1. It is my understanding that the brembo calipers are lighter than the base calipers.
2. However, with smaller diameter rotors, I would think the base rotors are lighter.

Is it possible to mount the Brembo calipers to clamp onto base-sized rotors, achieving lesser unsprung weight?

 

It might be possible, which is one thing. but does it make sense? NO. the smaller rotor diameter wouldnt reach to the outer extent of the brembo brake pad and you would get very unsafe and uneven wear on the brembo pads

not to mention the brembo rotors are thicker as well.

 

This would be for AutoX application, so thicker = heavier = slower. Anyway, if it is ultimately too thin, then I'm sure I can find rotors in the base diameter and Brembo thickness.

I'm asking if the brembo calipers will bolt to stock non-brembo brackets, positioning the Brembo caliper correctly, or if a custom bracket would have to be fabricated to do so.

If I could do so cheaply (excepting perhaps rotors) and still have proper braking, then I could wind up with a package that is lighter than either the base brakes or Brembo brakes, and having nearly as much brake capacity of the brembos. It would also be cheaper than a full-on BBK or other aftermarket brake kit.

Heck, if I could find a replacement caliper for the base rotors that weighs significantly less than stock, that would be even better.

Right now, I don't feel like I'm lacking braking capability in the stock base setup for AutoX anyway. This would be mostly an exercise in reducing unsprung weight.

 

How could you even notice the weight difference.

 

This is my interpretation. The Brembo rotors are larger, the caliper is built with holes that bolt on to the Z. If you were to put on or use them with smaller than what they were proposed for you would have to chop up the Brembo caliper or fabricate a bracket for it to be at a different clock angle to compensate the pad area of the smaller rotor. Is it worth it?

My opinion is that there are better areas to save unsprung weight. Wheels and tires is a good place to start. If you want to go further, than I hear Wilwood's 13" kit are very light compared to stock and other big brake kits.

 

Is the Wilwood 13" kit lighter than the Brembo package?

 

Yes, due to the 2 piece rotors. You can get 2 piece rotors for OEM Brembo's, that will work just as well. They are about 4 pounds lighter per rotor.

 

So, the optimal semi-economic setup for lightness would be:
OEM Brembo brakes w/ stock brembo brackets
2 piece rotors from performance friction or DBA

 

It's like throwing a deck chair off the queen mary to save weight. You can do it, but it wont make a difference.

 

Rotating mass, 16 to 20 pounds is a nice upgrade, then the unsprung weight is also a nice improvement.

 

Getting rid of 16 lbs of unsprung, rotating weight probably makes a noticeable difference. I wouldn't be surprised if it made several tenths of a second difference on a 60 sec AutoX course.

Unsprung rotating weight is the worst type of weight.

 

If you have to money anything is possible.

 

i love losing unsprung rotating weight