High Performance brakes for PT GT

[ptgtcb]

Well it seems I was given inaccurate information. I downloaded the installation manual for the stop tech brake kit and there was a note that said "this kit will not fit the PT or SRT-4 stock wheels" It did not mention GT wheels but I assume if the kit does not fit the SRT-4 wheels it won't fit the GT's either. You would think the salesman would know their product. I like how no where on the web site it says will not fit... you have to down load a document to find it out. Well if I can't get a big brake kit to fit my stock GT wheels then forget it. What a bunch of crap! I am pissed! Ok I am over it, I just save 1200.00 bucks

[Kirby]

Ptgt,

You are getting the same story that I got. That is why I felt so strongly about the integrity issue. Even if a company will take back a product that doesn't fit, or worse fits but doesn't work, you are still stuck with shipping charges (and maybe restocking fees). This doesn't even count your time and effort.

I am sure that this Todd from Tempe could do a bang up job with cost no option. Your cost, his option. He isn't alone, there are many other vendors out there just like him. They have a product to sell, they will sell it to anyone; if it works - fine, if it doesn't - your loss.

I know that we are close to having a good, affordable product for our PT Turbo, but it must be one that a company with INTEGRITY has tested for fit and function specifically for our PT Turbo.

That is the ultimate test. How many units are in service, now? Talk to an owner. Look at some pictures. Anything else makes you the trial mule, and your price should reflect it.

I had no choice. My discs were shot, and the pads were nonexistant. I replaced them with the best that were available at the time. It may be "bling", but this "bling" setup stops my little PT Turbo better than before, and is not throwing dust on my stock chromies like the O.E. setup. Good enough till the real thing comes along.

Don't get discouraged, just stay in touch on line. As a group we (actual PT GT owners) will weed out the fly by night, flash in the pan vendors, and the good stuff will rise to the top![8)]

[ptgtcb]

I really do not believe that anyone is going to be able to produce a big brake conversion that will fit the stock wheels. Not with large calipers and 13" rotors. I will probably go your route when I need to. It is a tough sell to have to buy new wheels just for a brake upgrade. I really like my wheels and they are unique to the GT. I have to admit it would be nice if they were wider. I will probably go with new wheels one of these days, maybe when I burn the stock rubber off. I tell you, what I want to do to the GT is going to kill my wallet! SII, swaybars, Downpipe and 2.5 exhaust, big brake kit and now wheel/tires. Holy second job, Batman! [:0]
Hey, Kirby are you going to Cruiser Fest?

[Kirby]

Hey,

Hang in there, I think that Wilwood is close with their 12" kit that will fit our stock setup. It will fill 1 more inch of the wheel and give us 3 more pistons per caliper (anodized black and silver). Two piece drilled and slotted disc with black anodized aluminum hat. for around $1000. Not the $725 they charge for the regular PT setup, but the best I could find that was close to ready, and with some real testing behind it.

Are you talkin S.D.? Might be a good time.[8)]

[PTGT Redman]

If your gonna spend 1500+ for a bigger more noticeable and higher performance brake job, get wheels and tires that can merit and handle them. With 6" crap stocks, what's the point? Put some real rubber to the road along with a set of wheels to match, then spend your money on brakes.
OEM GT wheels look nice, but are skinny, and the OEM front calipers barely clear the spokes.

[Kirby]

Base Turbo - 22,000
Konis - 500
springs - 325
sways - 325
rims - 1,000
tires - 500
Brembos - 1,500
Stage 2 - 1,500
Exhaust - 500
3"down&cat - 300
Guages/pod - 500

Investment; About 29,000
Resale value; About 19,000

Question: will you have $10,000 worth of fun?[8)]

[PTGT Redman]

Yup.
Can't put a price on fun.
Either that or I'll get a car with all those things on it already.
Kinda like a G35 or a RX-8, or a Porshe or a Vette...
Cruiser is a cruiser, if you want to polish it up to be a sportscar, your gonna have to dump some money into it.
I know, I am.
If I think about it, I have put about 6 grand into mine.
After this, I am set for a while...except for baggedturbo's hard pipe to the TB, that is.

[ptgtcb]

quote:Originally posted by Kirby

Base Turbo - 22,000
Konis - 500
springs - 325
sways - 325
rims - 1,000
tires - 500
Brembos - 1,500
Stage 2 - 1,500
Exhaust - 500
3"down&cat - 300
Guages/pod - 500

Investment; About 29,000
Resale value; About 19,000

Question: will you have $10,000 worth of fun?[8)]

I forgot about the short throw shifter so add 160.00.

[Todd TCE]

I'll toss out some info for eveyone here one more time. At the risk of being bashed, flamed, whatever.

Please understand that I did NOT come here claiming I had all the answers or that what I offered was the best thing one could spend your money on. Nor did I ever say that four pot calipers or two piece rotors are the only answer- nowhere. I did, and still do, stand by the facts of brake design and that there is a significant difference between bolt on stock parts and a proper brake kit. I have nothing against those who sell 'bling' or whatever we wish to call it. (fact is sometimes I wish I sold it too, cashflow is a wonderful thing) As a potential buyer of this type of product you owe it to yourself to fully understand what makes parts like this work and what is required for YOUR application. Clearly, no, not everyone here needs a TCE, Brembo, StopTech, X brand brake system to meet their needs.

Can shops like mine do a bang up job for you cost no option? Yes, you are correct we can and do. Do I expect one to take delivery of a product that doesn't fit and tell them 'tough'? Not a chance. The only ones who get near that level of complication are those who WISH to help partake in a new prject and go into it knowing full well there will be some bumps until the final kit is resolved. And they are well compensated for it.

I want you to understand that I DID spend some time with the local dealer researching your issue on the parts of the PT. They probably went only to confuse me more. Please do not blame vendors for all your problems when this type of thing comes up. I had no idea there were two PT Turbos! The base PT, the 'low output' and the 'high output' ones.... and looking with the parts guy we find a number of different spindles, calipers, caliper brackets and rotors with no apparent reason for mix and match on the car. Some parts DO indicate a direct change to the SRT4 (to which I fit another kit in house today) and some parts do not come up the same number. The only one part which is the same is the hub. Same center bore and same stud patttern. That being said; please don't hold a vendor accountable to keep track of all the changes a manufacture does. For an example: I had an upset customer with a 2G Eclipse complain that the hat did not fit his hub. Turns out that Mits had sold him the 3G part (a whopping .062" larger, so no go on the hat) some time ago for his early car. Bolts right on and "it is the replacement by my book" was the best he got. One side only mind you!

The next issue on the PT (as well as the SRT4) is simply lack of room. There is just no way to shoe horn a decent brake kit in there. Let's talk engineering for a minute: Inside limint- ball joint, out side limit- wheel. Take your stock caliper of say 1" past the rotor and try to fit a caliper of 2" width in the same space. Add to that a wider rotor for proper brake improvements, and you have a problem. Not the vendors problem, the cars problem. If it were that easy to do, everyone would be selling it!

Bottom line on this one from where I sit is that I'm more than willing to work with someone on a quality package (even you Kirby) to help you get what you want. I cannot do what cannot be done however. The start is to find a turbo owner with ample mechanical skills to do some test fit work and report back in a manner helpful and not a rage of complaints. It would be great if shops like mine had full access to all cars all the time... doesn't happen.

I 'filed' the PT about two years ago as a no-go project due to lack of fit and lack of interest. That may be changing with the turbo, who knows. Clearly the SRT4 is the track car, but that doesn't mean you cannot share in the quality of parts available.

Anyone wanting to pursue this further can reach me here:
(hoping to not get banned for advertising)
www.tceperformanceproducts.com
toddandchris1@cox.net
480-967-7901

There's hope for all of us, but lets start at the begining and cover the bases.

[Stephen R.]

Thanks for the detailed reply, Todd. There are so many angles going on in this thread, where to start?

It seems evident that if you want a "big brake" system for the PT, it is available (or will be available), but to want it to fit within the OEM wheelset is not going to happen. Nor should it. Running a 205 OEM-grade tire? You would never be able to take advantage of the brake! Do you really think an RS-A tread pattern is going to team up effectively with 4-pots? Now that's a bling combo.

If you want to play, you gotta pay. Sell your Turbo chromies to an NA guy and get some well-vented 18s AND some sticky rubber. I think Todd is willing to re-open the PT file and all he needs is (preferably) a Phoenix-based Turbo who is fine with the two upgrades. Man, this is a helluva better response "from the horses mouth" than some uninvolved vendor who says "I dunno"................