[Review] AP Racing CP5200 4-pot brake kit for Jetta MK6

Towards the last quarter of 2014, I had my stock Altis brakes upgraded to Golf-R MK6 brakes for an improvement in braking performance.

With a bigger disc (345mm vs 312mm) and a bigger caliper, it provides a much greater bite and of course with a bigger disc size, the brakes will be able to take much more heavier punishment before suffering from the dreaded brake fade.

At the turn of the year, towards the end of Q1 2015, I decided to get the Altis upgraded further in terms of stopping power.

After looking around and the indecisiveness between Brembo or AP Racing BBK (Big Brake Kit), I decided to go for the AP Racing BBK.

I purchase my AP Racing BBK from AC Gruppen Singapore. The boss, a nice guy name Jun, deals with my queries and provided some very sound advice. 

(Do let me know if you wish to purchase BBK from him. He carries Brembos and AP Racing).

My AP Racing kit consist of

- CP5200 4-pot caliper

- Mounting bracket for Jetta MK6

- 330mm Slotted original AP-Racing rotors

- Steel braided brake hose

- Ferodo DS3000 brake pads

All in all, it cost me SGD$2899 (RM 8200 with today's exchange rate).

I did not install the brake kit in Singapore. Instead I opt to transfer the kit back to Malaysia and have it install at Acanta Autotech.

Installation is straight-forward and a couple of hours later, the brake kit is now in place.

Looks good isn't it?

After some initial period of bedding in the brake pads, its time to test out the brakes.

Where else to test if not for the usual hill-climb route.

The braking performance of a 4-pot setup as expected, is a major improvement over a single pot setup. There is no need to slam the brake pedal to extract some serious stopping power from the BBK. All you need to do is just to modulate the brake pedal and watch the speed drop and it seriously drop really fast. 

Really confidence inspiring when some serious braking power is needed. You know the BBK will just give you the braking power the moment the brake pedal is depressed.

With the hill-climb route test done and over with, its time to hit the tracks.

Again as expected, in the tracks the brakes performed flawlessly. There is a renewed sense of confidence in braking much later before a turn. You just know the BBK will slow the car down before the turn.

One thing I found out on the Jetta is that if we are to stand on the brake pedal with this BBK, the weight transfer of the car is very much different compared to when I am on the R-brake kit. The rear of the car will loose its grip much earlier as the weight transfer from rear to front during hard braking with the BBK is much more apparent. This will upset the car balance prior to entering the corner if the front end of the car do not have enough traction and grip to cope with the more sudden increase of weight transfer.

This could be solve with a harder and stiffer front suspension or upgraded rear brakes.

I will update once I've experimented with this 2 solutions.

On the streets, this characteristic is not apparent as we are not pushing the car to the limits unlike on the tracks. So in this sense, it is pretty much safe and fool-proof. So do not worry about getting your car brakes upgraded with BBK.

On a final note, in my opinion, the Jetta stock brakes (which in fact is the same brakes found on the MK6 GTi, whiich technically means the Jetta is already running BBK out from the factory) is more then capable of stopping the car.

If you want improved braking power and upgrading to a BBK is too big a budget, getting the next best thing will be to use a better brake pads. You will feel an improvement for sure, just don't expect wonders like what BBK can offer you.

Apart from braking power, BBK adds to the aesthetic value of the car.

As the saying goes, "kereta slow tak per, janji gaya ada" (it's ok if my car is slow, as long as there's style)

Hehe.

P/S -

As I am using a Ferodo DS3000 brake pads, my brakes will be generating huge amount of screeching sound in slow moving / town traffic application. Those that have driven my car or have gone driving with me will know.

The screeching sound is annoying loud and if you can't stand the sound, stay away from this brake pads. This brake pads provide crazy amount of bite but the trade-off will be the annoying loud screeching sound.

The original AP Racing brake pad that comes with the kit will not emit annoying screeching sound but of course it wont match the Ferodo DS3000 in terms of bite.

[Review] Rapid Stop 800C Brake Pads

Some of you should have already known what is it that I've mentioned in this post here.

For those that is in the dark, its the Rapid Stop 800C Brake Pads.
Rapid stop brake pads is distributed by Maddriver's Garage.
You can either visit the facebook page or alternatively the official web page here for more information.

I've gotten hold of this brake pads through my trusted folks at EA Autoworks.
A many thanks to them for holding this brake pads for me.

This is how the packaging and brake pads look like in flesh.


Installation of this pads is done by myself.

After all how hard is it to replace a brake pad once you got the hang of it.
I will post up a guide on how to replace your own brake pad soon.

20 minutes later, this set is finally installed into position.


How does it look close up?


OK enough about the photo's and nonsense text.
I know you all is just waiting to know how does it perform. Is it worth it?

I've installed this brake pads just before this trip mentioned here.

So what a nice timing. I get to go on a trip and to test out this pads at the same time.

NOTE:
Remember to run in your brake pads after installation.

As I have to meet the guys at a pre-determined point, I take the journey to the meet up point as a chance to run in the brake pads.
As the highway is clear (early in the morning maaaaa), I get to accelerate and brake as and when I like and the best chance for heavy + late braking is just before the 3 toll plaza's I need to pass.

Now after running the pads in.
How does this thing bites?


How good does it bites?
It bites harder then the Rapid Stop 550C and the Pumatec 680C that I've used.
Of course la, 800C pads ma. Use logic la.

With the same pedal pressure, I am able to bring the speed of the car down much faster compared to the 2 pads.

After getting used to the pads biting feel, I began to push (as in brake later laa) bit by bit.
As expected, the pads just keep biting.
The moment my right feet applied some pressure on the brake pedal, the speedometer count goes down quickly.

Happy with the performance so far, I look forward to the downhill from Genting.

Frankly speaking, before starting the downhill, I half expected the pads to cook before the 2nd checkpoint if I am to do late braking.

With that in mind, I started the journey downhill. Those who are familiar with that area knows that there is shit-loads of bumps going downhill.
Taking that as a stopping practice, I put the pads through their paces. Braking hard and late just before the bumps.

The pads is still biting hard when I reached the first checkpoint. With this confidence, I continue to push.
Reaching the 2nd checkpoint, I am happy to say that this bugger is still biting with no sign of fading.

Now since this is a high-temp brake pads, how is the performance from cold?
My advice, becareful and remember to warm the pads up by riding the brakes when you start off from cold. Ride it for maybe a good 30 seconds or more and you are good to go.
Braking hard from cold will not slow your car as fast as you would like.

How about the noise?
Surprisingly it is not as noisy as I would expect. Apart from some "scraping/scratching" sound while reversing, there is hardly any audible noise coming from the pads at all.

Overall, I would recommend this pads to those junkies who are into super-ultra-late-ultimate braking.


Ok jokes aside, this is for those who are really into braking or are looking for a few jump in braking performance for their vehicle.
Brakes is very important as everyone can go fast, BUT can they stop faster?
:)

A rough measurement in comparison to the Pumatec 680c brake pads stopping power, I can bring a Satria Neo from 100-0 a good car length earlier.
NOTE:
This is just a rough test (butt dyno style). It is not official. I take the tiang lampu as comparison.

The price for this is easily much more then the regular Rapid Stop 550C and Pumatec 680C brake pads.
Its up to you to think if it is worth it or not.

For me, I feel that this set of brake pads somehow bites more then what my tyre can grip causing the ABS to engage almost everytime I do hard braking.
Not that I am complaining as I am loving every minute of it.





Where to buy?
Contact Drex Chan laaaaaaaaaaaaaa.