EMPI VS. CB Disc Brake Conversion Kits

Motomazzo

Hey Guys,

I feel sure this has been discussed to death, but I just haven't had much luck searching the forum.

I am about to purchase disc brakes kits...front and rear. Assuming cost is not an issue, which kit is better? And I only mention CB as a VS. to EMPI becuase that's about the only other brand of kit I've heard mentioned on here. But please mention any other kits that you think are the best, or on the contrary, kits to stay away from at all cost. Although I'm not too worried about cost, both kits WILL be a lot of money and I'm not in the habit of throwing money away!!

FYI - I am rebuilding a 66', B/J front end and I will be getting the kit with the 2.5" lowered spindles.

Thank you so much for your input!!

MinamiKotaro · Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 7:07 am Post subject:

I've got the CB front kit. Aside from having to grind .010 off one of the calipers to get it not to rub on the rotor, it went on as it was supposed to and works well.
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Teeroy

Empi or CB, CB without question! I have CB on both ends since 2001, still have the OG pads.

If money is no object, I would go Airkewled on both ends, or CSP on the front if you don't want 4 wheel disc.
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john7 · Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 10:10 am Post subject:

go CB way better kit and much lighter
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Motomazzo

Motomazzo · Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 10:43 am Post subject:

Okay so....

EMPI = 0

CB = 3

Keep em' coming!!!

ronbdavis · Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 11:31 am Post subject:

How about AC Industries kits, which claim they don't push the front wheels out the ~.25" that other kits do?

Hotrodvw · Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 1:47 pm Post subject:

The question was between CB or Empi.

I run CB's wide 5 kit all the way around.....They work well.
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Motomazzo · Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 2:32 pm Post subject:

EMPI = 0

CB = 4

Anyone out there bought/running EMPI disc brake kits?? What did you think??

dubkrzy · Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 3:28 pm Post subject:

I have the CB kit.

Works great and went on easy.
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werksberg · Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 8:00 pm Post subject:

AC / So Cal imports or CB Perf. Cool

Support the original thinkers and not the copy katters! Embarassed

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hoghead5150 · Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 9:26 pm Post subject:

okay, i've ran both the empi and cb kits in the past. i will say this (let the flaming begin) i had NO problems with either one. both worked well. i did have a wheel bearing go out on the empi kit about a year or so after installation. but i can't blame the kit, i had the front end apart 3 days before and i could have messed up reinstalling the bearings.

i personally would run either the cb kit or the ac industries if money was not an issue. only reason for this is piece of mind. MOST empi stuff has problems, and brakes is one place you DON"T want problems.
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i measured once, cut it three times, and the damn thing is STILL to short!

Motomazzo · Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 5:52 am Post subject:

Wow!! Great answer. Thanx Hoghead. Really good information. Unless things change dramatically (more people chime in about EMPI), I guess I will not be buying them. Can't argue with the numbers:

CB - 7
EMPI -1

I guess it's true that maybe people just didn't buy the EMPI and give them a fair shot. But here you are the first to say you have run them and you had an issue, albeit hard to blame on the kit. But you didn't have any bearing problems with your CB kit. Hmmmm........

Who else?? Any EMPI out there??

atye · Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 7:56 am Post subject:

I'm running the EMPI wide-5 kit on my car (with a '72 pan). I drive this car 20k miles/yr or so, it's my daily driver and weekend road trip machine. I have had this kit on my car for about 2yrs now, still on the original pads, and have had no problems at all. It was very easy to install and one thing that hasn't been mentioned yet, as far as I know, the EMPI kit is about the only zero offset front disc conversion out there. (I am also running the CB 2½" dropped spindles along with this kit, even though it is not suppossed to work.)

Regardless of what disc brake kit that you buy, even it is a swap for stock Ghia discs, this is one of the best things you can do to your car, hands down. There is no adjusting, no loss of brakes on rainy days, no fading problems and the stopping power is a huge increase over drums.
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Motomazzo · Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 3:04 pm Post subject:

Good info Atye. Hey....just another quick question. Is it really necessary to run an aftermarket master cylinder for 4-wheel disc brakes? I have read some advertisements that say it is. Others don't mention it. Likewise, one local VW shop around here says I need to purchase one and the other (who does far more custom work instead of just selling parts) says it has been their experience that an aftermarket master cylinder of larger capacity is not needed. Sound off. What do you guys think?

Hotrodvw · Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 3:11 pm Post subject:

No, run a stock '67 dual circuit m/c.
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78x94 with IDA's....oober fun

Horsepower is an addiction........Addictions cost
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hoghead5150 · Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 4:19 pm Post subject:

i always ran a stock d/c master cylinder
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"i got a friend that knows a guy who's best friend has an uncle that used to have a bug just like yours!"

i measured once, cut it three times, and the damn thing is STILL to short!

akokarski · Samba Member Joined: May 24, 2004 Posts: 2120

I've been running CB wide5 on the front, yes it's linkpin and dropped spindles.

Went on w/o any problem, but I did have to replace bearings. They are china, wore out before even 1st normal repacking interval. Could've been alignment issue or the fact that I drove the crap out of them in the mountains.

You can always change out bearings to something like Timkens which are made in France and Poland and can be obtained through most local bearing places.

I would as well stay away from empi, especially with something like brakes those guys are hit and miss, mostly miss.

Anton

Teeroy

I used a modified (Oldspeed) bus master (single circut) with a 2lb residule valve (CB Performance) in the rear circut.
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Hotrodvw · Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 9:03 pm Post subject:

Why would you intentionally use a single circuit master cylinder?
_________________
'67 Sunroof
Eric

78x94 with IDA's....oober fun

Horsepower is an addiction........Addictions cost
lots of money!

Hose & Fittings


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EMPI VS. CB Disc Brake Conversion Kits
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