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2021+ Front Drag Wheel

37101 Views 211 Replies 31 Participants Last post by OctaneRedShaker2020, 2 mo ago

tjohnson

Discussion Starter · Apr 25, 2021

Anyone with a 2021 car found any options for a front drag wheel? Using these stock fronts on my Charger Redeye is killing me lol.

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TNRedeye

· #2 · Apr 26, 2021

tjohnson said:
Anyone with a 2021 car found any options for a front drag wheel? Using these stock fronts on my Charger Redeye is killing me lol.

I bought my '21 RE specifically to drag race.. without any idea that the front brakes had been made even bigger. What I found is that there currently isn't and 18" front wheel that will fit over the caliper and the 20x6 type wheel doesn't have a drag type tire for it. So.. no good options either way.
I learned that there are no other braking options that will bolt to the '21 RE knuckle. The two mounting holes in the knuckle are what's been moved outward to accommodate the larger rotor. So.. if you want to run an 18" front drag skinny there look to be two factory type options:
First is change the knuckle to a standard pre '21 knuckle, purchase pre '21 RE/Hellcat rotors and install using all your other current '21 parts(including calipers)
Second is to convert to a 1320/SS small brake setup which will allow you to run any front wheel you want. You still have to change the knuckle out. Also, you do lose a bit of braking from this option(obviously) but nothing that's too bad. --- I went with this option since my car will be used for Friday night cruising and drag racing.

FWIW - changing out the knuckles isn't as bad as it sounds.

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usmc1488

· #3 · May 2, 2021

What’s the difference of the rotors?

TNRedeye

· #4 · May 2, 2021

usmc1488 said:
What’s the difference of the rotors?

The '20 and earlier rotor is ~15.4" diameter. The caliper will barely clear an 18" front wheel. The '21 rotor is ~.400 larger causing the caliper to be moved out half that amount. This causes the 18" stuff to hit the caliper to the point it just won't work. Fwiw - I have 18" skinnies in Weld, Billet Specialties and Forgestar brands. None would fit over the ~15.8" rotor/caliper setup on my '21 Challenger RE. It sucks.

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usmc1488

· #5 · May 2, 2021

TNRedeye said:
The '20 and earlier rotor is ~15.4" diameter. The caliper will barely clear an 18" front wheel. The '21 rotor is ~.400 larger causing the caliper to be moved out half that amount. This causes the 18" stuff to hit the caliper to the point it just won't work. Fwiw - I have 18" skinnies in Weld, Billet Specialties and Forgestar brands. None would fit over the ~15.8" rotor/caliper setup on my '21 Challenger RE. It sucks.

Wow that’s dumb why would dodge do that? Not like theyre getting more thermal deficit with such a small increase in size.

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Slidd

· #6 · May 2, 2021

usmc1488 said:
Wow that’s dumb why would dodge do that? Not like theyre getting more thermal deficit with such a small increase in size.

Rotors are bigger to compensate for the switch to copper free brake pads effective with model year 2021.

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ironlion

· #7 · May 2, 2021 (Edited)

I’m runnng the 20 x 6 RaceStars with 195/50 Bridgestone radials. Have not had an opportunity to weigh the fronts yet but they are definitely heavier than the skinny setup I’m running on my GT500.

The factory Hellcat wheel/tire setup weighs in at 62.8 lbs. Hoping for my current Hellcat skinny setup in the low 40 LB range. The 07’ GT500 factory front setup is 56.4 lbs and my bias ply Racestars weigh in at 34.9 lbs. I’m hoping for 40+ weight savings off the front end with the Hellcat,plus less rolling resistance.

Wheel Tire Automotive tire Bicycle tire Black

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tjohnson

Discussion Starter · #8 · May 2, 2021

ironlion said:
I’m runnng the 20 x 6 RaceStars with 195/50 Bridgestone radials. Have not had an opportunity to weigh the fronts yet but they are definitely heavier than the skinny setup I’m running on my GT500.

The factory Hellcat wheel/tire setup weighs in at 62.8 lbs. Hoping for my current Hellcat skinny setup in the low 40 LB range. The 07’ GT500 factory front setup is 56.4 lbs and my bias ply Racestars weigh in at 34.9 lbs. I’m hoping for 40+ weight savings off the front end with the Hellcat,plus less rolling resistance.

View attachment 573015

You're running these on a 2021 car? I have not yet tried any 20 inch options on my car, but as previously mentioned in the comments, if the caliper is pushed out a little more on the 2021 cars, then I would have imagined that all options that were previously available would not work.

ironlion

· #9 · May 3, 2021

No sir. I apologize. I am running these on a 16’ Hellcat Challenger. Assumed, maybe incorrectly, that the 20” RaceStars would still be applicable to the 21’ brake setup

tjohnson

Discussion Starter · #10 · May 3, 2021

ironlion said:
No sir. I apologize. I am running these on a 16’ Hellcat Challenger. Assumed, maybe incorrectly, that the 20” RaceStars would still be applicable to the 21’ brake setup

No worries! Hopefully someone can confirm this. I'd hate to buy some new wheels just for them not to work.

Big Swede

· #11 · May 3, 2021

Does the 2021 SS have the more drag friendly brakes?

Reactions: 2

tjohnson

Discussion Starter · #12 · May 3, 2021

Big Swede said:
Does the 2021 SS have the more drag friendly brakes?

Yes. The SS should have the same brakes as the Demon.

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Slidd

· #13 · May 3, 2021

Big Swede said:
Does the 2021 SS have the more drag friendly brakes?

tjohnson said:
Yes. The SS should have the same brakes as the Demon.

4-pistons, same as Scat Pack actually.

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tjohnson

Discussion Starter · #14 · May 3, 2021

Slidd said:
4-pistons, same as Scat Pack actually.

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Unless I'm mistaken, doesn't the Demon have 4 piston front calipers as well? Only difference is that the Demon has 2 piece front rotors compared to the 1 piece on the Scat Pack.

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Slidd

· #15 · May 3, 2021

tjohnson said:
Unless I'm mistaken, doesn't the Demon have 4 piston front calipers as well? Only difference is that the Demon has 2 piece front rotors compared to the 1 piece on the Scat Pack.

Correct but in 2020, the Super Stock had a different caliper and looked like the old Brembo calipers, the Demon caliper although still 4-pistons looked totally different and more like the 6-piston design.

Now for 2021, all 4-piston brakes use this same new design like Demon had but the rotors are still 1-piece solids.

Here's a 1320 but brakes are the same as Super Stock..

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tjohnson

Discussion Starter · #16 · May 3, 2021

Slidd said:
Correct but in 2020, the Super Stock had a different caliper and looked like the old Brembo calipers, the Demon caliper although still 4-pistons looked totally different and more like the 6-piston design.

Now for 2021, all 4-piston brakes use this same new design like Demon had but the rotors are still 1-piece solids.

Here's a 1320 but brakes are the same as Super Stock..

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Good to know. I would have preferred this over the current situation personally. But oh well.

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TNRedeye

· #17 · May 3, 2021

I see no reason at all that the 20x6 mentioned above wouldn't fit the larger '21 brakes. Tire choices for those wheels are quite limited and - to my knowledge - there isn't a lightweight tire option available. Also, the few I've seen on a widebody don't look so great IMO.
It is the 17" and 18" drag type front wheels that just flat won't fit.

ironlion

· #18 · May 3, 2021

Hear you TNRedeye. The setup I posted up in #7 above is not ideal from a couple of perspectives, but one advantage they have is they are totally street worthy. They can be driven safely and comfortably to the track.

nate-roth

· #19 · May 12, 2021

ironlion said:
Hear you TNRedeye. The setup I posted up in #7 above is not ideal from a couple of perspectives, but one advantage they have is they are totally street worthy. They can be driven safely and comfortably to the track.

I agree, more of a street/strip set-up. I'm leaning in this direction with the 20X6, haven't chosen tire size yet may go with a 205 or 215, want to leave these on full time. I believe these are conical lug as well which is much better than shank lug for the front.

TNRedeye

· #20 · May 24, 2021

I meant to post a picture of my RE with the SS/Scatpack front brakes installed but I forgot.
So...

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