As the title says, I just fitted a set of 380 front calipers and rotors (thanks to Madmagna once again) to my TL ES. Man what an upgrade! It is literally like night & day and the Magna now stops as good as the XR6 turbo (with the performance brake package).

I can thoroughly recommend this upgrade, there is no way you will look back. And it's *cheap* too.

Did you get the 2nd hand package or new? How cheap is that upgrade anyway? I have heard about this one, is it really reducing your stopping distance? And would it put undue pressure in your ABS system, ie, might the ABS kick in earlier due to the bigger brakes being more likely to lock the wheel earlier?

Sorry for all the questions, really interested in this one if it's reasonably priced, for both my veradas :)

It's a pretty straight forward bolt on setup.

Definitely a great upgrade.. Worth every penny!

SuFz

Did you get the 2nd hand package or new? How cheap is that upgrade anyway? I have heard about this one, is it really reducing your stopping distance? And would it put undue pressure in your ABS system, ie, might the ABS kick in earlier due to the bigger brakes being more likely to lock the wheel earlier?


I paid $345 for the 2nd-hand kit from Malcolm, which included everything needed - calipers, hoses and machined rotors - but I also bought some new brake pads from him ($113 QFM pads) and tossed the ones the set came with. Lucky for me, the calipers were still full of brake fluid so I wasn't having to chase down massive air pockets when bleeding them.

Yes, it's reducing the stopping distance. Here's the weird thing with brakes - a weak brake setup will take longer to stop and can also cause ABS to kick in earlier because it has less ability to modulate the stopping force. So, with a shitty brake setup you start braking, realise you're still going WAY too fast and then you just smash the pedal to the floor. At this point ABS kicks in and you stop at a rate which is, say, 90% of the brake system's actual capability. You were never able to hit 100% because the brakes didn't have the power to let you use your muscle feedback from the pedal to get there. Drop in a more powerful brake system and you have much more power and feel; with skill you can get the car to stop a lot faster without even using ABS! With the new setup you get on the brakes and you can feel the power in the braking system hauling the car up straight away. You then gradually feed in more power and you get a much better stop. You will feel how much more control you have over the brakes.

So, why did *I* do it? Going from the XR6 turbo to the Magna felt dangerous because I would put my foot on the brakes expecting some action and get very little. So I was always under-braking and then going hard on the pedal, which tends to cause ABS to kick in since there's so little feedback in the pedal and you can't find the limit without locking the wheels.

It's a pretty straight forward bolt on setup.
Definitely a great upgrade.. Worth every penny!


I think the only "trick" is how to route the flexible brake hose correctly. The 380 kit came with the 380 hose bracket which I tossed, as it doesn't really have anywhere to mount without some drilling work. I mounted the supplied hose to the retaining clip mount on the shock absorber, but this leaves the hose rubbing against the caliper mounting bolt. As guided by Malcolm, I slid the rubber grommet on the hose down to this location so that the hose is kept separated from the caliper by the grommet.

Nice one and sounds great too!! Not a really cheap option as I'd have to get Mal to fit them for me anyway :) something to think about though

not to spam the thread or anything, just wanted to ask a separate question

i have a TF without ABS, would this brake upgrade work on a NON-ABS car????

Yes. It will fit any 3rd gen.

They bolt on but the hose might have a different fitting due to being abs :/ Maybe the question that needs to be ask lol

not to spam the thread or anything, just wanted to ask a separate question

i have a TF without ABS, would this brake upgrade work on a NON-ABS car????
I have locked up a non abs magna with a 380 brake setup and it locks them up pretty easily but not overly dangerous

The ability to lock up the wheels without ABS is dependent on road conditions and tyres, not so much the different brakes. A good condition standard single piston setup will stop the car just as quick as the twin piston 380 brakes in an emergency.

The 380 brakes will come into their own with consistent heavy braking, as there is more surface area to dissipate heat and even clamping force on a larger rotor.

I don't think my abs does anything anymore with these calipers..... Maybe i need some different pads.

I don't think my abs does anything anymore with these calipers..... Maybe i need some different pads.

If the ABS isnt kicking in and you arent locking the wheels up, then the amount of available grip on the road is sufficient. Or youre not going hard enough :p

They bolt on but the hose might have a different fitting due to being abs :/ Maybe the question that needs to be ask lol

No, the ABS system has nothing to do with the calipers itself. The ABS equipment is a sensor ring on the wheel which talks back to a computer, which in turn decides whether to *release* the brakes or not. The caliper is just a caliper.

Just about every who has done this will agree with me, that the 380 Pads and calipers have way more control over the rotor under heavy braking. This greater control, a more even force applied to the rotor prevent lock ups, I've yet to have the ABS kick in..

ABS will stop a car quicker under lock up than a car without ABS under lockup, but the Magna ABS system is a very early simple system with less release points than other cars of its time.
The ABS does allow lockups, over short periods.
A car that doesnt lock up at all, will stop quicker, especially a magna ABS system, than a car that does rely on its ABS system earlier...

Fooz and 8 potter calipers, have such control over the front rotors, that the rear ABS kicks in first.... I think he's yet to have the ABS on the front activate as well...

Yes. It will fit any 3rd gen.

I think I read somewhere that they need 16" wheels though.

If the ABS isnt kicking in and you arent locking the wheels up, then the amount of available grip on the road is sufficient. Or youre not going hard enough :p

had semi slicks on the front and it grips then releases and grips, like abs but in slow motion. , maybe they were just too hot..

That describes or puss poor ABS brilliantly...

No, the ABS system has nothing to do with the calipers itself. The ABS equipment is a sensor ring on the wheel which talks back to a computer, which in turn decides whether to *release* the brakes or not. The caliper is just a caliper.

That no what I meant, I dont care about abs system. I want to know if the hoses on the calipers are different. As I'm planning on putting 380 brakes on my second gen. That why I ask about hoses :/

had semi slicks on the front and it grips then releases and grips, like abs but in slow motion. , maybe they were just too hot..

Yeah overheated tyres are as bad as cold when it comes to grip. I had those top of the line maxxis tyres on the magna at one point and they cooked VERY quickly

No i think it was the brake??? I don't think i am even capable of overheating semis on my car.

No, the ABS system has nothing to do with the calipers itself. The ABS equipment is a sensor ring on the wheel which talks back to a computer, which in turn decides whether to *release* the brakes or not. The caliper is just a caliper.

this is what i wanted to know, thanks

380 brake upgrade should be a prerequisite safety modification for all 3rd gen magnas...if you want to spend extra money on the car this is a worthwhile upgrade....please make sure you get professional/experienced assistance when installing.

That no what I meant, I dont care about abs system. I want to know if the hoses on the calipers are different. As I'm planning on putting 380 brakes on my second gen. That why I ask about hoses :/

Can't use 380 brakes as the mount holes are different

Fooz and 8 potter calipers, have such control over the front rotors, that the rear ABS kicks in first.... I think he's yet to have the ABS on the front activate as well...

That's a sign of poor brake balance, and he should upgrade the rears to something more powerful as well.

That's a sign of poor brake balance, and he should upgrade the rears to something more powerful as well.

This makes me lol I already have 4 pot calipers & 356mm rotors on the rear. Oh & yes I can bring the front abs on with the 8 pots, just if you hit it hard the backs kick in first.

This makes me lol I already have 4 pot calipers & 356mm rotors on the rear. Oh & yes I can bring the front abs on with the 8 pots, just if you hit it hard the backs kick in first.

Seriously? Dang that's an intense setup to do that!

Can the bias be adjusted manually on a 380?

My TL Brakes are baby poo compared to my TJ II. Mmmm Bigger Brakes YES PLEASE friggin scary as but i had so much faith in my TJII i didnt even use the ABS as the new drive shafts after the manual conversion was non ABS shafts, but the TL Shocking .

This makes me lol I already have 4 pot calipers & 356mm rotors on the rear. Oh & yes I can bring the front abs on with the 8 pots, just if you hit it hard the backs kick in first.
Haha I don't think I've felt ABS kick in from my fronts either. Over size brakes FTW

My TL Brakes are baby poo compared to my TJ II. Mmmm Bigger Brakes YES PLEASE friggin scary as but i had so much faith in my TJII i didnt even use the ABS as the new drive shafts after the manual conversion was non ABS shafts, but the TL Shocking .

Oh man, the ABS shafts are different? Better keep that in mind if mine ever go out on me.

But yeah the TL stock brakes were woeful. Was driving today with the wife and kids - I tell you, with King Low springs and the 380 brakes this car is awesome now.

my car was a series 2 TJ with abs and the donar car was a TJ series 1 non abs just had the ABS light on and no ABS at all