Investing in the right braking system is essential for upgrading the performance of your vehicle. However, the emergence of numerous brands has made things slightly difficult for an average buyer. Our team has received numerous requests about Wilwood brakes reviews that we are going to address in this post. If you are looking for the same, then you should read the complete article as all the prospects will be included for making things easier for the clients.
About the Wilwood Engineering Brand
Wilwood is one of the oldest and iconic brands in the world of the automotive industry. It was established by Bill Wood in 1977, and quickly revolutionized the concept of braking. They have a very amazing development team that uses a combination of the latest techniques for crafting their products. The headquarters of this company is situated in Camarillo, California from where the majority of operations are controlled.
The company has a very solid catalog that includes 100 master cylinder designs, 200 rotor designs, and 300 brake calipers. That’s not all; they also own a great assortment of valves, brake lines, fittings, and brackets. There are very few brands that own such a great range of things that prove how amazing they are. This manufacturing company has employed top-notch computer-aided design and techniques that allow them to create highly reliable solutions. Furthermore, they have an ISO 9000 certification that proves the authenticity of the brand to a greater level. The company has a partnership with a variety of brands that include Harley-Davidson and Disney.
Related: Best Grease for Brakes: Reviews & Buying Guide
Which are the top 5 best Wilwood Brakes in 2024?
The braking system is an essential part of the car that needs to be replaced from time to time. If you do this job in the right manner, then it is ideal to invest money in the right one. Wilwood is a very reputed brand whose products are sold all over the world. Let us first talk about the top 7 Wilwood brakes available to shop in 2024. Choose any of these models, and we are pretty assured you will enjoy a tremendous performance from your vehicle.
1. New Wilwood Complete Premium Disc Brake Kit (editor’s choice)
The list can’t get a better start than mentioning the name of this magnificent brake set from Wilwood Company. The company has performed a fine job here by crafting a kit that can be considered a complete package. There is a full possibility you will find difficulties in finding a flaw in this unit as even the appearance of this unit is difficult to match for the majority of braking sets available in the market. This complete package comes with almost everything you need for completing the braking system of the vehicle.
In addition to performance, the company has upgraded this model and made sure that buyers have an effortless installation process. They sell it with a complete hardware kit needed for operating the braking system. In addition to normal cars, this model works adequately for racing cars as well as motorsport vehicles. Another top thing about this braking set is its budget-friendly price that is less than even basic models sold by other brands. There is no compromise made by the company in terms of material quality despite selling it at a super affordable price.
The customer-friendly adaptations performed by the company will make sure your vehicle stays in the right hands. The users who often have difficulty while performing the installation process can think about watching the YouTube page of the company. They have provided complete information regarding it in lots of different videos. Overall, it is the latest designed brake set that sold by Wilwood Company for car lovers who like a complete package.
Pros
- Customer-friendly video installation guide
- Crafted in a very beautiful appearance
- Delivered with a proper set of accessories
- Make driving safer & convenient
Cons
- Doesn’t fits with BMW vehicles
2. New Wilwood Black Front & Rear Disc Brake Kit (runners up)
The runners up in this list about Wilwood brakes reviews is this brilliant kit that delivered to the customers with ultra fade resistance. It is one of the cheapest, yet most incredible models from this company thanks to the top-class performance and phenomenal construction. This kit equipped with a solid sort of specially designed component that makes sure your vehicle provides superior performance. If someone calls this kit a perfect combination of high-tech styling and beautiful construction.
The front brake set of this kit is properly drilled and slotted that gives the perfect level of heat dissipation. The biggest thing about this braking set it gets fitted without any requirement for extra brackets or adapters that allow the users to save a great sort of money. That’s not all; it comes with a pretty high fade resistance that boosts the longevity to a completely different level. It perfectly fits with the spindles of many models that include even C5 and C6. The impressive protection offered against the wear is difficult to find in the braking system made by other brands.
The total weight of the complete braking set is less than 100 lbs that are quite good in every sense. The black & grey construction of this braking set is stunning that will improve the décor of your vehicle. Overall, this amazingly & custom-designed brake set that worthy of the price you are investing in it.
Pros
- Engineered using modern methods
- Fits without any need for brackets
- Equipped with beautiful black powder coating
- Fully resistant against wear and fading
Cons
- Assembly booklet is poorly written
- Slightly bulky construction
3. Wilwood 140-13476 Brake Kit (best for advanced features)
Are one of those people who want to ensure that their vehicle always stays updated with the latest tools? If yes, then the Wilwood 140-13476 is all you need to shop now thanks to the availability of highly advanced features present in it. There is a superb powder coating finish added on the braking kit that helps in minimizing the wear and tear. The main highlights of this exceptional braking set are red powder coating finish, stainless steel piston, cast iron rotors, and forged dynamite calipers. Apart from a simplified installation process, this unit ensures proper protection from wear resistance. The biggest feature of this kit is four-piston forged aluminum calipers that provide the right level of wheel clearance that very less braking kits in the market can offer.
There are high-quality brake pads added to the unit that creates perfect friction with the brake rotors. It directly assists in giving proper power to the brake for the instant stoppage. Furthermore, they have provided a hard-anodized surface for making sure equipment stays safe. That’s not all; the heat is adequately conducted along with preventing rust formation due to this anodized surface. There is top-quality material used in the metallic brake pads of this kit that boosts the greater stopping power.
The next terrific thing we love most about this unit is its vented plain face rotors that ensure better airflow and superb heat dissipation. This high-quality kit equipped with a proper set of components that range from calipers to one-piece hub and rotor for ensuring there is nothing needed to be shopped separately. In simple words, it is a nice choice to make for buyers who want a braking set with an advanced set of features.
Pros
- Amazing heat dissipation by vented rotors
- Tremendous braking power
- Solid support with five lug conversion
- Corrosion resistance with hard anodized calipers
Cons
- Metallic brake pads create lots of noise
- Slight installation issues in some cases
4. Wilwood 140-12996-DR Auto Park (best for high-temperature resistance)
If you reside in the area with a high temperature, then you need a braking set that can perfectly cater to such conditions. We have added this model for buyers living in high-temperature states of the United States. It is available in beautiful red color construction that keeps the rust away from the system. A common issue people have to deal with is the spread of rust to other parts from the braking system that can be avoided with the installation of this unit. Apart from that, the braking system also boosts safety to a different level that everyone wishes to have in their vehicle.
The manufacturing of this unit is created using the latest CAD methods and production techniques that very few brands have. There is a great set of dynamic tests and finite element analysis performed by the company before packaging the braking kit. It is a reliable solution that is deserving of money you are investing in this kit. The kit has a variety of accessories that include forged billet bodied caliper, four stainless steel pistons, and fluid resistant powder coating.
The stainless steel calipers equipped with thermal retardant properties that let it stay cool for extended periods. Apart from that, it ensures the calipers can run continuously for extended periods. There is a fully balanced pad loading offered by its pistons that you will love for sure. All in all, it is one of the finest braking set created by Wilwood brand on which you can trust.
Pros
- Machined using the latest CAD techniques
- Provide reliable performance
- Available at a very affordable price
- Perfect heat dissipation
Cons
- Many complaints about missing brackets
5. Wilwood Clear Anodized Brake Set 140-10789 & 140-10790 (best for effortless installation process)
The fifth position is definitely deserved by a tremendous unit in the form of this anodized brake set that is nothing less than perfect. It is a complete package that delivered with brake kits, pedals, calipers, pressure valves, pro spindles, and all other components that needed for operating the braking system. The manufacturer has designed this unit for vehicles of companies like GMC, Jeep, Ford, Hondas, and Chevy. These components work for all types of vehicles that range from high-end sports cars to even farming vehicles.
Apart from performance, the second most important thing about which buyers usually worry about is the brake installation process. We have great news that this unit performs pretty amazingly during the testing time. The majority of buyers don’t feel any problem with this unit thanks to its impressive design job. Also, the company has provided custom-friendly videos that help the users in this thing. It is a specially designed kit that offers top-class performance and custom appeal on a great number of applications.
If you have used the previous models of this brand, then there is a full possibility you know how amazing they are. The company has done a wonderful upgrade on its standard calipers along with employing the direct bolt-in system for making the installation process convenient. All the components in this package are made from top-quality materials that will last long for years.
Pros
- Quick & simple to install
- Give the superb stopping ability
- Equipped with a proper set of accessories
- Braking pads last longer than others
Cons
- Slightly costly package to buy
- The finish should have been better
6. Wilwood 14011290R Caliper (best for extended durability)
If you want to boost the braking ability of your car’s caliper, then there is no better option than the Wilwood 14011290R that never disappoints the buyers. These dual-piston calipers give the top-class halting power that everyone wishes from their vehicle. The company has designed it in such a way that you can directly mount it on the stock location with rotors. The Wilwood brand has used high-quality forged billet aluminum for providing the required level of durability.
The Wilwood brakes reviews regarding this unit are pretty amazing as the majority of buyers are very happy with its performance. It is compatible with the vehicles of many different brands like Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GM among others. It is a pretty uniquely designed caliper that has drawn the attention of even many well-known racers since launch. This set is an excellent example of top-notch strength and superior performance level. Relying on these calipers is the right choice to make if you want to make the performance of the vehicle better.
On top of that, they don’t ask for much maintenance from the users and give more excellent reliability on the street and tracks. There will no need to deal with rust, seal failures, or bore pitting any longer once you install these brakes. You can use these calipers for both fronts as well as rear wheels quite easily. The manufacturer delivers it with pads and slide bolts for the extra convenience of the users. All in all, it is pretty assured that you will love the performance of this caliper for sure.
Pros
- Ask for very low maintenance
- Fits perfectly on the stock with rotors
- Give reliability in high temperature
- Provide long-lasting performance
Cons
- Takes time for completing the installation process
- Not a cheap option to shop
7. Wilwood 140-11291-BK (best for easier installation)
The fourth position is accommodated by Wilwood 140-11291-BK whose reputation is very positive in the market. It has direct bolt-on two-piston replacements that help in making installation easier and convenient for the users. It means installing this unit after removing factory original calipers will be an effortless task. The black gloss finish of this unit helps in keeping rust and corrosion away. Having this unit will give positive stopping that is very important for both off-road & street driving.
There is a tremendous sort of weight savings offered by the caliper due to the steel’s amazing thermal retardant characteristics. They are mounted on the location over the stock rotor that only not assists in maintaining the front to rear brake bias but also provides perfect stopping power. Furthermore, this braking system assists in giving highly classified performance due to top-class weld quality. We believe the Wilwood brake reviews are enough for telling how amazing this brake set is.
If you still have any second thoughts about this braking set, then please allow us to mention its stainless steel pistons that can perform beyond your expectations. This exciting package will give you a great sort of advantage with a minimum level of flaws making sure performance never gets compromised. The chances of regret about installing the Wilwood 140-11291 is almost zero.
Pros
- Very less maintenance cost
- Direct bolt-on installation process
- Extra durability with black powder coating
- Provide tremendous weight savings
Cons
- Doesn’t come with rear calipers
- Lack of OE brake line might be an issue for some buyers
How we have selected these Wilwood brakes? Buying Guide
There is a significant number of factors that we have taken into consideration before finalizing the top 7 best Wilwood brakes. As we have already explained, there are tons of models manufactured by this brand that makes things difficult for the users. Allow us to tell you about the factors that we have used for creating this list below:
Material
Although every model manufactured by Wilwood brand uses top-quality materials, there are still some that are better than the other one. Our team has tested these models that are either made using aluminum or stainless steel so that they can offer durable performance. We have tried to assure that people can use it for both heavy and casual use.
Budget
Budget is an integral part of our research & testing process as it affects the purchase to a higher level. No matter how wealthy a person is, the price of the disc braking system matters a lot. Please ensure that the model you are choosing should be reliable and durable as it involves the safety of the riders. All the models in the list are capable of performing beyond expectations. Furthermore, you can see versatility in terms of price that ensures everyone can buy a high-quality braking system.
Installation Process
There should be minimum complications involved in the replacement process of the braking system, even if you have employed a professional mechanic for doing this job. Everyone knows the cost of installing a complicated braking set will be much more when compared with the one that can be installed easier. That’s why you will see every model added by our team in this list asks for minimum conditions during the installation process.
Brake Dust
There are very few people who put their attention on this factor as they feel it’s not necessary. However, it turns out to be a mistake that everyone should avoid. Our team understands its importance of this thing, and that’s why added those models that build up minimum dust. The accumulation of dust can degrade the braking power and affects its power.
FAQ- Wilwood Brakes Reviews
1. How to find whether the braking kit will fit in my car or not?
The thing you need to understand is all the braking kits come with a particular kit part number. You have to visit the Wilwood.com and enter the part number correctly. Check out the detail page of the brake kit, where you can see a link for the wheel’s clearance diagram. These dimensions will help you in understanding whether the brake kit is compatible with your car’s wheels or not.
2. Do Wilwood brakes require a booster?
All the Wilwood brakes are designed to work without any booster because the pedal is run in that manner. There are many nice models manufactured by the Wilwood brand for 1st generation vehicles.
3. Does Wilwood deliver the instruction manual with their brake kits?
Almost all the Wilwood brakes are delivered with a step by step installation manual. There is no doubt that it helps in making the job easier, but we still suggest everyone go for a professional & experienced mechanic as they know how to perform this job. Performing this job without having good knowledge can result in great damage later.
4. What do you mean by uneven pad deposition?
The majority of braking pads made using modern techniques are considered an adherent type of pad. They work on the operation of transferring a certain layer of pad material on the rotor. There is an efficient level friction mechanism created when a layer of pad material touches the rotor face. It results in providing efficient braking performance. The problem arises when the pads aren’t bed-in properly that causes an uneven deposit of pad material and result in less amount of friction mechanism.
5. Is it a good idea to use stock brake lines with braking kits manufactured by Wilwood?
If you ask technically, then we will say the answer is no. There is a requirement of 1/1/8”-27 NPT adapters for letting the stock brake lines to fit in. As per the company’s recommendation, it is better to use the #3 braided stainless steel flex lines instead of the stock rubber lines for providing extra strength.
6. Should caliper pistons need to be retracted while changing pads?
There is a need to push the piston back into the caliper body before beginning the installation process of new pads. It is an essential thing to do in the case of a worn rotor and should always perform. You can push back the pistons using a variety of techniques. However, please ensure that the piston’s face doesn’t get damaged where it made a connection with the rotor surface, backing plate, or other components of the braking system.
7. Will my warranty get voided if I upgraded to the Wilwood braking kit?
There is the complete detail about this thing provided on the official site of SEMA under the Federal Warranty Laws section. Click here to know more regarding this perspective.
8. Which model of Wilwood brake fit will be compatible with the factory rear end of my car?
You can visit the official site of Wilwood and use the search box available there. Find the brake kit according to the rear end measurements you have. To do so, you should be aware of axle flange dimensions and axle offset.
9. Is there is a need for any alteration to the rear axles or spindles while installing bolt-on brake kits?
The majority of Wilwood bolt-on brakes don’t cause any sort of modifications. There is a chance that few models might ask for a little bit alteration to the spindle-like bolt hole drilling or tapping to a bigger size. Please understand that the installation guide has information about all the modifications needed to install bolt-on brake kits if required.
Conclusion
Wilwood is a very reputed brand that uses top-notch steel and aluminum material for designing high-quality braking kits. Please understand that these two are those materials that have very solid corrosion resistant along with thermal retardant properties. These Wildwood brakes reviews are enough to tell what kind of equipment they are manufacturing. Installation of these brakes will make the job effortless and easier for the vehicle.
If there is still something that you want to get answered regarding the Wilwood brakes, please write about it in the comment section. Our expert team is always here to help the readers in this perspective.
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