Replace Brake Rotors

Look through the maintenance schedule in the average owner’s manual and you probably won’t find a specific change interval for brake fluid. But, just because no specific time or mileage recommendations for ­replacing brake fluid exist, doesn’t mean you should ignore it, especially if you are using your car for competition purposes.

 

As a rule of thumb, the minimum preventative maintenance interval for brake fluid should be at least every two years, more frequently, if the vehicle is used in a high performance, or heavy duty use environment. Brake fluid should always be changed when the brakes pads or shoes are replaced or when replacing a caliper, wheel cylinder, brake line, hose or master cylinder. Bleeding and flushing brake fluid is the best way to minimize the danger of fluid boil and internal corrosion in the brake system.

DOT3 and DOT4 brake fluid contains glycol, as well as various corrosion inhibitors and seal conditioners. When brake fluid is manufactured, it contains no moisture. But the properties of brake fluid make it hygroscopic in nature, meaning it attracts water.

Moisture contamination causes several things to happen. When the fluid absorbs water, it lowers the fluid’s boiling temperature. DOT3 brake fluid, which is most commonly used in domestic cars and light trucks, has a minimum dry boiling point of 401ºF. A 3% level of water contamination will lower the boiling point 25% or 100ºF!

 

After just one year of service, DOT3 fluid may contain as much as 2% water. After 18 months, the level of contamination can be as high as 3%. And after several years of service, it’s not unusual to find brake fluid that has soaked up as much as 7-8% water. The problem is even more acute in older vehicles due to internal seal wear and porosity in the brake hoses. Replacing your hoses with a Goodridge G-Stop Brakeline Kit with stainless steel brake lines goes a long way toward reducing this possibility.

Under normal driving conditions, neglected brake fluid may not pose a serious safety concern. The calipers on most cars and trucks won’t get hot enough in everyday driving to make the fluid boil. But under severe conditions, such as: driving down a mountain, towing a heavy trailer or the occasional track day, the brakes may get hot enough to make the fluid boil. Braking generates a lot of heat. A quick stop from 40 or 50 mph can raise the temperature of the front rotors a couple hundred degrees. Several hard, quick stops in rapid succession or riding the brakes while driving, can increase rotor temperatures to 600°F or higher. Since vapor is compressable but liquid is not, once brake fluid turns to vapor, the bubbles cause an increase in the distance the pedal must travel to apply the brakes. This is called “pedal fade” and it may result in brake failure.

You really can’t tell how contaminated brake fluid is just by looking at it. New fluid may be clear to amber-colored. The fluid will typically become darker as it ages, but this doesn’t necessarily mean it’s contaminated. If you see rust or sediment in the fluid, the fluid is long overdue for a change. High brake temperatures accelerate the rate at which the corrosion inhibitors in brake fluid break down. As the fluid ages, oxidation eats away at metal surfaces, creating dissolved acids and sludge that are carried with the fluid. These contaminants increase seal, piston and bore wear in the calipers, wheel cylinders and master cylinder. They can also damage ABS solenoid valves and cause them to jam and stick.

ATE Type 200 Amber Brake Fluid

ATE Super Blue Racing Brake Flui

For performance or heavy duty applications I would recommend ATE Type 200 Amber Brake Fluid or ATE Super Blue Racing Brake Fluid. Both are designed to excel within the extreme demands made on a heavy duty or race vehicle and exceed all DOT4 standards. They are compatible with and will mix well with most DOT3, DOT4 or DOT5.1 fluids. Their formulations offer higher boiling points (wet or dry) and minimal drop in boiling point with age, resulting in a longer lasting fluid. By alternating the use of blue and amber colored fluids, evidence of a more complete system flush can be accomplished. When adding fluid to the system, use the type of brake fluid specified by the vehicle manufacturer (DOT3 or DOT4). Brake fluid specifications can be found in the vehicle's owner’s manual, maintenance guide, or on the master cylinder reservoir or filler cap.

 

 

 

What makes the DBA (Disc Brakes Australia) rotors special?

Hard braking that is done during repeated stopping on the street or the track builds a lot of heat into the rotor. This can cause brake fade and the rotors to eventually warp. Heat is the number one enemy of rotors and brakes. DBA brake rotors combat heat with a unique design called the Kangaroo Paw.

The ''Kangaroo Paw'' design features a series of 144 diamond- and tear drop-shaped pillars and columns individually spaced between the rotor faces. This unique system is able to dissipate heat much quicker than a standard rotor giving you the confidence you need during high-speed braking.

I have used the DBA 4000 Series rotor on my car and can highly recommend them for yours as well.

Last weekend’s project was to replace the brakes on my Pontiac. The O.E. brake rotors and pads had served us well but it was time for something a little better. Over the winters, the rotors had rusted and didn't look as good with the new Elbrus wheels on the car.

The nice thing about brake systems (brake pad and brake rotor combination) at Tire Rack is that there is usually more than one option for your vehicle. For example, for my 2000 Pontiac there are nine different choices of front and rear brakes and seven different brake rotors available. That may seem overwhelming, but actually it is pretty easy to make a selection. Decide ahead of time what is important to you: low noise, stopping power, or low dust. Then select a performance category and use the red bubble brake pad grading scale nnext to the brake pads to pick the best pad. Whether they end up being ceramic disc brake pads or composite disc brake pads, pick the custom brake set-up that works best for your needs and driving style.

My goal for the brake system on the Pontiac was to achieve good, predictable stopping power with minimal noise and lower levels of dust. I selected the ATE PremiumOne Rotors with Hawk Performance Ceramic Pads front and rear. They look and stop much better with the new wheels!

If you recently purchased a new set of brake pads, you'll want to make sure you observe the bed-in procedures specifically outlined by each manufacturer (click for details). But before you get to that point, you'll need to make sure those brake pads are installed correctly. We can recommend an installer, or you can do it yourself if you're experienced—either way, make sure the pads are installed on new or resurfaced rotors that are clean and without excessive run-out. In fact, if the run-out is more than .004" then you'll want to replace it.

Once installed, you'll want to observe those manufacturer bed-in guidelines very carefully. That means there will be a specific amount of mileage where you'll need to drive somewhat moderately so that the brake pad compounds can successfully develop the necessary film on the rotors. Failing to observe those mileages can lead to excessive heat buildup, which can negatively affect your new braking system.

Click here to read "Brake Pad and Rotor Bed-In Procedures" in our library of Brake Tech articles. And as always, you can shop by vehicle for brake system upgrades.

I recently replaced the brake rotors and pads on my everyday driver. The car has 100,000 miles on it so I was looking for a good value. After doing my research on Tire Rack website, I decided on the Centric Premium rotors.

I am very glad I made the choice. It is a definite upgrade from the previous brake package. And with the addition of Hawk brake pads, the braking transition is very smooth and quiet. It gives me confidence in all driving conditions

Are you looking for better stopping power, lower noise and dust, less pad and rotor wear? Then you need to get "Hawkish" about your brakes.

Hawk Performance brake pads have been successful in motorsports for almost 20 years. SCCA, NASA, CART and NASCAR are just a few of the many professional and amateur racing organizations worldwide whose participants use Hawk pads. This success helps Hawk Performance enjoy the benefits of the “Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday,” philosophy. Hawk is one of few brake pad manufacturers that can deliver on the promise, “Race Proven – Street Legal.”

Hawk Performance’s brake pads provide maximum stopping power without excess dust, noise and rotor overheating or uniformity issues. Superior stopping power coupled with low dust and noise is why I recommend Hawk Performance by name. 

If you want a great performance pad with more initial "bite" for street or occasional autocross use, but don't want to take a bite out of your rotors, look no further.

The High Performance Street / HPS compound offers a higher coefficient of friction over stock brake pads and can provide you 20-40% more stopping power and higher resistance to brake fade than standard replacement pads. Less fade means you’ll have a highly durable brake pad with less brake dust.

HPS Street Features:

• Increased stopping power
• High friction/torque hot or cold
• Gentle on rotors
• Extended pad life
• Low dust
• Virtually noise-free

Do you consider yourself a spirited driver with a performance car that gives you great pleasure to drive? You want to get the most out of your brakes but you don't want to spend all of your time cleaning those nice wheels? I have one word for you, "Ceramic."

Performance Ceramic is engineered to reduce brake NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness), creating a quieter performing brake pad. The ceramic brake pad formula has a linear friction profile that allows your ABS brake system to work more effectively. With Performance Ceramic you can expect reduced brake pad wear, lower dust output levels and a rotor-friendly brake pad, with better than O.E. stopping power.

• Increased stopping power
• Increased rotor life
• Extended pad life
• Ultra-low dust
• Extremely quiet
• Stable friction output

HP Plus utilizes a unique Ferro-Carbon, high-tech friction material that was developed and manufactured for sport driving in autocross, and “track day” applications. The pad formulation offers lower wear rates and higher torque values. Extremely high coefficient of friction makes HP Plus the perfect upgrade over stock for high performance cars used in autocross competition and applications that require or experience repetitive heavy braking.                                                    

HP Plus Features:

• Extremely high friction output
• Fade resistant
• Perfect for autocross & club racing events

It's time to get Hawkish about your brakes with the "Hawk Advantage"

• Quick warm-up with strong, balanced initial bite
• 20-40% more stopping power over stock pads
• Rotor friendly - will not shorten rotor life
• Outlast stock brake pads
• Superior fade resistance
• Low dust properties
• Whisper quiet performance

Don't overlook your brake system when upgrading your vehicle with performance parts. Tire Rack has a number of brake pads and brake rotors available to fit the needs of your driving style. If you prefer replacement brake pads similar to the Original Equipment pads or something with a little more performance or event track pads, Tire Rack has them available and while replacing the pads it's also a good time to replace the rotors while you're on the job.

Don't worry; all you need to know is which vehicle you want to put your brakes on. We have Audi Brake Pads, Acura Brake Pads, BMW Brake Pads, and Brake Pads made to fit many other vehicles. Just let us know the year, make and model of your car and we'll guide you through the selection process. 

All of the brake pads and brake rotors are divided into four categories: Premium, Performance Street, Autocross/Track and Truck & SUV.  I would suggest picking rotors and brakes from the same performance categories to ensure a good match.



Brake Tech Information

Need better brakes for your oversize All Terrain Tires or Mud Tires that you can't slow down fast enough? Give Hawk Performance brake pads a try. I have a Toyota 4Runner with 33X12.50X17 All Terrain Tires on it. Stopping the vehicle on 33" tires with the stock brakes was a challenge at times. Hawk Performance HPS pads offer 20-40% more stopping power over the Original Equipment pads.


 I installed the Hawk HPS street brake pads on my 4Runner and what a big difference it made. With the Hawk HPS pads the braking feels like I have the Original Equipment size tires back on the SUV.

Key Features and Benefits of Hawk Performance HPS Brake Pads:

• High friction/torque hot or cold
• Gentle on rotors
• Very quiet, low nois
• Improved braking over OE pads
• Extended pad life 

 
 

Key Features & Benefits of Hawk Performance LTS Brake Pads:

Improved braking over standard replacement pads
Smooth engagement
Extremely fade resistant
Low noise output
Low dust output
Extended pad life
Increased rotor life

   



     If you just can't stop, try the Hawk HP SuperDuty brake pads. The Hawk SuperDuty brake pads will give you the best stopping power but you will notice more noise and dust from these pads.

Key Features and Benefits of Hawk Performance SuperDuty Brake Pads:

• Stable friction output
• Extremely fade resistant
• Extended pad life
• Increased rotor life
• Much improved braking over OE pads

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.

Are you having issues with your brakes squeaking? Is it time for a replacement or are they fairly new?

Let's start with the possibility that they need to be replaced. Often the manufacturer of your brake pad will add metal clips that cause squealing or squeaking to occur when the pads are worn. If this seems to be the case, time for new brakes. Here is a quick part list of what you will need:

PADS.  You need to select a pad that works well for how you drive.

Semi Metallic:   more aggressive and more stopping power, but more noise and dust.
                        Examples:  Hawk HPS Street Sport, ATE Original Premium One, 
                                          Satisfied GranSport GS6
Ceramic:          less dust and noise, but not as aggressive bite and stopping power.
                        Examples:  Akebono Pro ACT, ATE Premium One, Hawk Performance Ceramic

ROTORS.   More than likely you will need rotors. It is recommended that you do not turn your rotors, but replace with new ones. A rotor's effectiveness is based on dispersing heat, and taking any metal away will diminish its ability to do such.

Solid:               Normal driving to autocross racing (parking lot with cones/markers)
                        Centric, Cryo-Stop, Brembo
Slotted:           Extremely aggressive driving to road racing. (large, repeated speed changes)
                       ATE, Power Slot, Power Slot Cryo, Brembo, DBA

FLUID.  If it has been 50+ thousand miles or you drive your vehicle hard, you may consider flushing your fluid. If you fluid looks like coffee or tea at the caliper end, time to flush.

So if you are the type of person that decides to change the brakes on your BMW 335i and are looking for an added edge, this is a project you can do! Remember when you upgraded to the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tire? Choosing the right brakes will make the same difference for stopping as the difference the right tire makes for cornering!

I own a 4-wheel drive Chevy Tahoe, a heavy SUV with fairly small brakes. I have replaced the front rotors with Original Equipment equivalent rotors only to replace them again a few months later due to severe warping from the heat generated by every day normal braking.

Cryo-stop rotors have been the solution to my problem. Although they still look like stock rotors, internally the cryogenic treatment has dramatically increased durability and abrasive wear resistance. Installed over 3 years ago and with more than 45k miles, they show no signs of warping or fading. Matched with Hawk LTS pads which have improved stopping power, far better from the original equipment pads.

Tire Rack carries Cryo-treated rotors to fit most SUVs and trucks on the market today.

I don't know about everyone else, but in my opinion there is nothing worse than not being able to stop. So let's take a minute to talk about brakes. Stopping power is derived from the friction material. Friction material is more commonly known as a brake pad. Pads create friction against the rotor which allows the vehicle to stop. This whole process creates a lot of heat and the heat can be the problem.
                                                           
Rotors are available from a lot of different sources and and from multiple manufacturers.  Some are a basic metallurgy and normally are not very resistant to the effects of heat. Products sold at Tire Rack manufactured by DBA, Centric, Power Slot, Brembo, and ATE are premium products with metal alloys which have less impurities and will be less likely to have failure due to over heating.

Cryogenic treating is a process that hardens the steel of a rotor and results in a molecular restructuring that makes the surface harder and more durable. Power Slot offers a cryo rotor, and these are strongly recommended for those who spend time on the track or put their vehicle through some extreme conditions.

When it comes to pads, I recommend the Hawk Performance products. Hawk has some of the most consistent products on the market, and offer a wide range of pads starting with a quiet and comfortable ceramic pad, up through pads that are designed to be used on the race track only.  The best part of the HAWK line...they have everything in between too!

When it comes to replacing the wheels and tires on an SUV and plus sizing is the direction that you have chosen to go, remember that with bigger wheels comes higher weights. The rotational mass that comes along with the larger wheels will put more stress on the braking system and this should be considered. The last thing that you want to do is park your newly upgraded truck in the trunk of someone's civic.  

When selecting brake pads and rotors, it is important to remember that you need to consider your driving style, your expectations, and the vehicle's dynamics.

• If you are person that drives to and from, and is looking for quiet and comfortable, I would look at the Centric Premium Rotors and the Hawk Performance Ceramic Pads.
• If you are a spirited street driver, I would look at the Centric Premium Rotors and the Hawk HPS pads.
• For the weekend autocross contender or occasional track day driver, take a look at the Power Slot rotors and the Hawk HP Plus pads.
• For dedicated track car, DBA 5000 Series or Power Slot Cryo, and the Hawk Blue 9012.

There is something out there for everyone....so stop...and smell the brake dust!

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.

They're some of the most popular replacement brake rotors on the market, and there's a reason for it. Brembo brake rotors are produced on the most sophisticated equipment available, all under the philosophy that "testing and re-testing to improve and perfect" is the only way to go. Here's an in-depth look at the company's practices:

First up, a prototype that undergoes intense testing to bring out any potential weaknesses. Testing is done on a test bench and a brake dynamometer, after which it's put on a vehicle so that trained drivers can "feel" any imperfections. When all of this is done, Brembo engineers review the results and make any necessary modifications to the prototype.

When the team is pleased, the prototype travels to the foundry where production takes place. It's a detailed process, but the Brembo team takes great care to make sure that every step is environmentally friendly. Raw materials are chosen and the product begins to form.

The machining phase is carried out according to the exact criteria outlined by the engineers, and with only a .0025-inch runout (which is exactly half of the industry standard). All products are electronically balanced, and quality control is ever present.

In the end, men and machine work together to create a finished product that satisfies drivers like you on the streets or on the tracks. You can rest assured that all finished products are examined to make sure the results are in line with Brembo's "improve and perfect" philosophy.

At Tire Rack, we have a complete selection of Brembo brake systems and rotors for a variety of different vehicles. Shop according to your vehicle to see which Brembo products suit your needs.

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.

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.

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.