Big Brake kit.

[Zimm]

I really don't know why this product would be needed, but, I like in the comments when someone brings up the lack of Ebrake, and the Poster says hills are few around him and it would be different in a place like San Francisco.

Yea, there's much to be said about that statement, but I get a kick out of someones logic, where it doesn't register in their brain, that when there's a failure on a hill, it's only one hill, and that hill doesn't not know if there are other hills around it or not.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dimkqaewlys

 

[Stu_Barnes]

Alcon has announced the launch of a new brake upgrade kit for the INEOS Grenadier. The announcement coincides with the DVD exhibition taking place at Millbrook Proving Ground 18-19 September 2024.
Launched by INEOS in October 2022, the Grenadier has been positively received in Europe and North America, especially by armourers and coachbuilders for modified vehicles. With this new kit, Alcon offers a ready-made solution for the necessary brake upgrade needed for heavier armoured modifications and high-performance models. This upgrade ensures the braking system can handle the extra weight, improving both performance and safety.

Alcon’s new Grenadier kit is fully compatible with the standard vehicle brake actuation and control systems and has been designed to fit standard INEOS wheels. The caliper is part of Alcon’s robust opposed piston CIR54 family. The large 350mm two-piece ventilated disc helps increase the available brake torque as well as its thermal capacity.
Fitting the brake upgrade kit will increase available brake torque, reduce brake fade and fluid vaporisation, extend brake service intervals and reduce through life costs.

The kit will be available with acid zinc nickel plating for a discrete upgrade as well as painted versions.
Alcon brake kits are also available for a wide range of armoured and specialist SUV’s, including, but not exclusively: Ford’s F550, F350 and F150-based Raptor and Ranger platforms; Chevrolet’s Suburban and Suburban HD; GM’s GMT K2-based platforms Tahoe and Escalade; Toyota’s LC300, LC200, LC78-79 and Hilux; Mercedes’ Sprinter; and Volkswagen’s Amarok and Crafter.

Alcon has over 25 years of experience in engineering brakes and clutches for specialist vehicles; from F1, World Rally and prestige performance cars to 30T-plus military armoured vehicles. This places them at the forefront of developing and delivering high-performance braking solutions for sectors where only the absolute best can be accepted. Alcon’s off-the-shelf brake kits allow both OEM’s and vehicle modification companies to overcome the challenges posed by up-armouring vehicles for both defence, security and specialist purposes. The kits are compatible with stock OEM actuation, so are easy to fit but have been fully “ruggedised” to ensure extreme levels robustness and performance balanced with the requirement to keep weight to a minimum.

Mike Jones, Chief Engineer at Alcon said: “We’re very pleased to announce the launch of this new brake upgrade kit today, it is a welcome addition for armourers and customers wanting to upgrade their Grenadier”. He added: “We have worked extremely hard to develop off-the-shelf solutions to meet the requirements of OEMs and vehicle modification companies and this new Grenadier kit adds to that story. The continuing strength of our world-wide sales confirms that Alcon brake kits meet the necessarily demanding requirements of the defence and security armoured vehicle sector as well as other specialist users”.


And here's another one, the good new is that they have a pretty considerable dealer network.

 

[Zimm]

Nice. I’m not sure they are needed though.

 

[Phred]

It’s funny, I sometimes feel the grenadier brakes are a little underpowered for the weight of the vehicle. I find myself pressing the brake pedal and then having to press firmer and firmer to get the proper braking deceleration. I chalked it up to getting used to the vehicle but find myself thinking they’re a little underpowered as time goes on.

Anyone else?

 

[Shopkeep]

It’s funny, I sometimes feel the grenadier brakes are a little underpowered for the weight of the vehicle. I find myself pressing the brake pedal and then having to press firmer and firmer to get the proper braking deceleration. I chalked it up to getting used to the vehicle but find myself thinking they’re a little underpowered as time goes on.

Anyone else?

I find the same, not sure the discs or calipers need upgrading it’s more the pedal feel is way too spongy and there is poor feedback. It’s stops fine when I really need it to but it initially feels like it won’t.

 

[Tom109]

No issues with the Gren brakes. I think they’re spot on.

 

[angstorms]

Powerbrake now how kit for the Ineos Grenadier for the Front Brakes https://mainlineoverland.com/produc...it-for-ineos-grenadier?variant=46199483400436

 

[Zimm]

I'd put them on with some 5 spoke alloys, so people could see them and be impressed I spent the money. Otherwise, they have little use.

 

[anand]

Powerbrake now how kit for the Ineos Grenadier for the Front Brakes https://mainlineoverland.com/produc...it-for-ineos-grenadier?variant=46199483400436

I have this kit on order (not through MLO, though), and really looking forward to it as we had a PowerBrake BBK on my GF's Tacoma previously (one of the best upgrades done to that thing). The Grenadier kit comes with their 2 piece rotors (many of their other kits are 1 pc rotors), so it should be even better for heat dissipation.

The last I heard was the kit is currently in the pre-order phase through US dealers; if I get an actual ETA from Powerbrake I'll let you know

Edit: Below is a photo of what to expect of the PB kit behind 17" wheels... This is on our (now sold) Tacoma, but gives a good idea of the caliper visibility nonetheless

 

[Zimm]

Ok, so 6 spoke will suffice. 5 spoke 6 lug wheels always gives me the heebiegeebies anyway.

 

[angstorms]

Personally I think it good we have some alternatives to factory solution, we now have Brakes, Calipers and Rotor from a few vendors, you know you be able to get part more feeling from few of these guys when your remote from your Dealer. It will be nice when they just do Rotors and Pads solutions

 

[Zimm]

I can maybe see If you’re going to upgrade the turbo, put a sports suspension on, and make a boy racer, or, up armor for security work, ya gotta do what ya gotta do, but I’d likely want garbage can lid rotors at that point. Neither situation calls for keeping as much sidewall as you can. For remote travel though, if the stock brakes are adequate, and theses are, the last system I’m swapping from OEM is the brakes.

 

[Commodore]

I wouldn't mind better brakes. I tow our ski boats up and down from Lake Arrowhead at 5,100 feet. Coming down can be hard on the brakes. That is one place my wife's rover does a better job. It has larger and more powerful brakes. That said, I'm not spending $3,500 for brakes that would be helpful a few times a year.

 

[LeeroyJ]

In terms of the weaknesses of the the Grenadier for my use cases, since I frequently tow a 6500lb trailer in mountainous areas) the inability to do meaningful engine braking (like you could with a diesel) is probably the second most frustrating weakness of the vehicle (the most frustrating is the anemic fuel range, I am forced to plan on no more than 100 miles between fill-ups when towing, but the upcoming Long Ranger tank should solve this issue).

I did a trip ten days ago where on the way home I had a 7% grade for a very long time (about 4 miles iirc). My approach in those situations is to use the engine braking to keep the rpms right on the border before the rpm gage turns yellow, when it does I brake for a few seconds to get it about 1000 rpm lower, let off the brakes to let them cool as the vehicle speeds back to yellow, then rinse and repeat until I'm at the bottom of the hill. So far this seems to work fine, but its pretty stressful and if I am on single track, the vehicles behind me are probably getting frustrated.

As a result, I frequently debate whether I should sell the Grenadier and get a big diesel truck (like an F250 or Ram 2500) which would probably be worlds better for towing, but would not have anywhere near the trail ability once I get to my destination. I'm sure I would regret that when I wasn't towing so keep avoiding making that call, but....

Long intro to my question: I wonder if one of these brake kits would be useful to help remove some of that overheating risk and mental stress of mountain down-hills while towing?

 

[angstorms]

I agree you do not need 6 Piston brakes right now on the truck, but it could use better Rotor on the rear, also last time I looked for Pads, I could only find them on EBAY, I know at some point I need to rotors and pads on the front, aka sooner then most owners, since I do not live in flat lands of the Midwest and brakes and rotors are not oversized like they are on X5 ( 40,000 on first set ) I regularly run on thirsty road from 6,500 feet to 11,018 feet out and back on the Million Dollar Hwy. Also our local trail take you on some high mountain passes up to 13,144 feet in Southwest Colorado.

For Towing better Rotar's and Pads will help, right now we have 4 piston up front with ventilated rotors, only two pistons in the rear with solid rotor. I remember couple of the reviews showed the truck had brake fade in some of the testing, so there is room for improvement.