Testimonial

Wheels Asia - PB Brakes Review

ABSOLUTELY PHAT!

The old saying about good things don't come cheap and vice versa might hold true for some applications but this is all about to change thanks to PB Performance (PB stands for PhatBoy) — a major player in the afterrnarket big brake kit & suspension industry that is already sweeping Europe and America by storm; now has its sights on Singapore.

With rave reviews coming in from various renowned international aftermarket car publications all complimenting that PB brakes combined outstanding performance without burning a hole through your bank account, the Wheels team were intrigued by the chance of being able to test a set of PB Performance's Big Brake Kris on our demo vehicle, a Subaru Impreza WRX when local distributor here, Racing Marche approached us. Now you might ask, why the need for oversized brakes when the standard ones from the factory should do just fine. Well, for normal cars, usually the standard brakes might be just enough for city limits, but once your vehicle reaches expessway speeds and the need for rapid deceleration arises, many drivers will attest stock brakes just won't cut it. Hence, the need for increased braking effectiveness. In the case of our lmpreza, the need for enhanced braking prowess is even crucial. With stock factory horsepower ratings being in the range of somewhere between 220 - 230bhp, the Subaru has had some work done to it and is now pushing somewhere within the range of 320. The standard fruit 4-piston caliper and 300mm rotors just won't stop the car fast enough. PB Performance recommended a 6-POT, 356mm rotor setup, which require a minimum of 18" rims to clear and would dramatically improve braking on all levels not to mention fill up the gaps within the wheels to the hilt! Installation was superbly fuss free as everything required is already included in the kit and no further modifications were needed. Each PB BBK has been specifically designed for your vehicle (the list of applications available for big brake kits from PB is extensive, so there's definitely a brake kit available for most major makes and models). PB Performance offers 8 different sizes of calipers to perfectly match each rotor diameter, and are precision engineered, utilizing state of the art CNC technology and only the finest materials.

WHAT GOES INTO PB PERFORMANCE BIG BRAKE KITS?

PB rotors are manufactured from high grade FC250 alloy with an anti-rust coating. Large vents found within the construction dissipate heat more efficiently. Center caps are made from aerospace grade aluminium and are subjected to a hard anodizing electrolyte treatment for improved durability. Each rotor is manufactured to a tolerance of +/- 0.02mm to ensure perfect balancing. Rotors are available in drilled, slotted, or drilled+slattecl patterns for no extra cost. Floating rotors are also available as a payable option. PB Calipers are made from high quality aluminium; squeeze forged, and finished with an anti-rust coating. They include internal oil and dust seals for protection against the elements. Calipers are available in 18 anodized or powder coated finishes for massive personalisation. PB also manufactures their own high quality street and race brake pads. They include heat plates to improve heat dissipation and reduce noise. Replacement pads are not specific to PB Brake kits and are available from other major brake pad manufacturers as well. Street-pads have an optimal operating temperature of 0-450C, while Race-pads have an optimal operating temperature of 80-7000. Each kit includes a set of DOT compliant stainless steel braided brake lines, with waterproof PVC coating. They are vehicle specific, so additional adaptors are required. The lines also have clips attached to make it even easier when installing. Brackets are made from a high strength steel alloy, manufactured specifically for each vehicle application. Again, no modification or adaptors required.

PUTTING THE BRAKES TO THE TEST

Installation went without a hitch and just under 2 hours, which included bleeding the brake fluid, we were ready to set off. Of course, during the initial running-in period, we were very gentle with the brakes, but right off the bat, we could feel that brake responsiveness did improve drastically We did a good 200km before truly exploring the PB prowess. There's no nose dive even with the massive 6-pot calipers clamping down, brake bias remained impressively neutral. Braking was progressive with none of that twitchy neck snapping reflex action commonly associated with overly sensitive BBKs. The brakes stopped convincingly every time without any fanfare or noise, the Wheels team were impressed. We realised how late we could brake into a corner now and we could carry more speed too thanks to the effectiveness of the new brake kit. Most importantly, a common complaint from other Big Brake Kit owners are how dirty and noisy the car gets when they apply the brakes, with PB Performance however, there's none of that metal screeching sound whether its early in the morning when you just move your car out of the parking lot of even after hours of continuous abuse. The pads are also low dust; hence you won't be seeing your nice expensive rims being caked in a layer of brown brake dust anytime soon. In summary, PB Performance's Big Brake Kits indeed do live up to their name and truly exceeded this editors expectations. They represent true value for money and deliver outstanding performance and I would definitely recommend them to anyone who is serious about upgrading their brakes for safety and peace of mind, not to mention the anodized finishing looks truly stunning!

For more information on the full range of PB Performance Brakes and Coilovers do contact Racing Marche Tel:9168 4138

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