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I finally got round to installing the brake kit this weekend. Everything bolts up perfectly but with two small issues. First, the tab on the parking brake caliper that the parking brake cable hooks on to is a little bit bigger than the tab on the OEM caliper, which is more hook-like and thus easier to get the cable on to. I had to grind down the tab a bit to get the cable on. Second, the car's hard brake lines don't screw all the way into the new steel-braided lines and thus they leak a tiny bit. So I'll have to find adapters to make that work. Other than that, the discs, calipers, and brackets are all perfect and gorgeous. I'll take pics when its all done.
It seems I just wasn't securing the brake lines enough. I got a flare wrench and really cranked them down. That seems to have done the trick in sealing them. I'll do another bleed today, take pics, and get the wheels back on. I suspect I'll have to get the system professionally bled because I can never seem to get all the air out myself, but we'll see.
That final bleed seems to have done the trick, pedal feels good, albeit a still a tiny bit mushy due to brand new pad and rotors not having mated properly yet.
Wear sensors have been bypassed. Parking brake works. Everything fits.
It was only a short test drive last night but I could already tell a difference in ride quality and handling from the lighter rotors. I'll continue to share my experiences over the next few days/weeks but I am well pleased. The big cat finally has proper brakes.
Thanks guys. The stopping power gets stronger each time I go out. I love the feel of opposing piston calipers like the Brembos I had on my X350. Completely effortless.
Update: I absolutely love this setup. They look absolutely killer and the stopping power is immense. I'm having to relearn the amount of pedal pressure needed. It feels like I'm just barely feathering it.
They do look the business. I'd be sick as a dog if I'd bought those lightweight rotors the f type guys did a group buy on if these were available. Thanks for taking the plunge and trying these out.
Just to prevent any confusion, the F-Type brakes are NOT the same as the XFR and XJR brakes. I'm talking about the F-Type "super performance" steel brakes, 380 mm front and 376 mm rear.
The front 380 mm brakes yes, they are identical in every way across all three, it is the rear brakes that are different.
The rear brakes are the same 376 mm size and the rotors are identical but the F-Type calipers, caliper brackets and pads are different due to the EPB motor integrated into each caliper. You cannot fit F-Type rear brakes to an XFR or XJR (although the fronts are a straight swap), at least not with a working EPB.
But I seem to recall reading somewhere that on some XJs the rear brakes are the same as those on the F-Type, or at least they have the same EPB set-up. I know a fair bit about XF, XFR and F-Type brakes but I'm fuzzy on XJ brakes!
Does this mean this kit (calipers and all) would fit the F Type?
After a passage of time how do the brakes feel? I have a couple of questions regarding the kit and your choices.
1 - front brakes, did you choose 32mm or 34mm rotors?
2 - why floating vs. fixed rotor?
3 - are you using their street or sport pads?
4 - rear brakes, how has the line lock for the EPB worked out? were they difficult to set up?
After a passage of time how do the brakes feel? I have a couple of questions regarding the kit and your choices.
1 - front brakes, did you choose 32mm or 34mm rotors?
2 - why floating vs. fixed rotor?
3 - are you using their street or sport pads?
4 - rear brakes, how has the line lock for the EPB worked out? were they difficult to set up?
The brakes are wonderful. Very powerful with a strong bite, which I prefer. It takes some getting used to though.
1. Off the top of my head, I don't recall exactly but I'm pretty sure the rotors are 34mm.
2. Pretty much just for looks
3. Street pads which are semi-metallic (I don't like ceramic, and neither does the owner of PB Brakes)
4. The parking brake works perfectly. Installation was a bit fiddly. The hook that the car's parking brake cable has to latch on to needed a bit of dremeling as it was just a hair too big for the eyelet on the cable.
You will need to find a way to secure the new brake lines since the OEM were held in place with built-in brackets. I ziptied the rears to the sway bar (not all the way snug, just enough to keep them from banging against the chassis). You'll also need a good flare wrench to get the brake line connections nice and tight.
Hi I'm new to site, thanks for having me. I recently purchased a 2016 F type base with 8, 000 miles, the calipers are not painted and cosmetically unappealing, I have upgraded the wheels to 20 inch OEM and cam across the Red calipers from an R.I am interested in replacing the unpainted calipers and rotors with the R calipers with appropriated rotors. has anyone done this and is it possible
Tthanks John
Hi I'm new to site, thanks for having me. I recently purchased a 2016 F type base with 8, 000 miles, the calipers are not painted and cosmetically unappealing, I have upgraded the wheels to 20 inch OEM and cam across the Red calipers from an R.I am interested in replacing the unpainted calipers and rotors with the R calipers with appropriated rotors. has anyone done this and is it possible
Tthanks John
Yes the R calipers will bolt straight up both front and rear, but besides new rotors you will also need the caliper holders, new pads and new dust/splash shields on the rear. The rear parking brake motors can be swapped straight over if necessary.
The base brakes are known as "performance" brakes, 355 mm front and 326 mm rear while the R brakes are known as "super performance" brakes, 380 mm front and 376 mm rear.
Thank you for the quick response it was very helpful. The other questions I have are: Are there any issues with the ABS, pad sensors or Brake lines. I have the Caliper brackets. I'm not sure if it is from an AWD or RWD vehicle.
Thank you for all your help
-John
BTW your car is sweet!
