Upgrading Brakes Question
I have to replace the brakes on my 2017 Sierra 1500, Crew Cab, Standard Bed. I would like to upgrade to something better than OEM. The Powerstop Truck and Tow Performance pads and rotors (drilled an...
Forum Discussion
Today’s Friction material still out-gasses, just not as much and higher temps these days
The boundary layer between friction material and rotor has enough pressure to float the friction material off of the rotor surface. Is one of the components of fad. Boiling of the brake fluid is the other and there are tungsten heat-shrink shims that goes between the pad backing plate and caliper piston (haven’t seen them in a long time)
During my track and rally days, we used to cut a slots (some liked ‘X’ and I liked two radial) in the friction material with hacksaws and you all should look at today’s friction material. They or most of them have slots molded into them...even the El Cheapo’s
Also part of the squeegee effect getting water off the rotor surface,,,adding a slot gets another edge, in addition to an escape route for gases
Pad’s friction material slots takes the place of holes and slots on the rotor
The amount of weight taken off from drilling/machining rotors...lost in the noise in consideration that most going to larger dia wheels...aluminum is way heavier than air, so the bling 17”, 20”, etc increases the unstrung weight by a large factor. Plus increases the centrifugal forces that require more HP to get it spinning and braking power to slow/stop them
Bling sells and is of very high margin, so the OEM’s will continue to market holes/slots aggressively...along with other bling...like colored epoxy caliper paint
Hey Turtle...this discussion just reminded of a kid (guess he’s now in his 40’s or more) JamesB used to work at a race fuel company in S Calif. His blends were top notch. Last time talked to him, he was building a 1,000 HP 7.4L Suburban (GMT400)....lost track of him. Would be fun if you knew him !
The boundary layer between friction material and rotor has enough pressure to float the friction material off of the rotor surface. Is one of the components of fad. Boiling of the brake fluid is the other and there are tungsten heat-shrink shims that goes between the pad backing plate and caliper piston (haven’t seen them in a long time)
During my track and rally days, we used to cut a slots (some liked ‘X’ and I liked two radial) in the friction material with hacksaws and you all should look at today’s friction material. They or most of them have slots molded into them...even the El Cheapo’s
Also part of the squeegee effect getting water off the rotor surface,,,adding a slot gets another edge, in addition to an escape route for gases
Pad’s friction material slots takes the place of holes and slots on the rotor
The amount of weight taken off from drilling/machining rotors...lost in the noise in consideration that most going to larger dia wheels...aluminum is way heavier than air, so the bling 17”, 20”, etc increases the unstrung weight by a large factor. Plus increases the centrifugal forces that require more HP to get it spinning and braking power to slow/stop them
Bling sells and is of very high margin, so the OEM’s will continue to market holes/slots aggressively...along with other bling...like colored epoxy caliper paint
Hey Turtle...this discussion just reminded of a kid (guess he’s now in his 40’s or more) JamesB used to work at a race fuel company in S Calif. His blends were top notch. Last time talked to him, he was building a 1,000 HP 7.4L Suburban (GMT400)....lost track of him. Would be fun if you knew him !
