AP Racing CP8350 vs Wilwood SL6R calipers

[LeeVuong]

I received a pair of AP RAcing calipers. They are CP8350 and AP's attempt at copying a Wilwood caliper. And I think they did well. It uses the same brake pads and has very close mounting specs. It is a bit more compact too while it will fit 300x32 to 332x32mm discs.

Enjoy

[17sd]

Thank you for posting such clear pictures.
Will the price of your kits change?

[LeeVuong]

That caliper will be used on the 5 remaining sets of hats for 300x32mm BBKs. I don't expect to produce anymore 332x32mm kits because of the current stagnant economy (keeping inventory is very expensive). And I doubt that I will even need to make more 300x32mm kits when the stash dries out. Increase in price will be $250.00 which reflects the added cost of a pair of AP calipers.

For a while, I was undecided between this CP8350 caliper and the CP5200. But I opted for the CP8350 as the CP5200 had too many things against it in my opinion. Aluminum pistons, more expensice pads (an thinner too) and a powder coated finish.

[Mick]

Is the AP lighter? Looks like it might be, just slightly.

[LeeVuong]

I haven't weighted them.

[msjudged1]

Thanks for reference images.. APs look nice.

Would like to know weight difference too..

And if any photos with a set mounted on e30 m3..

[kristov]

Is there any point in upgrading from the SLR to the AP's for me that already have the SLR's?

[LeeVuong]

No point. The SL6R calipers are already very good calipers. And they have springed abutment pads to keep the pads in place (not on the AP) and stainless heatshields to keep the body cooler (not the AP).

Lee

[Ironhead]

In what way is the AP caliper a "copy" of the Wilwood? Because they both use 4 pistons and the same pad?

The design looks completely different to me.

[LeeVuong]

How are you today Ironhead? Look for AP Racing's lug mounted CP 8250 and radially mounted CP 8350. They are 99% drop-in replacements for Wilwood's Superlite and SL4R respectively. This is not a coincidence. AP is trying to get into the market on which Wilwood has a strong hand. Not to mention that the 7420 pad shape is basically a proprietary pad shape that Wiwood has been using for a very long time, and that no other caliper manufacturer has used before, to my knowledge. It is no coincidence that AP Racing is using the same pad shape.

AP Racing CP8250 - Lug mounted



Wilwood Superlite - Lug mounted




And you already saw the pictures of the CP8350 and the SL6R (same as SL4R) in my first post.

[Jake]

Isn't it kinda like comparing two wheels and saying, "see, this is a copy because they made theirs round too"? How different do brake calipers have to be to not be a "copy"? Ultimately, they are clearly not carbon copies. Maybe the mounting holes are the same?

Jake

[jannmann]

AP-Racing is over ten year older company than Wilwood.. so mayby Wilwood start copying AP-Racing when they started.

[conrod]

Very interesting thread Lee, obviously AP trying to get into the lower end of the market with these offerings. Would be interesting to see how the AP compares to the Wilwood with a stiffness test. In my experience many Wilwood calipers go "soft" and a period of hard use.

[Ironhead]

Lee:

Brake calipers by all manufacturers are all similar in so many ways....I mean in terms of their basic design....that I think they would have to be pretty much identical, down to interchangeable parts, for it to be fair to call them "copies". The new AP calipers are clearly not identical to the Wilwood. They may be intended to compete with Wilwood at the lower end of the market, but derisively calling them a "copy", seems unreasonable to me.

The thread reads to me like you are trying to denigrate AP products in favor of Wilwood products....maybe it would be better just to state what you don't like about AP products? You are pretty experienced in the brake world, your opinion might be useful to some who are considering brake purchases....but I think your "slant" in threads like this is perhaps more apparent than you realize.

AP is certainly not immune to criticism after all....starting with the cost of their products.

[ukau]

Lee:

Brake calipers by all manufacturers are all similar in so many ways....I mean in terms of their basic design....that I think they would have to be pretty much identical, down to interchangeable parts, for it to be fair to call them "copies". The new AP calipers are clearly not identical to the Wilwood. They may be intended to compete with Wilwood at the lower end of the market, but derisively calling them a "copy", seems unreasonable to me.

The thread reads to me like you are trying to denigrate AP products in favor of Wilwood products....maybe it would be better just to state what you don't like about AP products? You are pretty experienced in the brake world, your opinion might be useful to some who are considering brake purchases....but I think your "slant" in threads like this is perhaps more apparent than you realize.

AP is certainly not immune to criticism after all....starting with the cost of their products.

Why would Lee "denigrate" AP products when he just switched to AP FROM WILWOOD? That would make no sense. Being that he has been a retailer for both, I would give him the benefit of the doubt. Unless you are in the performance braking industry as well? I think the "slant" is your imagination.