K Brace - anyone tried one? (2024)

I keep seeing advertisments for a K Brace and wondered if anyone here has tried one on something similar? Am I likely to see any difference in anything other than looks?

R3k1355 said:

Depends, do you do many trackdays in the car?

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Funnily enough I have my first one (in my own car) booked for next month at Castle Combe - hoping to make a habit out of it.

if you're just starting out with trackdays then save your money for good suspension and good brakes. That's where you'll get the biggest returns.

If you get really bitten by the trackday bug then a proper cage is a better option, for both safety and rigidity.

Rusty2k said:

if you're just starting out with trackdays then save your money for good suspension and good brakes. That's where you'll get the biggest returns.

If you get really bitten by the trackday bug then a proper cage is a better option, for both safety and rigidity.

See Also

K Bracing - Design Example, vs X Bracing and Earthquakes

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Good to know - I've fitted some drilled Brembo discs with EBC pads at the rear, and will be fitting drilled EBC discs at the front before the track.

Any suggestions on suspension upgrades? Is the only worthwhile option saving up for a coilover kit or is there something in between?

Never been a fan of EBC personally.

Brembo max discs and Ferrodo or PBS pads is a decent combo, other kit is available obviously.

R3k1355 said:

Never been a fan of EBC personally.

Brembo max discs and Ferrodo or PBS pads is a decent combo, other kit is available obviously.

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How come you don't rate EBC? Never heard of those two but I'll look them up, thanks

Mine is on a mk1 but yes it has an effect on handling.
Don’t know that you’d really feel any difference through ya butt as it were, but coupled with other handling mods it all adds up.
I have uprated anti roll bars and other braces etc and am told by those following me how planted my car is through the corners while on track.
Warning. If you fit one.
DO NOT fit any harnesses to it. It is not going to hold up to a crash and keep you anchored in your seat.
It is not a harness bar. ( some have done this, it’s not safe )

Badger5 Custom Map + TIP,
3”Custom exhaust, FMIC, Bosh 550’s, BC Coilovers, ARB’s +loads more.

LateralAnima said:

How come you don't rate EBC? Never heard of those two but I'll look them up, thanks

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They're alrite, but there's plenty of other companies out there who do things just slightly better.
Alot of people would warn you against drilled discs, just because they're known to crack. Dimpled, grooved, C/J-hook etc are much better in that respect.

Also, you've never heard of Brembo and Ferodo?

R3k1355 said:

They're alrite, but there's plenty of other companies out there who do things just slightly better.
Alot of people would warn you against drilled discs, just because they're known to crack. Dimpled, grooved, C/J-hook etc are much better in that respect.

Also, you've never heard of Brembo and Ferodo?

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Good to know - I hadn't heard that before. Got any recommendations for 288mm front disks?

I should have clarified - I've heard of brembo before! That's what's I've got on right now. Never heard of Ferodo though, but I am new to doing my own car work.

Hi there
You won’t crack a modern disc.
Grooved drilled or otherwise.
I use grooved and drilled Black Dismond disks.
In the past I’ve had pad pick up and warped a front disc slightly due to overheating on track sessions. This is nothing to do with the groove or drill holes. The groove cleans the pad and the drill holes dissipate heat.
Cracking a disc is something that used to happen years back but due to better machine processes and quality of materials it’s very very rare. people repeat this info through social media etc. But I challenge most to show evidence of modern discs cracking. I’m sure there are the odd occasions that it happens. ( people driving to the point of destruction)
But in 2021 it’s really a thing of the past.
As for EBC they had a rep as the cheapo end of the market for years through 80’s 90’s etc.
They did yellow, green and red stuff pads. They were seen as a bit hard a compound which needed heating up to get the best out of.
Move on in years snd all their pads have new technology and materials being used.
Still yellow green etc but different compounds now.
I have friends who have been pleased with them. But stigma has a way of sticking to a product and due to this I’ve never used them myself.
EBC have become a site sponsor here in SCN recently and there are discounts to be had using codes etc.
Ferodo pads are very good and they have a range for fast road and track based use.
Ds2500 is a decent pad with superb stopping ability, but suffer from over heating and damage when used hard on track with a heavy car like a Leon.
Great fast road pad.
For discs there are loads of companies from cheap to expensive.
EBC, Black Diamond, Tarrox, Mintex, Godspeed etc etc.
Hope that helps some.

Badger5 Custom Map + TIP,
3”Custom exhaust, FMIC, Bosh 550’s, BC Coilovers, ARB’s +loads more.

Sorry to bang on and on if possible get a decent racing brake fluid Motul RBF600 or 660. Or AP RACING do some as well. Decent boiling point over standard fluid. Braided lines are another bonus and stop any distortion of the brake lines with heavy braking.
And lastly, yes a decent set of coilovers will make a huge difference to your cornering.
I have done the uprated lowered H&R springs with standard shocks etc and now use BC Racing coilovers.
Like night and day in honesty.
Worth spending a few quid on.

Badger5 Custom Map + TIP,
3”Custom exhaust, FMIC, Bosh 550’s, BC Coilovers, ARB’s +loads more.

Sparkie said:

Cracking a disc is something that used to happen years back but due to better machine processes and quality of materials it’s very very rare. people repeat this info through social media etc. But I challenge most to show evidence of modern discs cracking. I’m sure there are the odd occasions that it happens. ( people driving to the point of destruction)
But in 2021 it’s really a thing of the past.

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Porsche's do it as they have them fitted as standard, obviously they advise regular disc inspection so any disc starting to show signs of wear will be replaced before cracks become a safety issue.

C4S discs

GT3RS discs

The key point is that drilled discs will crack, but they won't go from nothing to destroyed immediately. Regular inspection to help keep in check should be ok.

Sure there are some as said.
Thing is that If you don’t get your discs to the point of glowing on a regular basis this isn’t really going to happen as the cracks apear when the disc goes from crazy hot temps to cool too fast.
Only really happens on track.
It’s caused by minute fractures in the iron when the drilling process is done.

Many advantages of drilled over non for road use too.
As said it’s Uber rare and we don’t drive Porsches to glowing point. Well I don’t anyway.

Badger5 Custom Map + TIP,
3”Custom exhaust, FMIC, Bosh 550’s, BC Coilovers, ARB’s +loads more.

No but the guy is looking to get out on track so they will be getting hot.

I've know people destroy a set of brakes in a single track day, 100% because they were an utterly **** driver who drove like a total prat.
but I don't know the OP from Adam, or anything about their track driving. (I hope they're decent)

True. I’ve killed a set in a day too but mainly pad pick up.
Did warp one couple of years back.
Three of us use drilled snd grooved on track and don’t have issues.
Three different makes of disc too on 3 different type of cars.
I think pads have fair amount of blame in the game too. Ds2500’s have caused me problems in the past. Pad pick up. Crumbling due to over heating etc.
Now use Carbotech xp10’s up front which deal with the heat nicely.
I’m looking at cooling ducts for my brakes now as temps still get too high on track though.
There are problems galore that can be found but not sure I can point the finger at my drill holes for being a catalyst.
Maybe my issues would have been worse if I hadn’t had the holes to dissipate a little bit of the heat?
I don’t know. I’m no engineer.

Badger5 Custom Map + TIP,
3”Custom exhaust, FMIC, Bosh 550’s, BC Coilovers, ARB’s +loads more.

andylong said:

Bigger discs are better, you get more braking for the same friction (heat) and I'd be tempted to use high temperature pad material and drive carefully home.
Raising your cornering speed also helps, suspension, tyres.
It's been a long time since I took my cars on track days, never used road tyres tho, always popped slicks on.

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Slicks for the win.
Yeah my brakes aren’t really for daily driving.
Squeal like stuck piglets in traffic.
Great on track though.

Badger5 Custom Map + TIP,
3”Custom exhaust, FMIC, Bosh 550’s, BC Coilovers, ARB’s +loads more.

Thanks for all the advice everyone - it looks like I'll be getting a nice little upgrade to my front brakes before track day then. My fronts were awful before I got into doing my own work so just currently have standard brembo pads and discs. The rears have drilled brembo discs with EBC pads now that this hobby (obsession...) has started!

It seems saving up for a high quality set of coilovers is going to be the way to go - for now I think I'll just get my stage 1 remap and exhaust silencer delete done and work up from there.