

The entire Wilwood kit with 4 piston Superlite calipers on the front and 4 piston Dynolite calipers in the rear, drilled/slotted/2 piece rotors (13” F, 12” R), HV Master, proportioning valve, hardware, SS lines, etc. is less than $2100

Can this be right? Am I comparing apples to apples? Are there any retailers like Precision Brakes Company for SSBC?

Thanks.

Phillip

[shanekennedy]

i've noticed the same price variance. baer is also in the wilwood price range. donno why ssbc is so pricey. maybe that's why you never seen anybody using them.

[baz67]

I know that SSBC has had some issues with fitment. I am not sure on what application, but I am sure a search will find it. I do remember that the people involved were not satisfied with SSBCs responce to it. I think it had to do with the rear.

Are you set on using SSBC? I would guess that either Wilwood or Baer would be better than the SSBC kit.

[Phillip_L]

I am not really set on using either system.

I my head, I have always thought of the Wilwood as a light wight, drag cars brake system (2000 pound, tube frame, fiberglass cars, etc). Not a street car/pro-touring system.

I simply did not know the product line. I have heard the brake systems do say for race applications only. Will they take the abuse of stop and go traffic?

[Jeremy]

I researched SSBC's aluminum caliper upgrade for my TA and the wilwood GM III calipers and the wilwoods consistently got better reviews. I know its only one piece of the puzzle, but as for calipers, the wilwoods seem prefered.

I ordered my calipers from precision brakes on Tuesday and can say the customer service was first rate. I callled and they couldn't answer my question right away and said they would have to call back. They called back within the hour and had everything lined out. We spent probably 30 minutes or more going over my order and making sure we got everything I would need. They felt like they were actally interested in my project and did not feel like they just wanted to process my order and move on to the next call.

About the worst I can say, is we were tyring to get the parts here by today so I could have them for the weekend and they did not make it. From my understanding, the parts were going to be drop shipped from Wilwood to try to get them to me quicker.

Overall very pleased with the customer service of precision brakes as well as the price. SSBC AL caliper upgrade for the front only run $389 through Jegs and for $620 I got 4 aluminum calipers to do the front and rear, 5 stainless brake lines and shipping.

[Ralph LoGrasso]

I would go with the 6 pot wilwoods up front if running wilwoods. I've also heard the same issues Brian has with the SSBC brakes. Not sure if the issues have been resolved or not, I haven't seen anything posted about 'em in a whlie.

[PRO TC]

i just put baers on mt 67 camaro. 13 in track front 12 sport rear. i had no fitment problems came with slotted and drilled rotors and master and adj proportioning valve e brake cables.cost less than. pm me . or call juile or holly at tbyrne motorsports. only thing it look ten weeks.
pro tc

[Maxoctane]

I was also looking at purchasing the Wilwood 4 WDB kit for a 68 Camaro. The guys at Speed Merchant talked me out of it due to hearing many complaints about fitment. I went with the Baer track kit, only about $300- more, worth it to save the headaches on install.

[zbugger]

Yeah, I've heard of brake bleeding problems with the Wilwood stuff. I'm not sure how bad it is though. I've also heard of bad service and caliper flex with the SSBC stuff. As I haven't used any of it, I couldn't tell you anything. But I may be doing either the Wilwood kit, or the junkyarding for C5 parts way.

[ertoys]

Yeah, I've heard of brake bleeding problems with the Wilwood stuff. I'm not sure how bad it is though. I've also heard of bad service and caliper flex with the SSBC stuff. As I haven't used any of it, I couldn't tell you anything. But I may be doing either the Wilwood kit, or the junkyarding for C5 parts way.

I have a 67 camaro and I purchased the Wilwood kit from Precision brakes. Service was awesome, before and after the sale (tech).

Let me say first that I totally evecuated my lines with air pressure before the istall and I also installed a new M.C., they were a bit difficult to bleed until my buddy came over with an air powered bleeder with a vacuum pump.

Then it went really well!

I love them-they look and perform awesome.

If I ever build another hotrod I would not hesitate to go with Wilwwod again, the install was very straight forward and the fact that I was able to use my drum spindles was a bonus!

If anybody has any questions about the kit let me know.

Ed

[LTorres]

I am not really set on using either system.

I my head, I have always thought of the Wilwood as a light wight, drag cars brake system (2000 pound, tube frame, fiberglass cars, etc). Not a street car/pro-touring system.

I simply did not know the product line. I have heard the brake systems do say for race applications only. Will they take the abuse of stop and go traffic?

Phillip,
First, in regards to the Label RACE and OFF ROAD USE ONLY. This is not an uncommon topic and one that I am glad came up. The best answer I can give is simply this. Along the road of aftermarket you will find that many companies in the U.S. will label their products this way. They do this for liability and production reasons. For instance in order for Wilwood to produce and kit and have it labeled for Highway use. They would have to pass The Strict and Brutally long process of the Department of Transportation. Only with DOT's approval in the product could they actually label it for highway use. A typical kit for a newer car would take Literally YEARS to hit the market to pass this label off!!!

I do not know if Wilwood has ever submitted one of it's kits for D.O.T. approval but the funny thing is, that NO caliper is DOT approved. DOT does not mandate any specifics or have approval on any caliper!! Other components such as Windshields, Headlights, Brake Hoses etc. they must carry D.O.T approval but calipers do not. While a given kit in it's entirety could possibly get some type of D.O.T. approval some day. Here is a link to the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration). It has more on this. I alway's catch a smile when I see a company label there calipers as D.O.T approved. How could they be? Since the DOT does not mandate any rules or regs on calipers?

Hope this helps a little. In todays world I believe it is wise for Wilwood to carry this label. The label we put in with our kit's install/Instrux sheet at Precision Brakes Company are very,very similar.


Laramie Torres
Precision Brakes Company
Sales Mgr.
1010 Benson Way
Ashland, OR 97520
1 866 992 7253
mailto:[email protected]

[Q ship]

I was orginally look at Stainless Steal Brake Company to upgrade my brakes.

I figure it was unintentional, but if the shoe fits.....

[FoxGranadaChuck]

From several sources from which I have heard, SSBC calipers can be really finicky when it comes to the issue of wheels. In particular, SSBC big disc brake kits for Fox Mustangs require very wide offset wheels in order to clear their extremely wide calipers.

[steemin]

Damn..
No one is sticking up for the SSBC brakes.
My 65 has the 4 piston in the front and the single piston in the rear.
The fitment is very nice,looks great.
I have not driven the car yet so I cannot comment on the performance.
Maybe Jason (Datsbad) from G Force Design Concepts can comment on installation issues.
Scott

[Roadrage David]

i got the ssbc force 10 xstream 4 piston 13 inch system in the frond and 12 inch signle piston in the back . My mecanic who is heavely into cirquit raceing compeating against porches bmw merc renaults ecetera . Instaled some bear brakes on cars and wilwood systems on first and sec gens . He said that the ssbs systems are superior to the above systems . He himself uses brembo bmw brakes on his 68 camaro , Yes thats right 68 first gen against the modern greats . We are from EUROPE so we knows our stuff . Most of the aftermarket systems like bear umongst others are nothing more then austraylian copyd corvette brakes he claims . So far ssbc comes closest to the euro brake systems performance whize . his words!!!!!!!! so far so he hasend been wrong in his judgemend in his raceing stuff ........... ps looking at the sstb system for the first time he said .... i know these brakeing pads! he pulled out a book 30 sec later toyota supra 3 liter twin turbo pads , good enoughf for me .. when i imported my detroid speed engeneering powerstearing pump with remote resevior he said i know that one to!!. got the book out 30 sec later yep powerstearing pump from a french made PEUGEOT , makes you wonder where the gfood disigns and suff comes from !!!!! ................................ forgive my spelling

[zuess4u]

well I feel better someone has run SSBC brakes. I think a lot of the rumors or fitment problems come from other applications besides what we are doing (apples to apples)...but I could be wrong.

We purchased a set of SSBC 3 piston calipers from SteveLs1, I think thats his name, he gave us a good price, so we really couldnt pass them up.

They are the 3 piston C5 replacement calipers, the pistons are 38mm or 1 1/4 making a stopping surface of 3 3/4, the rears are just GM metric 2 1/4 calipers.

Noel Garcia from Touring Cassics has helped out with this high school project with brackets and 13 rotors, as well as a few other well known companies through this site.

The calipers seem to be well built and fit great, we havent had a chance to stop the car yet, but when we do we will update.

To add when some people were comparing, their not indicating piston sizes or stopping surface sizes, which may be the diffrence in pricing, and the type of material the calipers are made out of. I have spoke with two tech from SSBC, one was not so good, the other was great......but I guess we will see what happens here.

[Nine Ball]

I had the SSBC "Tri-Power" 3 piston fronts and 1-piston rears on my '69 Camaro. They fit perfectly and were very nice quality. No complaints with their setup.

Tony

[427v8]

snip
We are from EUROPE so we knows our stuff .
snip

[Steve1968LS2]

Yeah, I've heard of brake bleeding problems with the Wilwood stuff. I'm not sure how bad it is though. I've also heard of bad service and caliper flex with the SSBC stuff. As I haven't used any of it, I couldn't tell you anything. But I may be doing either the Wilwood kit, or the junkyarding for C5 parts way.

I've never had problems bleeding Wilwoods.. Have run them on my last two cars (both had the 6-pistons up front)

Performance has always been great and the nice thing about Wilwood is that they were founded on building race brakes and got into street brakes, they also make everything and not just calipers and rotors.

I think the SSBC stuff if fine for street use (ie, street rods and drivers) but I don't see many people running them at track day.

[LTorres]

I've never had problems bleeding Wilwoods.. Have run them on my last two cars (both had the 6-pistons up front)

Performance has always been great and the nice thing about Wilwood is that they were founded on building race brakes and got into street brakes, they also make everything and not just calipers and rotors.

I think the SSBC stuff if fine for street use (ie, street rods and drivers) but I don't see many people running them at track day.

I too believe that SSBC puts out a fine product. As a matter of fact they carry a large range of product that Wilwood nor ourselves cater to. I have personally referred people to SSBC (that is of course if I cannot meet their needs )