Here are my Racing Brake rotors after one weekend at Road Atlanta, 9 30 min sessions, and 2 30's at Sebring. Using Hawk DTC70/60 with good even wear on the pads. Questions I have: Is this normal wear for these rotors and what about the pad deposits? Why am I getting this? I was getting some brake shutter from it. Will it get worse? Should I try to clean it off before next event? Your input is appreciated.
I did follow Racing Brakes break in instructions.(simulating racing conditions)
i don't know about the wear and glazing but those are some nasty cracks all over the place
that can't be right .... right ???
I think those cracks are reffered to as "surface spydering" as are not to worry about until they turn into cracks that go further than just the surface.
As for the pad deposits, if it was me I'd just swap back in my OEM pads for street use and those would just "go away" but I use Carbotechs not Hawks.
It's hard to be sure from pictures rather than seeing them first hand, but I'd say those things are toast. After seeing really cracked or broken rotors I'm not willing to have a failure when braking at the end of a straight. I have been replacing Napa rotors before they look that bad.
It really is hard to tell from photos, but, I believe your rotors are okay for a bit longer. When cracks extend to the edge, and can be felt with your fingernail, I would replace them. As for the deposits, usually some cold (street) driving with the track pads will clean off the glazing, which is why I always drive home on mine. But, I have never used that specific pad. Your street pads might not remove it.
If this ware and deposits are from 5.5 hrs on the track, then these rotors are in excellent shape. The spider cracks are too be expected, even after a lot less use, and the deposits are from the resins in the brake pads. These deposits can be removed by a couple of very hard and quick applications of the brakes from high speed starting with cold rotors and pads.
If you notice any vibrations or pulling during "normal" braking, after you "de-deposit" the rotors, then they are probably ready to be replaced with new ones, since the run-out is probably excessive or there is a developing crack.
Looks like you have 1 or 2 events tops. An easy way to get the pad deposit off or very loose is to use a very aggressive wheel cleaner and spray it ALL over the rotor, let it sit for a minute then wash off and you get a lot of the glazing off the rotor.
Looking at your rotor further validates my rotor theory...the cheaper the better.
For me I would replace those rotors and keep those as spares. and with those cracks I would not use those rotors on Seabring again. Around town and you would be OK.
Lots of Heat checks and that one mark is just some extra pad material from an over heated pad. Take some spray brake cleaner and clean the rotors off.
Mine did the same thing after ONE DAY at VIR, and using HP+ pads. RB says it is normal, and they still have lots of life left in them. I'm not so sure. I'm thinking of buying a replacement set, ALONG WITH a set of Stoptech rotors, and running them side-by-side (ie one on each side).
This is what you need to remember. The Z06 is a very very fast car. It can go as fast as, or faster, than a World Challenge car at a track like Sebring, BUT you are carrying several extra hundred pounds of weight. Braking from 170 at Sebring, VIR, Rd Atlanta etc expells a LOT of heat energy, and that rapid ingestion of heat just kills rotors.
I too was surprised to see my rotors spider so quickly, but the cars are just damn fast! We all need some of those new Stoptech CARBON brakes!
If this ware and deposits are from 5.5 hrs on the track, then these rotors are in excellent shape. The spider cracks are too be expected, even after a lot less use, and the deposits are from the resins in the brake pads. These deposits can be removed by a couple of very hard and quick applications of the brakes from high speed starting with cold rotors and pads.
If you notice any vibrations or pulling during "normal" braking, after you "de-deposit" the rotors, then they are probably ready to be replaced with new ones, since the run-out is probably excessive or there is a developing crack.
Mine did the same thing after ONE DAY at VIR, and using HP+ pads. RB says it is normal, and they still have lots of life left in them. I'm not so sure. I'm thinking of buying a replacement set, ALONG WITH a set of Stoptech rotors, and running them side-by-side (ie one on each side).
This is what you need to remember. The Z06 is a very very fast car. It can go as fast as, or faster, than a World Challenge car at a track like Sebring, BUT you are carrying several extra hundred pounds of weight. Braking from 170 at Sebring, VIR, Rd Atlanta etc expells a LOT of heat energy, and that rapid ingestion of heat just kills rotors.
I too was surprised to see my rotors spider so quickly, but the cars are just damn fast! We all need some of those new Stoptech CARBON brakes!
I have a spare set of rotors I take to the track with spare pads just in case. I've emailed RB for them to comment but so far they have not responded to the photos that they asked for.
I'm real interested how the Stoptech would perform compared to the RB rotor.
My RB rotors did the same thing, after Roebling (160mph on the stright) and I have run them at Sebing, VIR and Road Atanta and Road America since then and they stayed about the same. I have looked at many other rotors at these tracks and Brembos and Stoptechs do the same thing. It's heat checking from the high temps. I have also measured the thickness and there is not much wear on the RB rotors even after 6 two day events. Less than 2mm of wear. I have also talked to RB about the rotors and they have assured me they are OK. I am also watching them to see how they continue to hold up. JD
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I doubt they are far from the junk pile. The last picture looks the worst. I would be shocked if you got another day like you had on them. How hot do you get them? Do you get them glowing in the daylight?
They may not split like a NAPA because of the ring shape and ability to move when heated. When my NAPA get like that they are not far from a split. I have AStoptechs with 600 miles and they are heat checked fairly well. I have not run the car yet this year but it will be interesting to see if they crack soon.
Which rotor is which in the pictures? My Stoptechs have almost no wear just the cracks with the Wilwood H pads or J's I forgot whats in there.
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I still can't comment on the ultimate condition of your rotors, but to address Johns concern, high-quality (from a metallurgical standpoint) rotors will not split anywhere near as early as the C5 rotors (oem, napa etc). I've race with Porsche guys that run there rotors for many many races after they get the cracks like above. When I ran Stoptechs on my old WC car, I also let them run well-cracked. They last a LOT longer than GM rotors, and I can only assume the RB's will also .
The only way for us to know for sure is for someone to keep running them until the crack all the way through. I don't know when I'll be back at the track, but I don't plan on changing mine until they indeed crack all the way.
I received this email from RB. I'm going to keep on with these rotors and pads.
From RB:
Gary,
From the pictures that you have sent showing the hairline crack the rotors
surface don't appear to be abnormal. Please read our article on rotor
surface cracks: http://www.racingbrake.com/main/surface_cracks.asp
We guarantee the performance of the rotors that will consistently deliver
strong brake torque under extreme braking conditions and high heat. Our
rotors are also highly resistant to the wear under the use of a most
aggressive high performance racing pads which means you will not have to
replace our rotor rings as frequently as other rotor manufacturers either
one-piece or two-piece rotors.
These rotors are safe to use and we recommend monitoring the thickness of
the rotors until they wear to the minimum thickness and the cracks are not
expanding.
completely normal.....Sebring is my home track and I just got back from RA.....couldn't believe how nice my brakes looked after a weekend at RA....but I'm used to Sebring......for your info: 9 RA sessions = 2 Sebring sessions. Sebring is brutal! Take an extra set in case but those are good for another day at Sebring or weekend at RA. Brake ducting helps a little if you don't have 'em already.
Gary, I have the StopTech BB kit (front and rears) with the Hawk DTC 70's front and 60's rear. My front rotors looked very similar to yours after a couple of events. I spoke to StopTech, LGM and Zeckhausen. All agreed this was normal and unless the cracks extended to the edge or you could "hang a finger nail from a crack" then this was normal. I air freighted in a set of front rotors (thank you David) just in case, about 6 events ago. They are still sitting in the air freight package that cost me an extra $100.
I just monitor the situation after each session and am prepared to change if need be.
completely normal.....Sebring is my home track and I just got back from RA.....couldn't believe how nice my brakes looked after a weekend at RA....but I'm used to Sebring......for your info: 9 RA sessions = 2 Sebring sessions. Sebring is brutal! Take an extra set in case but those are good for another day at Sebring or weekend at RA. Brake ducting helps a little if you don't have 'em already.
Mine did the same thing after ONE DAY at VIR, and using HP+ pads. RB says it is normal, and they still have lots of life left in them. I'm not so sure. I'm thinking of buying a replacement set, ALONG WITH a set of Stoptech rotors, and running them side-by-side (ie one on each side).
This is what you need to remember. The Z06 is a very very fast car. It can go as fast as, or faster, than a World Challenge car at a track like Sebring, BUT you are carrying several extra hundred pounds of weight. Braking from 170 at Sebring, VIR, Rd Atlanta etc expells a LOT of heat energy, and that rapid ingestion of heat just kills rotors.
I too was surprised to see my rotors spider so quickly, but the cars are just damn fast! We all need some of those new Stoptech CARBON brakes!
David and John....please let the rest of us know how the Stoptech rotors last in track usage. (How many track days/laps etc).
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brake rotor wear, what is your opinion?
