Donk wheels come in an amazing variety of sizes, ranging from the smaller yet classic 22-inch “dubs” and the ubiquitous 26-inch wheels to genuinely massive 50-inch wheels. When it comes to donk wheels, many fans believe that bigger is better. But going big can also bring about some unexpected consequences.
Take your ride’s brakes, for example. Ignoring the brakes is the one mistake that many people make when building their donk cars. Adding larger wheels can drastically change the handling and braking dynamics of any vehicle, causing changes in cornering capability, ride comfort and braking distance. If these new driving dynamics aren’t compensated for, the end result could be a donk that’s a visual showstopper, but with little actual stopping ability where it counts.
Big Wheels Deserve Beefy Brakes
There are plenty of technical challenges that come with building the ultimate donk car, including the challenge of keeping your donk’s stopping distances within a safe range. Increasing the wheel size and diameter not only increases the amount of unsprung weight on the suspension, but it also increases the amount of rotating mass in inertia your brakes have to deal with. The more mass your stock brakes must deal with, the longer your stopping distances will become.
Modern cars given the donk treatment already have a hard time dealing with these unexpected changes, but classic donks with older brake systems might have it worse. Older cars with traditional front disc and rear drum brake setups may suffer excessive brake fade, drastically increased break wear and other serious problems that could result in a definite safety hazard.
As you build up your donk car, you’ll want to upgrade your brakes along the way. There are plenty of brake upgrade kits available for a wide variety of vehicle makes and models. These upgrade kits often contain larger diameter brake disc rotors, larger brake pads and improved brake caliper hardware. For vehicles that still have their drum brakes from the factory, you may be able to benefit from a four-wheel disc brake upgrade for your vehicle.
Don’t Forget About the Brake Dust Covers
Bigger wheels and better brake pads also mean more brake dust to worry about. Fortunately, you can set these problems aside simply by adding a custom set of brake dust covers to your prized ride.
Choose from our complete selection of covers in various wheel sizes for the most popular vehicle makes and models. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, you can always have a custom set made to your specifications. Each brake dust cover is plasma cut from high-grade steel for exceptional durability and longevity.
If you need some advice on building up your donk, you can always give us a call or contact us through our website.