SELECTING THE RIGHT BRAKE PAD
What's a 1200hp racecar without brakes? Can't really drive it without having a way to stop it right?
Well with that in mind, ask yourself how good are your brake rotors without your brake pads? Not very effective no matter how good your brake rotors are so before picking your rotors be sure you have the right brake pads.
If you do some digging around in forums there's typically a topic/section specifically designated to brakes. Two most common complaints are usually brake dust and noise/squeaking. Not so much performance when it comes to daily driving.
There are definitely alternatives to help resolve dust and noise but what a lot of these other users and brands fail to mention is the tradeoff...less dust and noise at the cost of performance. The reality is that the perfect brake pad does not exist. If you are looking for something quiet and low dust then you typically have to sacrifice performance. You will have to put up with some noise and dust if you want something more aggressive or better performing. Or another alternative (again with tradeoff) is to go with higher cost pad options or even a whole new system like carbon ceramic rotors and the right pads for those which is pricey.
Picking the wrong pad could ruin daily driving and/or performance driving experience. We've seen too many people pick the wrong pads and literally ruin their setup in one run. Once a pad goes beyond its threshold it can leave deposits on rotors leading to vibrations when braking and other unwanted results with the only solution being to buy an all new set of rotors and pads.
At the end of the day it's important to know what's the best fit for you and keep in mind that sometimes the best option comes with some type of tradeoff whether it be performance or lighter wallet.
BRAKE ROTORS
Brake Rotor options seem to be less compared to brake pad options but best practice is to replace brake rotors and brake pads at the same time. Installing new rotors with a used set of pads (and vice versa) just opens the door to an array of potential problems.
The most common type of brake rotor build is a one piece rotor but two piece rotors are becoming more common as more vehicles are now equipped with them from the factory.
There are two major advantages of a two piece rotor over a traditional one piece rotor. One advantage is weight reduction as a result of using aluminum center pieces. One piece rotors are made completely of cast iron. Two piece brake rotors have outer cast iron rings and aluminum center pieces. A rotor made completely of cast iron tends to weigh more than it's two piece cast iron/aluminum counterparts.
When two piece rotors are made right they manage heat better and tend to last longer. Brake rotor manufacturers have different methods and techniques to attach the rings to the center pieces. In order to be effective the disc and center piece need to move independently from one another during heat cycles to relieve pressure and prevent any kind of warping and/or cracking. During a heat cycle (braking) iron discs absorb heat at a different rate than the aluminum center pieces so it's normal to see these rings expand and contract. Two piece brake rotors are not all made the same so it's important to know how they're put together.
True two piece rotors allow the movement that reduces stress found during natural expansion and contraction cycles. Common terminology for this type of feature is "floating rotor" but this action can also be described as a sliding motion. This "floating" or sliding motion exists only when an appropriate mounting design is utilized.
Brake rotors also come in a variety of machined finishes. Common finishes are usually slotted, drilled and some kind of drilled and slotted. If you are looking for the best performance option it's highly recommend staying away from any kind if drilled rotors.
We will work with you in selecting the brake rotors and pads right that fit your budget and performance expectations. Please email Sales@Blackopsautoworks.com and we can help get you started.