Brake Components

All aftermarket brake products are not suitable for the high speeds associated with track use. For example, stay clear of drilled or dimpled rotors. They may look high-performance and they can resist some of the gasses that tend to build up between the brake pad and the rotor, but they can't handle the temperatures that result from track speeds and repetitive stops. If you do choose to use these types of rotors on your race vehicle, which we do not recommend, we suggest you carefully inspect your brake components before each and every use—and definitely stop driving on them if you see any sign of deterioration.

It is probably best to just stay away from racing with drilled and dimpled brake rotors since improper use will negate their warranty. And you never know if or when you'll need to call upon that warranty for help. Instead, consider the following:



Centric Premium Rotors







Brembo Sport Slotted Rotors








DBA 4000 Series Rotors







DBA 5000 Series Rotors




This, of course, is not the complete list of race capable rotors. Click here for a complete list of rotors and then filter your search to view track-appropriate options.

A question we often get from our customers is, “Do I need to break in my new tires?" The answer is yes! It is highly recommended that you follow a break-in procedure whenever you purchase a new set of tires.

Easy cornering, braking, and acceleration for the first five hundred miles usually works best. Braking in your new tires this way allows the various components (rubber, steel, and fabric) used in the construction of the tire to slowly work together and to perform their duties within the tire to deliver maximum performance and ride quality.

In addition, it allows the lubricants used to release tires from their molds to wear off the surface of the new tire. Until this lubricant wears away, your new tires will have a reduced level of traction, especially in wet conditions.

By following the tire break-in procedure outlined above, you will set your new tires up for the best possible performance and to deliver results to meet your expectations! For more information on tire break-in and other related tire topics, please visit our web site.

Shock absorbers can be complicated if you're not precisely sure about your individual needs. There are a variety of shock options, and each option directly affects ride comfort and stability—even safety. Take a look at the following force velocity graph:

Visually speaking, the answer to that question is fairly obvious. But there's more to an aftermarket wheel than simply the good looks. Aftermarket alloy wheels produce a number of performance benefits for your vehicle, starting with reduced unsprung weight compared to steel wheels. What is unsprung weight? Any portion of your vehicle not supported by the suspension system. Without that support, those components get hit with road shock and cornering forces. To combat that, wheels make steering precise and improve "turning in" characteristics.

Aftermarket rims are also lighter than steel rims, which helps reduce the overall weight of your car. Clearly a lighter car handles much easier than one with significant weight to it. In addition, alloy wheels are quite strong. And strong wheels support your tires in the corner.

Finally, alloy wheels are made with metals that conduct heat most excellently. Heat is moved away from the brakes, which reduces brake fade. And often, alloy wheels are designed in a way that allows air to flow away from the brakes a little easier.

Still wonder why aftermarket wheels are so great? Let's go back to that visual note. Play around in the Upgrade Garage to see what some of Tire Rack's best aftermarket wheels look like on your vehicle. You just might find yourself sold on a particular set from one of our manufacturers. A list that includes BBS, moda, MSW and more.

Michelin Pilot Sport Cup Tires. Check.

Hawk Blue 9012 Track Only Brake Pads. Check.

Forged Racing Wheels. Check.

A day booked at the track. Ahhhhhhhh. Bliss. The smell of hot brakes, tires and engines. Old, bald men going through their midlife crises and standing around their new Porsches and BMWs comparing the size of their tires and scratching their bellies at the price they paid for the wheels that will no DOUBT take valuable seconds off their lap times. Seconds that will make them KING of the water cooler on Monday morning. As they are removed from the trailer and installed one by one, how many of them are inspected for cracks? You'd be surprised.

"These wheels are FORGED, and they won't break!" I hear it more than you'd think. Thing is, what most people don't realize is that while lightweight and strong, any wheel , even forged wheels, can crack due to stress or impact. There may not be an obvious bend in the wheel. Where there is a crack, there is a break waiting to happen.

While it's fun to tease (out of jealousy, really), it is important to remember that regardless of what you are racing on, it's imperative that you periodically check your wheels for cracks.

Modern performance cars with high output engines, huge brakes and well tuned susspensions put as much force and stress on wheels as many dedicated race cars. Race teams go through great trouble to inspect wheels for signs of trouble. You should inspect yours, too. The intense extended heat and stress caused on the entire vehicle requires that drivers take extra time and care to ensure there is no hidden damage to any vehicle component.

We have a great tech article that track drivers find useful.

Being king of a Monday morning water cooler means you have to be able to get to it first.

Ceramic disc brake pads tend to lessen excess brake noise and dust, which is a common side effect of semi-metallic brake pads. In addition, ceramic pads handle high brake temperatures with less heat fade while promoting a speedy recovery after harsh stopping. Ceramic disc brake pads certainly are among the best of the best brake components out there, which is why Tire Rack stocks a number of options from reputable brands like Akebono, Hawk and Satisfied. We could go on and on about how much we like them, but we'll let our happy customers speak for themselves:

Akebono ProACT Ceramic Pads
"Installed these about 3 weeks ago. Absolutely no dust, and stopping power seems to be the same as the OEM dust-makers. No noise. Changing the pads was a snap, everything fit." — Tire Rack Consumer Review, Chevrolet Trailblazer, LA


Hawk Performance Ceramic Pads
"I was a little hesitant about purchasing a brake pad that promised less dust yet was quieter than OE. I'm hard on brakes and have extremely high expectations. These ceramic Hawk pads combined with the PowerSlot rotors have great responsiveness, stopping power, but have great control especially for such a heavy vehicle. 100% better than OE." — Tire Rack Consumer Review, Ford Expedition, CA

Satisfied Pro Ceramic VS Pads
"These pads do just what they say. No noise, dust is very minimum, and the pads perform very good stopping from 160 mph to 0. The 300c SRT8 425 HP has no mercy on tires or break pads. Bottom line these pads are great. Thanks to Tire Rack for the great price." — Tire Rack Consumer Review, Chrysler 300C, AR


Shop Tire Rack's inventory of brake components by vehicle to see if these fit yours.

When we think about our vehicle's brakes, we often jump to the brake pads or the rotors—but brake fluid is just as critical. It take the pressure we apply to the brake pedal and transmits it to the brake components, which then stops your vehicle. As proven experts in all things brakes, ATE delivers an excellent selection of premium brake fluids for a variety of different applications. You'll find the following in the Tire Rack inventory of aftermarket brake products:




ATE Super Blue Racing Brake Fluid
• Blue tint makes bleeding brakes easier
• Ideal for race vehicles, but works in street cars
• Designed to last up to three years
• NOTE: This fluid is not DOT-approved in Florida





ATE Typ 200 Amber Brake Fluid
• Excels within extreme demands made on race vehicles
• Exceeds all DOT 4 standards
• Outstanding water binding properties
• Designed to last up to three years

 

 

 

Just remember that brake fluid, like all of the fluids in your vehicle, should be changed according to your vehicle's specifications. Especially if you're driving a race vehicle, where routine brake fluid changes are critical.
 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that each gallon of gas saved also means that 19.4 fewer pounds of CO2 emissions are released into the Earth’s atmosphere, so every gallon of gasoline saved helps reduce fuel costs, and in turn, helps to reduce the nation’s dependence on oil. As consumers we are all very interested in how to save money and be more energy and environmentally friendly.

Continental has introduced its ProContact with EcoPlus Technology. Their objective was to create a tire that responds to the need for an environmentally friendly, low rolling resistance tire without compromising other performances, like wet braking and mileage, that are the typical trade-offs of other ‘eco’ tires. The premium all season tire was developed to deliver improved fuel economy and treadwear and reduce harmful CO2 emissions while surpassing competing tire lines.

The ProContact with EcoPlus Technology goes beyond other premium touring tires and makes groundbreaking advances in rolling resistance, which saves fuel and helps reduce driving costs.l

With the ProContact with EcoPlus Technology – Continental engineers have been able to deliver wet traction and lowered rolling resistance without compromising either characteristic. ”The ProContact with EcoPlus Technology has proved to deliver more controlled braking and significantly shorter stopping distances.”

Available in a T-speed rating with a UTQG rating of 600 AB, it is available in a variety of 15- to 18-inch sizes to fit a wide range of vehicles for fuel-conscious motorists.

The EcoPlus Technology consists of two main components: Tg-F Polymers and Plus Silane. Tg-F polymers are temperature-activated functional polymers that increase compound bonding, improving the wear and fuel efficiency of the tire. Plus Silane is an additive that works to enhance the tire’s grip on slippery roads to reduce stopping distances. The compound is molded into a symmetric design that blends dry road steering response and handling with wide circumferential grooves that promote hydroplaning resistance and wet traction. Continental's PROactive Edge Technology brings more active edges into the contact patch to promote foul-weather traction while minimizing on-road noise. The tire's internal structure includes twin steel belts that stabilize the tread area to promote strength and treadwear.

These technologies work together to enhance the driving experience for a long tire life when conditions are normal, plus provide excellent wet braking on slippery roads.

The tire comes with a 72-month manufacturer’s workmanship warranty and 12 months free Replacement; 12 months of road hazard coverage; a 60-day customer satisfaction warranty and an 80,000-mile limited tread wear warranty.

We all know how important your brake components are to the overall safety of your vehicle. But when it comes time to purchase new brake components, the correct choice can be painfully unobvious. At Tire Rack, we do everything we can to help you through the process.

You can search our inventory according to your vehicle, after which we'll create a customized list of products.

When it comes time to replace brakes, we suggest you start by looking at the type of brakes that are currently on your vehicle. What can be improved upon? What are you willing to trade to make that happen? Then check out our Performance Categories. You may find yourself gravitating toward one in particular.

Think about combining brake pad replacements with new rotors, too. Sport slotted and/or drilled rotors will make your car look like it belongs on the track, and can also enhance your brake system. In fact, there are a number of tweaks you can make to improve your brake system beyond just changing the performance brake pads.

Shop by vehicle to see a list of suitable products for yours, from which you can pick according to your individual needs.

If you seek the ultimate in brake components, then you'll want a Goodrich G-Stop Brakeline Kit from Tire Rack. For well over 20 years, Goodrich has been supplying high performance hose and hose fittings to some of the world's best racing teams. And with a little extra research and development, they've figured out a way to convert that power to products suitable for serious streetcars.

The G-Stop Brakeline Kit provides three to six stainless steel braided hoses (depending on your vehicle) that promote a more responsive brake pedal. The stainless steel leaves your brakes feeling firm, not "spongy" which is a term commonly associated with rubber brake lines. And since the hose is stainless steel, you can rest assured that the line will resist corrosion for a long time.

"I tow a 16-inch car trailer or 14-inch enclosed landscaping trailer almost every day. Installed the Goodridge lines to replace the OEM brake lines, outstanding pedal feel. Much more solid than stock hoses. No fade rotor warping or any adverse problems." — Tire Rack Consumer Review, Chevrolet Blazer, FL

Shop all brake components by vehicle to see this and other aftermarket brake components for yours.

I often get asked why our website requires you to shop for a wheel by vehicle. Why can't you select a bolt pattern to see what wheels are available? Quite simply, the correct bolt pattern is a small piece in the wheel fitment puzzle and alone, does not guarantee a fit.

Other items we measure or verify:

• Bolt Pattern
• Centerbore Diameter
• Hub Diameter
• Load Capacity
• Lug Hardware
• Suspension Components Clearance

Below is a diagram showing the relative position of the main suspension and brake components and the potential points of contact with the wheel.

   

If your OEM rotors have seen better days, then it's high-time you purchase replacement brake rotors. Not exactly sure what "better days" means? Technically speaking, every brake rotor has a "Worn Rotor Minimum Thickness" limit. You can find this information engraved on the edge of the brake disc, and you'll have to measure accordingly. But if you're using your vehicle on the track, it's a completely different story as brake components on a race car undergo extreme heat and pressure. They'll wear faster and should be replaced well before their wear limits (read more).

And since brake rotors are a major component of your brake system, you'll want to make sure that only a trained mechanic does the swap out. Incorrectly installing any new brake component can seriously curb your safety.

Read more about brake rotors, then search Tire Rack's inventory. We'll give you a list of appropriate rotors that might include ATE, Power Slot and Brembo rotors.

Car brake pads don't last forever. There are a number of available replacement brake pads. And the leader in advanced friction technology? Hawk performance brake pads. If it's time to replace brake pads on your vehicle, you'll want to check out our inventory of Hawk products — whether you're driving the streets or the track.

Hawk Performance Ceramic Brake Pads: "I was a little hesitant about purchasing a brake pad that promised less dust yet was quieter than OE. This is my wife's vehicle but I use it to tow my race car. These ceramic Hawk pads combined with the Powerslot rotors have great responsiveness, stopping power, but have great control especially for such a heavy vehicle. 100% better than OE - quieter, smoother, less dust. These definitely deliver more than they promise." — Tire Rack Consumer Review, Ford Expedition, CA

Hawk Blue 9012 Track Only Pads: "I attend 10-14 track days per year, mostly at VIR. I've begun to drive deeper into corners putting additional stress on the braking components. The Hawk Blues (combined with HP Plus on the rear) have provided me with exceptional, consistent, non-fading braking power. The MINI weighs about 2,700 pounds and these pads last for 4 days on the track." — Tire Rack Consumer Review, MINI Cooper, VA

Click here to learn more about these products, as well as other Hawk brake pads.

Brembo is one of the most well-respected names in the aftermarket brake industry. An Italian company, Brembo takes every measure possible to help drivers rest assured that they've upgraded their braking power and level of performance.

From Brembo brake pads to high performance rotors, no product slips through the strictest of quality standards. And lucky for you, Tire Rack has those same standards—and we feature a number of Brembo brake components, including:

• Gran Turismo Brake Systems
• Replacement Rotors

Search all of our brake components to find these Brembo products and more for your vehicle.

As you drive down the road, you may notice a flash of red through the spokes of the wheels on the car next to you. They might be Brembo brakes, or perhaps a symbol of the creative driver within.
The G-2 Brake Caliper PaintSystem set gives you the creative freedom to personalize yet another aspect of your vehicle. Give your stock brake calipers an expensive, high performance look and add color to rear drum brake-equipped vehicles. The paint is easily applied with a brush, and actually helps protect such an important part of your vehicle from harmful oils, chemicals and rust.

And the best part—you don't even have to remove your calipers to paint them.

You can choose from the following colors:

Shop all brake components available at Tire Rack.

Ever thought to buy brake pads and rotors online? With Tire Rack you can buy brake pads and brake rotors of your choice shipped to you, or your installer. Tire Rack has brake components to fit your vehicle broken down into four performance categories to help with the selection process.

• Premium
• Performance Street
• Autocross/Track
• Truck & SUV

About a year ago, I noticed my Chevy Impala's brake system was not performing like I remembered. The Impala is used to get me back and forth to work in an efficient manor. All I needed was an Original Equipment replacement level brake product. I selected the Akebono ProACT Ceramic Brake Pads from the Premium Brake Pad category. I always like to use the products  Tire Rack carries to see for myself how they work in the field, so I made the purchase and got to work updating the Impala with my new Akebono ProACT Ceramic Pads.

The Akebono ProAct Ceramic Pads have met my expectations. They work well in rain and dry conditions and do not make a lot of dust. One thing I did notice during winter driving is the Akebono ProAct Ceramic Pads do have a little more initial bite as the front wheels have locked up a few more times than last winter with my O.E. brake pads (no ABS on the Impala). No worries; a small change to my braking style and I'm happy with the overall performance of the brake system on my car.

Not to forget the brake rotors, as its always a great time to replace brake rotors and brake pads at the same time. The Centric Premium Rotor is a great Original Equipment replacement rotor. One thing I really like about the Centric Premium Rotor is the Electrocoating (E-coating) black finish. The finish really makes the rotors look sharp especially if you have a wheel that shows the rotors or, have a winter wheel that shows the rotor more than the summer wheels.

Check to see which rotors or brake pads work best for your car at Tire Rack. Tire Rack has many brake system options to chose from. I just wanted something like the Original Equipment brake system.  You may want to step it up for some additional performance. Tire Rack can offer you the custom brake pad and rotor package to meet your needs.

Technically speaking, the answer is no. They're very different.

It's fairly obvious that an SUV is larger and therefore weighs more than a car. To reference Sir Isaac Newton, that means a greater force will be needed to stop an SUV when it is in motion. It's the law of physics, and we've made it the law of brakes, too.

SUV brakes take into account stop and go traffic in a larger, heavier vehicle. Also towing, and the fact that SUV wheels and tires are usually larger than those on passenger vehicles. It's important to note, however, that not all Original Equipment or high ceramic pads are capable of handling these factors. And that's why SUV brake pads are so important—because they were designed with all of these factors in mind.

They were designed to reduce stopping distance and pedal effort, which makes vehicle operation even safer.

Outfit your light truck or SUV with SUV-specific brake components to increase your margin of safety and to improve your vehicle's stopping performance. Shop by vehicle, and Tire Rack will produce a list of suitable options.

Like all of the brake components we carry, Cryo-Stop Premium Rotors blend quality with innovation. We're particular when it comes time to replace brake rotors, and we're sure you are, too. So check out the ways Cryo-Stop's manufacturing process makes their rotors ones to consider.

Cryo-Stop rotors feature an electrostatically applied finish (an "E-coating") that covers every last bit of the rotor—which is something typical spray-on finishes can't necessarily claim.

So what's the advantage? Long lasting corrosion protection. And we do mean long lasting. The E-coating is actually formulated to withstand over 400 hours of saltwater exposure without rusting.

They are also cryogenically treated, which means they're cooled to -300 degrees F and then slowly brought back to room temperature. This process positively affects the metal to a point where it'll last up to three times as long as untreated rotors.

Learn more about Cryogenics, then search for brake rotors.

ATE ("Ah-Tay") brake pads come from one of the world's leading brake system manufacturers, Continental Automotive Systems—and we've put these brake pads online just for you.

Combining innovative technology with quality materials and expert engineering, ATE brake pads meet and exceed O.E. performance and safety standards across the board. And across the pond. ATE has been a trusted brake pad brand in Europe for over 100 years, and that proven expertise is something we at Tire Rack are very excited to share with our customers.

Our list of ATE products includes the PremiumOne™ brake pads. Advanced friction formulations enhance pad performance, reduce wheel dusting and extend pad life while shims, chamfers and slots minimize excess noise. These are excellent O.E. replacement options for both domestic and Asian vehicles alike.

Search our entire inventory of brake system products to find ATE brake components for your vehicle.

If you recently purchased a set of car brake pads from Tire Rack, we'd love to hear what you think about them. Were they everything we said they would be? Are they meeting your expectations? Good or bad, we want to hear about your car brake pads.

We like to collect this information for a variety of reasons. One, it gives our customers something to reference as they come to a purchase decision. Two, it helps us keep tabs on our products—we want to make sure that they perform to the levels described to us and, in consequence, to you. In essence, it helps us maintain an inventory with such high standards.

Click here to fill out a Brake Components Survey. We promise it won't take long.

Did we recommend an installer to help with your brake pad replacements? Let us know how they did.

And last, but certainly not least, we thank you again for your purchase.