My GS400 modding journal - commenced Feb. 2003
Thread Starter
EV ftw!!!
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 8,970
Likes: 563
From: Lake Ontario
Originally posted by bitkahuna
Way to go!!!! I'm looking forward to reading what you think of the brakes. Now remember to tell your tech that bleeding these brakes may be a real challenge. Nuum thought he had mine perfect (no bubbles in brake fluid coming through) but after putting the car back together it wasn't right initially (way too much pedal travel). So we tried again - I talked to a guy (Matt) at StopTech and he said 'hold' (eek) the rotor in a way that allows the caliper to be fully upright (with bleed screw straight up - it's normally at an angle when on the car) so bubbles can really get out. We did this and only saw one additional bubble but maybe that was it, because after Nuum got the car back together again, the difference was night and day.
Way to go!!!! I'm looking forward to reading what you think of the brakes. Now remember to tell your tech that bleeding these brakes may be a real challenge. Nuum thought he had mine perfect (no bubbles in brake fluid coming through) but after putting the car back together it wasn't right initially (way too much pedal travel). So we tried again - I talked to a guy (Matt) at StopTech and he said 'hold' (eek) the rotor in a way that allows the caliper to be fully upright (with bleed screw straight up - it's normally at an angle when on the car) so bubbles can really get out. We did this and only saw one additional bubble but maybe that was it, because after Nuum got the car back together again, the difference was night and day.
Thread Starter
EV ftw!!!
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 8,970
Likes: 563
From: Lake Ontario
2nd mod of 2004!!! BIG BRAKES - 14 inch STOPTECH!!! (56K warning)
Just installed my 2nd mod of this year - STOPTECH 14 inch BIG Brakes!!! 
Install went very smoothly and the brakes are absolutely amazing. I also replaced the rear rotors with StopTech 11 inch drilled rotors as well as replacing all brake lines with steel braided lines.
My local Lexus dealer's Master certified mechanic - Desmond did the install for at a small place he rents after hours to work on friends car's and my cost was very low - $200.00 (canadian dollars - about US$150.00)!!!! Desmond is DA MAN!!!! (the guy in the pics is Desmond). The whole job took only 2.5 hours and he did an absolutely flawless job. System was properly bled and he did not have to do anything special with regards to bleeding as Paul (Bitkahuna) experienced with his StopTech set. Maybe mine were slightly different....
Anyway here are lots of in-process pics. I still need to take other pics of the whole car. Will do that tomorrow and update this thread then.
I got the brakes from Double Whoosh (Todd Matsubara of TM Engineering - http://www.tmengineering.net ) . Absolutely the best customer service and a great guy to work with. I whole-heartedly recommend him to everyone. Neo (Chris Nguyen) helped me kick off this process and I also want to thank him for all the help he provided! Great guys here on CL. You all are my long-distance relatives!!
Enjoy!
Install went very smoothly and the brakes are absolutely amazing. I also replaced the rear rotors with StopTech 11 inch drilled rotors as well as replacing all brake lines with steel braided lines.
My local Lexus dealer's Master certified mechanic - Desmond did the install for at a small place he rents after hours to work on friends car's and my cost was very low - $200.00 (canadian dollars - about US$150.00)!!!! Desmond is DA MAN!!!! (the guy in the pics is Desmond). The whole job took only 2.5 hours and he did an absolutely flawless job. System was properly bled and he did not have to do anything special with regards to bleeding as Paul (Bitkahuna) experienced with his StopTech set. Maybe mine were slightly different....
Anyway here are lots of in-process pics. I still need to take other pics of the whole car. Will do that tomorrow and update this thread then.
I got the brakes from Double Whoosh (Todd Matsubara of TM Engineering - http://www.tmengineering.net ) . Absolutely the best customer service and a great guy to work with. I whole-heartedly recommend him to everyone. Neo (Chris Nguyen) helped me kick off this process and I also want to thank him for all the help he provided! Great guys here on CL. You all are my long-distance relatives!!
Enjoy!
Thread Starter
EV ftw!!!
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 8,970
Likes: 563
From: Lake Ontario
I could not believe how heavy the OEM rotors and calipers were! The calipers alone must have weighed at least three times the weight of the StopTech calipers. The OEM 11 inch rotors were definitely heavier than the 14 inch StopTech rotors.
Pole Position
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,101
Likes: 10
From: Kansas
Those are some BIG rotors man. They look great! Where did you get those at and if you don't mind me asking how much did you have to invest in them
Red Rover
Edit
Never mind just saw where you got them at
Red Rover
Edit
Never mind just saw where you got them at
Last edited by Belshe1993; Apr 14, 2004 at 08:40 AM.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,092
Likes: 0
From: California
great looking brakes.
is there anyway u can make your tire profile thinner??
if there is, why didn't u go for that, was it for practicle reasons?
is there anyway u can make your tire profile thinner??
if there is, why didn't u go for that, was it for practicle reasons?
Last edited by talgrl626; Apr 14, 2004 at 08:59 AM.
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 492
Likes: 0
From: California
Hey,
Great set of brakes...stop tempting me . Give us a review after you've had them on for a while and tell us how they are. I want a nice set of big brakes like yours, plus big brakes and HRE's, wow!
Great set of brakes...stop tempting me
. Give us a review after you've had them on for a while and tell us how they are. I want a nice set of big brakes like yours, plus big brakes and HRE's, wow!
Former Sponsor
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,001
Likes: 1
From: D2'sville
Originally posted by gsnav
Hey, Great set of brakes...stop tempting me .
Hey, Great set of brakes...stop tempting me
.
LOLHam, the brakes look awesome man, and its unbelievable that they are 3inches larger yet lighter than the stock ones! With the smaller diameter-lightweight wheels, coilovers, bracing (?) and brakes your car must be an absolute BLAST to drive!!!
Enjoy man, just be safe, make sure you give yourself time to adjust to the new parts before really putting her through paces!!
Originally posted by Hameed
I could not believe how heavy the OEM rotors and calipers were! The calipers alone must have weighed at least three times the weight of the StopTech calipers. The OEM 11 inch rotors were definitely heavier than the 14 inch StopTech rotors.
I could not believe how heavy the OEM rotors and calipers were! The calipers alone must have weighed at least three times the weight of the StopTech calipers. The OEM 11 inch rotors were definitely heavier than the 14 inch StopTech rotors.
and i am really surprised the stock rotor is heavier. if i recall my 13.5" rotor was a tad heavier than stock. very interesting
Originally posted by talgrl626
great looking brakes.
is there anyway u can make your tire profile thinner??
if there is, why didn't u go for that, was it for practicle reasons?
great looking brakes.
is there anyway u can make your tire profile thinner??
if there is, why didn't u go for that, was it for practicle reasons?
