Rotors
Zinc Aero Rotors are
available either drilled or slotted, an optional anti-corrosion gold zinc
coating benefits those who live in cold climates, where snow and road salt are
commonly encountered. Zinc coating also benefits Concours d’élégance detailers
who prefer no visible surface rust on the vanes and outer circumference of
rotors Quick Stop Pro
Disc Brake Bedding In
All cast iron brake discs
need to be bedded-in to ensure heat stabilisation and improve resistance to
cracking. Cracks or even disc failure can occur during the first few heavy
stops if careful bedding is not carried out.
AP Racing recommends the following
procedure:-
Bedding the disc from new or
stress relieving the cast iron disc after it has been clamped to the mounting
bell is of paramount importance if premature warping is to be avoided after the
brakes are used to their full potential.
For road car installations the process needs to be as follows:-
For the first 10 miles,
light braking from 50/60 mph down to 30 mph if possible in blocks of 5. Do not
attempt any high-speed stops down to zero at this point, as only the faces will
heat up with the mass remaining cool along with the mounting area. For the next
100 miles increase the braking pressures similar to stopping in traffic, again
avoiding if possible full stops from above 70 mph. By now the area around the
mounting bolts should be a light blue temper colour.
This is a good indication
that the correct heat soak has been achieved. For the next 100 miles gradually
increase the braking effort after this full power stops can be used. The disc
should now be an even dark to light blue temper colour, depending on the pad
type and the braking effort being used during the process.
Ceramic Brakes
Silicon-infiltrated carbon-carbon
composite is used for high performance ceramic brake discs, as it is able to
withstand extreme temperatures. The silicon reacts with the graphite in the
carbon-carbon composite to become carbon-fibre-reinforced silicon carbide
(C/SiC).
These discs are used on some road-going sports cars, supercars, as
well as other performance cars including the Porsche, the Bugatti Veyron, the
Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, Bentleys, Ferraris, Lamborghinis, some specific high
performance Audis, and the McLaren P1. Silicon carbide is also used in a
sintered form for diesel particulate filters. SiC is also used as an oil
additive to reduce friction, emissions, and harmonics.
Cleaning - do not use any products
that contain silicone (which means any spray type products) If the silicone
"impregnates" they will require replacement (a not inexpensive
mistake). Use a non-abrasive car wash concentrate and water along with a
medium-soft brush.)
Ceramic Disc Pads
Asbestos pads caused health
issues and organic compounds can’t always meet a wide range of braking
requirements. Unfortunately the steel strands used in semi-metallic pads to
provide strength and conduct heat away from rotors also generate noise and are abrasive
enough to increase rotor wear. Wear also cause ferrous oxide dust that looks
unsightly and is also corrosive.
First used as original equipment manufacturer
(OEM) in ’85, friction materials that contain ceramic formulations
Ensure that the ceramic
brake pads and rotors match (a ceramic system) otherwise you will have problems
with stopping when the pads / rotors are cold or wet, which could warp the
rotors and cause bearings to fail due to overheating.
Although a ceramic brake
disc absorbs heat faster than a steel brake disc, it is also able to disperse
it quickly. A consistently high braking performance is therefore guaranteed.
One of the characteristics
that make ceramic materials attractive is the absence of noticeable dust. All
brake pads produce dust (including ceramics) as they wear. The ingredients in
ceramic compounds produce a light coloured dust that is much less noticeable
and less likely to stick to the wheels. Consequently, wheels and tires maintain
a cleaner appearance longer.
To avoid brake-generated
noise and dust brake friction materials have evolved significantly over the
years, going from asbestos to organic to semi-metallic formulations. Each of
these materials has proven to have advantages and disadvantages regarding
environmental friendliness, wear, and noise and stopping capability.
Using ceramic compounds and
copper fibres in place of the semi-metallic pad’s steel fibres, allows the
ceramic pads to handle high brake temperatures with less heat fade, provide
faster recovery after a stop, and generate less dust and wear on both the pads
and rotors.
From a comfort standpoint,
ceramic compounds provide much quieter braking because the ceramic compound
helps dampen noise by generating a frequency beyond the human hearing range.
Another characteristic that makes ceramic materials attractive is the absence
of noticeable dust. All brake pads produce dust as they wear. The ingredients
in ceramic compounds produce a light coloured dust that is much less noticeable;
consequently, wheels and tires maintain a cleaner appearance longer.
Ceramic pads meet or exceed
all OEM standards for durability, stopping distance and noise. According to
durability tests, ceramic compounds extend brake life compared to most other
semi-metallic and organic materials and outlast other premium pad materials by
a significant margin; with no sacrifice in noise control, pad life or braking performance.
What is important though is that car's rotors are designed for ceramic pads;
otherwise the rotors will typically wear faster. (Check with the vehicle manufacturer)
Avoid using any products
that contain silicone as it can permeate the carbon-ceramic material and
negatively affect the friction and thereby the braking efficiency.
Stopping Distances
At the speeds that stopping
distance is generally measured from (60 to 70 MPH), the test is primarily
testing the tyres grip on the pavement. As delivered from the manufacturer,
nearly all vehicles are able to engage the ABS or lock the wheels at these
speeds.
Therefore, an increase in
braking power will do nothing to stop the vehicle in a shorter distance. For
this reason, we do not record stopping distances at this time. The Brembo brake
systems will show their greatest advantages when braking from higher speeds, or
when tasked with repeated heavy braking.
Cleaning
Any diluted car wash
concentrate, d-limonene (citrus) based cleaner (P21S® High Performance Total Auto
Wash) or pH neutral cleaner (P21S Wheel Cleaner)
should be fine to use on ceramic brakes as they produce very little brake dust
(being non-metallic) they just attract the normal amount of road dust, dirt and
grime
Safe Degreaser
If you want to safely
degrease your braking components, Optimum Power Clean is
an excellent choice. It is an environmentally safe product that can also clean
your paint, wheels, tires, engine bay, wheel wells, trim and etc. The strong
cleaning agents break down bug smear, road grime, brake dust, dirt, etc. Optimum
Power Clean is also a great value because you can dilute it 3:1 with distilled
water or use it full strength.
Callipers
Brake callipers are cast
ductile iron on most production cars, on ultra-high performance cars they are
usually aluminium. A way to spice up the
look and at the same time protects the callipers from corrosion. The Calliper
Paint System features aircraft quality paint, available in six different high
gloss colours, Red, Yellow, Blue, Silver, Black, & Purple.
The paint is
heat resistant up to 925oF; this paint won't start running into your brake
pads, it also seals and protects against corrosion.
Brake dust and dirt will not
adhere to the calliper surface since adding the paint. The kit includes
everything you'll need to get the job done, besides paint you'll also get
reactor (special bonding agent), high tech calliper cleaner, mixing sticks, and
a brush. Do not attempt to paint the rotor contact surface.
Application- a multi-layer gives the
best results; the first coat thin, second coat medium thickness, allowing
cure/dry time between coats and the final coat will act as filler, providing a
gloss finish. G2-Performance Engineering Inc.
Cleaning- use caution when cleaning as the finish on some callipers use a
powder coating (Brembo, etc.) that can be stained by some wheel cleaners.
Always ensure that the brake callipers are cool to the touch; never use a
cleaner on hot callipers, wheels or brakes.
Use a pH balanced cleaner just for
an extra level of safety. Spray the cool calliper with d-limonene (citrus)
based solvent P21S®
Wheel Cleaner Gel or
P21S® Polishing
Soap, which
contains micro-abrasives, agitate with a soft brush (Swissvax Detail Brush) and then rinse off with
clean water. Wipe surfaces with a soft wash mitt, sponge or micro fibre towel.
Protection - apply
a protection to the face of the calliper using a polymer sealant (the melting
point of most waxes is too low for the heat attained by wheel / calliper
surfaces) similar to that used on your paint (Modesta B-06, Wheel Wax, Zanio,
Duragloss, Opti-Seal, etc.)
Always be willing to learn;
because the more you learn, the more you’ll realize what you don’t know.
It is said
that knowledge is power, with the caveat that it includes access to a reliable
information sources. I
would like to think that these articles become an asset to anyone who is new to
detailing and to professional’s alike, as well as industry experts who seek to
advance their knowledge.
I hope the article are
informative. By having some understanding of the ‘What’ and ‘Why’ as well as
the ‘How’ along with a little science to help you understand how the chemicals
we use react, you can achieve the results you desire.
I would appreciate it if you
would share these articles as it helps other detailers further their knowledge.
As always if you have
questions, I’ll do my best to answer; bear in mind the only stupid questions is
the one that was unasked. Questions and/ or constructive comments are
always appreciated
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