TCE brings Wilwood and TCE/Wilwood to MSF

[Todd@TCE]

Greetings!

Been out of the Mazda market for a bit and figured it was time to jump back in. Why? Because Wilwood has released their own factory Wilwood front Big Brake Kit for the Mazda 3!


Who is TCE, what does the business bring, and why should I consider them for my needs?

TCE was founded in 1993 by owner Todd Cook. The business was primarily centered around open wheel race car work in the Phoenix area. A side line to this work was developed building brake kits for the first generation Taurus SHO. These kits were based upon the same systems in place at the time on SHO's at the Bondurant Driving School where Todd had spent four years as the Shop Manager. (Prior to that five years in similar positions for the now defunk Jim Russell Racing School)

The SHO kits lead to requests from others including the first to market to the Impala SS crown a true front and rear big brake kit. In this era of '93-'97ish the term "big brake kit" and "BBK" had really yet to be coined. Thee ONLY two companies even doing this work in the US at the time were TCE and Baer. While imported Brembo kits were out there few of them truly existed here in the States. This was long before many of the "big" names on the market even existed. Truly the cutting edge of a new market had dawned.

The business flourished between the mid '90s and mid '00 times. With race car work as well as parts fabrication for both the Russell and Barber racing schools. The shop also rented out a Formula Ford for some years winning the SCCA Regional Championship. Various drivers won races and got their license in this successful car. Brake business expanded into the Mits Eclipse market offering the first 13" front kits for both 1G and 2G cars. Later 3 and 4G however they never found the same enthusiast level...

TCE's relationship with Wilwood, dating back to the days of Bondurant Mustangs and Taurus's from 1989, grew as both companies expansion into the street enthusiast market did. The first true Wilwood factory big brake kits (excluding muscle cars etc) included vehicles such at the WRX, Hondas and SRT4 kits. TCE was around for all of that. We also worked closely with Wilwood on the release of the MINI kits in 2003 being both working on new designs. It was settled that Wilwood would produce 11.75 and 12.2 kit while TCE concentrated on 13" front kits and the design of the first rear kit for the MINI. Later these rear kits were picked up by Wilwood and produced in house.

Other TCE kits of the time tricked in....Marauder kits, Lightning trucks, and the first foray into the Dodge Magnum and 300C market. These big cars were fit with 14" front and 13" rear kits in various forms over the years. From 2005 up until about 2011 TCE was the only supplier of Wilwood shod kits including the design and sale of the 14" W6A front kit. With the release of the Challenger Wilwood took up production of the front kit and their own version of a matching rear kit.

Over the past 20yrs a vast number of what are now Wilwood factory kits got their start; right here in the TCE shop. That relationship continues today as we are often in touch with what each other is working on in order to avoid too much cross fit and confusion. While TCE would love to sell you a true TCE built kit...the customer can benefit greatly from the purchase of a Wilwood factory kit regardless of who began it's production- the final cost is usually 10-20% less! It's been a win-win situation and today TCE remains a top tier referral to customer calling looking for items they do not offer.

In later years the race car work and market gave way to overwhelming demand for more and more TCE brake product. The business expanded into the top name for big kits for vehicles such as Solstice and Sky, MINI Clubman and Countryman and F250 Super Duty as well as further expansion of older platform such as the Impala SS which has sold over 300 units- world wide! Including our 16" front kits which have been back dated onto early GM product. Crazy stuff but all true. Race car work got pushed aside...the FF sold. By 2008 it was all brakes. All the time.

Today we offer both Wilwood factory kits (we'll expand on that in a later post) as well as TCE/Wilwood kits. TCE also offers (and stocks) a wide range of the entire catalog listings, if it's in the catalog you can get it. And get it for less. Over the years we've outfitted a wide range of things from show cars, SEMA projects, and race cars. The shop's work have netted wins in SCCA, NASA and One Lap of America with Doug Wind's SRT4. Along the way drag race, AX and Rally builds have proven successful.

Does TCE use it's own product? You can say that. The TCE campaigned, Cook driven, Wells Coyote has won class in the Pikes Peak Hill Climb four times and retains one of the few yet unbroken records. Along the way dozens of other Hill Climb wins and nearly every class record has been set by this car fit with Wilwood and custom TCE work. Safety, reliability and function: we live it. Look up the 2011 Mt. Washington Hill Climb and you'll note our entry was second to the Subaru factory team and the only other entry to break the existing official record there.

What can TCE do for you? Browse the beginings of our fresh Mazda work. *It should be noted that TCE produced kits for both the 3 and 6 up to ten years ago. These cars are not 'new' to the shop, just getting some love. Search some of the other boards and you'll find our name attached to early 3 and 6 series cars. The early 3 kits shared many the same parts as the Ford Contour and Mercury Cougar in fact. Today the 'working' 6 kit share with their cousins Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ.

TCE does not sell suspension parts, body kits, carbon anything, or wheels. We just do brakes. And a pretty good job of it. If you have a project other than a Mazda speak up! Custom work is an on going things. For more on those things check out the XXX Kits on the home page where you'll find short bits and pics about some of the things done over the years. Finally these 'one-offs' have been cataloged a bit for reader enjoyment. And more are in the works.


It's a big world out there and TCE will be a part of it for many years to come. Over the next few weeks I'll expand on some of the things the shop offers, tools we use, how things are done and what may be best for your needs. I don't expect everyone to agree with me on all things all the time but feel free to speak up and we'll share some dialog.

Todd Cook
Owner- TCE Performance Products

[Todd@TCE]

I've done my best to cut and paste the above conversations to the new threads per platform.

Later today the cut posted WILL BE DELETED as shown. Nothing against the posts, all the info is cross posted. I'm just a bit of clean freak and would rather this thread be more generalized information and keep the per platform questions on topic. Messy now but it'll be easier soon enough.

[Todd@TCE]

What else goes on around here?

Picked up brackets from anodizing.....

SRT8 Rear drag kits
1G Eclipse Rear drag kits
Audi 4000 caliper kit
Austin Healy kit

Oh...and that other huge thing is going to become something very soon also.

[Todd@TCE]

The Mazda list is expanding, albeit slowly.

Current Wilwood 13" DP6 kits however are available for purchase now. If you're looking for a bargain for big brakes this one's not to be beat. Get a full front kit with front and rear ss hoses for under $1100- to the door!

[Todd@TCE]

Been out of the country for a bit and returned to find some very cool hi-res pics in my email. Fine art work perhaps showcasing the super sexy and very affordable Wilwood 13" DP6 kit for the Mazda 3. (Great work! Both the brakes and the pics)

Hey; for about a grand you can be sharing the same satisfaction shown here.

[maisonvi]

Originally Posted by Todd@TCE Been out of the country for a bit and returned to find some very cool hi-res pics in my email. Fine art work perhaps showcasing the super sexy and very affordable Wilwood 13" DP6 kit for the Mazda 3. (Great work! Both the brakes and the pics) Hey; for about a grand you can be sharing the same satisfaction shown here.

Looks nice (even though a reg mazda 3) What size are those rims? Trying to figure out how much space I will have on my 17 TRmotorsports C3 rims.

[Tyhackman15]

The wilwoods on my miata rock. Of course that car isn't heavy enough to even get them hot, but this looks like a nice kit.

[Todd@TCE]

Originally Posted by maisonvi Looks nice (even though a reg mazda 3) What size are those rims? Trying to figure out how much space I will have on my 17 TRmotorsports C3 rims.

Not clear on the exact size or brand of the wheels here. Could ask if you like. ?

The clearance for the Wilwood factory kit is quite minimal. Even the 14" TCE version is very brake friendly. The DP6 kit (pics above) require just about 1" of clearance to the spokes. The FNSL6 a bit more due to the wider body and fatter pads in that model.

I'll try to get the Wheel Fit page updated this weekend along with other things. Been out of town a bit lately putting me behind on a number of things.

[Todd@TCE]

Originally Posted by Tyhackman15 The wilwoods on my miata rock. Of course that car isn't heavy enough to even get them hot, but this looks like a nice kit.

Well spoken.

Brake size and function should be balance with both the weight and the demands of the car.

The 13" DP6 kit is ideal for the street enthusiast and occasional track day when fit with proper pads. But for more demanding users who tout their track days as serious time you'd be better off with the larger rotor (more mass) and FNSL6 calipers (more robust and thicker pads)

[Todd@TCE]

Side tracked on a number of other projects of late...If you don't see what you're after for your needs just let me know!

Here's a very cool drum to disc conversion on a 68 Riviera. Fronts are pretty much done, rears are in process now.

Need a 15" rotor and Aero6 Caliper set up for your 3 or 6? Yeah, "we got that". lol

[Todd@TCE]

Just thought I'd remind everyone: I'm NOT having any sort of holiday sale. No pink Tuesday or Cyborg Friday deals. Don't camp outside my shop door either please. It's annoying.

Just the same low price, quality service and attention to detail you get every day of the year. Or as they say at Walmart: low prices, all day, everyday.

[Todd@TCE]

Christmas shopping?

Don't miss out on getting $25 worth of Wilwood 570 high performance brake fluid with each front purchase.

Available through the end of the month!

[Todd@TCE]

Titanium pad spacers are available for both the DP6 and FNSL6 kits.

We also have these for the new Focus ST- not sure if there may be a cross fit to the 3 and/or S3 pads on this or not. If not..we could make them.

*Looks quite likely. D1044 pads shown on Bendix as the same. Hmm.