FAQs

Brembo's calipers are directional, due to the use of sequential piston sizes. The leading pistons are smaller in diameter in order to combat uneven wear of the brake pads. Upon close examination of the caliper, you will find a small arrow cast in place which denotes the direction of disc rotation. Additionally, when mounted on the vehicle, the bleed screw(s) must be at the top of the caliper.

Brake discs are one of the major brake tuning options which a professional race team has at their disposal at any typical race weekend. There are many subtle changes that can be made to a brake disc casting or configuration which can drastically influence braking characteristics. A brake disc's face type (slot / groove pattern) is one of those changes, and can influence many braking characteristics.

Some of them are:

• Initial response (bite)
• Control and modulation
• Release
• Pad wear
• Disc wear

Brembo Racing Type-3 Discs installed on GMG Twin Turbo Audi R8

There are also many variables which are considered when engineering a brake disc face type. Changing some of these variables can drastically influence the overall performance of the brake disc. Some (of the many) variables which are taken into consideration for brake disc slot design are:

• Slot depth
• Slot angle
• Length of slot
• Number of slots

Audi R8 LMS with Brembo 370 mm Type-1 racing discs in the front. Photo: James Boone

Brembo and Brembo Racing primarily offer 4 different brake disc face patterns based on the application, intended use, driver preference, and other technical requirements of the application or chassis.

Brembo Drilled Disc Assembly

Drilled: Drilled brake discs are suitable for a wide range of applications, operating temperatures and driving environments (especially wet weather).

• Benefit: Offers the highest initial response of all the available disc face types while continuously refreshing the braking surface and being also typically a bit lighter.
• Drawback: Drilled discs are generally more prone to heat checking and thermal cracking if used consistently at extremely high temperatures. This however, really depends on the track, driver, and chassis setup.

Brembo Type-1 "8 slot" Disc Assembly

Type-1: Brembo "8 straight – slot" face type with an emphasis on stable brake feel and improved resilience against thermal cracking.

• Benefit: Stable braking feel at all temperatures, low disc wear, and continuously refreshing the braking surface for optimum performance.
• Drawback: The Type-1 standard disc face has the lowest "initial response" or "bite" compared to Brembo Drilled, Type-3 or Type-5 discs.

Brembo Type-3 Disc Assembly

Type-3 (Aggressive Face Type): Motorsport developed face type with an emphasis on high initial response while maintaining a smooth pedal release.

• Benefit: Highest overall braking confidence, control, and allows driver to spend less time on the brake pedal. When chasing the fastest lap time, less time on the brake pedal typically leads to a quicker lap time.
• Drawback: Any disc with an aggressive face type like the Type-3 will have a higher chance to mechanically abrade the pad and disc surface leading to quicker or uneven pad wear. However, this really depends on variables such as car setup or track layout.

Brembo Type-5 Disc Assembly

Type-5 (Endurance Face Type): Motorsport developed face type with marginally less initial response compared to the Type-3 face type. The Brembo Racing Type-5 face type was also designed to have lower pad and disc wear for certain long distance endurance races (mostly 10, 12 and 24 hour races).

• Benefit: Braking modulation and control similar to Type-3, while offering lower overall pad and disc wear on the track.
• Drawback: While the most well balanced of all Brembo face types, Type-5 discs generally do not have as high of an initial response compared to the Type-3.

The mass of any vehicle requires energy to accelerate or decelerate. Reducing vehicle mass improves acceleration and requires less energy to be dissipated during deceleration. Rotating mass requires additional energy in order to increase or decrease its speed of rotation. Therefore, decreasing the mass of the caliper is valuable due to its contribution to total vehicle mass. Decreasing the mass of the disc has an even greater benefit due to the fact that the disc must rotate as well. Additionally, the mass of the brake system is also unsprung mass. Reducing the unsprung mass has the additional benefit of improved suspension performance, resulting in enhanced ride and handling.

The usable life of a brake disc is influenced by a number of factors including vehicle weight, driving style, vehicle usage, brake pad material, and many others. Therefore a blanket disc lifetime cannot be given. However, when used in the same conditions, a Brembo disc should meet or exceed the life of the disc it replaces. It is important to periodically check the disc thickness, and replace the disc if it falls below the minimum allowed thickness.

Most 2-wheel applications take only 2-3 hours to complete.

Not necessarily. There are many factors to take into account when choosing a performance brake system. First and foremost, a brake system must be designed based on the vehicle parameters, and the type of use it will experience. Brake systems are designed to operate best within a prescribed temperature range. While modern high performance friction materials broaden this temperature range from relatively cold pad temperatures to the high temperatures experienced in performance driving situations, the use of a disc that is too large will limit disc temperatures to the extreme lower end of this range. Not only will the disc temperature not reach the optimum range, but it will also be heavier than necessary. Reducing the weight of the braking system further enhances vehicle performance.

During braking, the front of the vehicle does the majority of the work. Exactly how much of the braking is influenced by the vehicle's weight distribution, wheelbase, and center of gravity. Brembo engineers all of its systems to ensure that the brake balance of the vehicle is not compromised. If designed properly, adding a big brake system to the rear of the vehicle can result in improved thermal capacity, modulation and control of the vehicle. Brembo offers properly biased rear brake systems for a large number of high performance applications.

The bedding procedure is an important step when installing the GT systems or new rotors and pads.
Correctly bedded pads form a transfer layer of material on the surface of the disc which improves overall "bite" and performance. Without proper "pre-bedding" that simulates the correct heat and torque loads seen in actual driving conditions, a pad's true potential cannot be realized. This process will also ensure that the pads will produce a rotor finish with a consistent transfer layer which prevents "judder" from occurring.

The Brembo Bedding Memo should be followed when installing a new Brembo system or new discs and / or street pads.

For race friction and / or track use, please contact us for detailed information regarding the appropriate bedding procedure to follow.

The two-piece disc assemblies utilize a floating disc. The mounting system of the disc is designed to allow a specific amount of float in both the radial and axial directions. Brembo has engineered special springs that are used on every other fastener in order to slightly preload the assembly. This has been done to prevent excessive noise from the system during street use, while still maintaining the benefits of a floating disc. These springs can be seen when looking at the backside of the disc. The small screws on the backside of the disc are properly torqued during assembly and utilize thread lock compound to prevent loosening. They must not be tightened further.

Slotted discs offer increased durability under extreme conditions. They provide higher thermal capacity than a drilled rotor, which makes them a better setup in race like conditions. This is the more appropriate track setup as it constantly refreshes the pad and improves initial bite. You can also run more aggressive track oriented pads without the potential premature cracking seen with most holed discs. There are certain race pad materials that should not be used with a drilled disc.

• Designed vehicle specific
• Race-based components
• One or two-piece drilled and/or slotted discs
• Billet aluminum hats
• "Floating" disc mounting system (on 2 piece disc systems)
• 2, 4, 6, or 8-piston cast aluminum calipers
• High performance friction material

Benefits:

• Can be used on the street, at driver's schools, and at club events
• Proven on-track performance at the highest levels of racing
• Disperses gasses, cleans pads for better "bite"
• Reduces "unsprung weight" for better handling
• Provides maximum braking force without the flex of sliding calipers
• Reduces heat-related stress, increases brake performance and pedal feel
• Aggressive pads that last longer and provide the highest level of performance
• Designed to work with the vehicles stock master cylinder and ABS

A fixed caliper is secured rigidly to the axle assembly and has at least two opposing pistons that force the pads against the disc. A sliding or floating caliper has pistons on only one side of the disc. Therefore, when the caliper acts, it must slide or float in order to bring the pad on the opposite side in contact with the disc. Nearly all original equipment calipers are of the floating type. In a system with fixed calipers, not only is the mounting much more rigid, but the stiffness of the caliper itself is greatly increased. This manifests itself in enhanced braking performance, pedal feel, and pad wear.

The pads that are provided with Brembo brake systems are high performance pads that offer a very broad temperature and performance range. The pads are effective at cold temperatures as well as the higher temperatures seen during performance driving. These pads are suited to high performance street driving, and limited track usage. If the vehicle is going to be used predominantly on the track or if you wish to change brake pads when driving on the track, please contact Brembo for recommendations on alternate friction materials, and the trade-offs relating to their use.

Brake torque is essentially the power of the braking system. The brake caliper acts on the disc at a certain distance from the hub center, known as the effective radius. The force exerted by the caliper, multiplied by the effective radius of the system equals the brake torque. Increasing either the force applied by the caliper, or the effective radius results in increased brake torque.

Brembo offers different levels for different applications, and for different budgets. There are currently three performance levels within the Brembo program. The first level is the Sport system. These kits include cross-drilled or slotted discs and high performance brake pads, and are direct replacements for the OEM components. The second level, the Gran Turismo system, upgrades the entire corner brake assembly. These kits combine fixed mount, 4, 6, or 8-piston aluminum calipers equipped with high performance brake pads, one or two piece directionally vented discs, and steel-braided brake lines. For those seeking a system for exclusive or nearly exclusive track use, the Race systems offer upgrades consisting of true racing components.

At the speeds that stopping distance is generally measured from (60 to 70mph), the test is primarily testing the tire's 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 systems will show their greatest advantages when braking from higher speeds, or when tasked with repeated heavy braking. The increased braking torque provides for maximum deceleration at speed, and the ability to absorb and quickly dissipate the intense heat generated during repeated braking insures that the braking system will perform at the same high level each time.

It is a popular misconception that the slots or drillings in a disc determine the direction of rotation. In truth, for an internally vented disc, the geometry of the vanes dictates the direction of rotation. There are three vane types in use:

• Straight
• Pillar vane (comprised of many small posts)
• Curved vane

The first two vane types are non-directional, and can be used on either side of the vehicle. The curved vane disc, however, is directional. A curved vane disc must be installed with the vanes running back from the inside to outside diameters in the direction of rotation. Orienting the disc in this manner creates a centrifugal pump. The rotation of the disc causes air to be pumped from the center of the disc, through the vanes, and out through the outside diameter of the disc. This greatly enhances the disc's ability to dissipate heat.

Additionally, all of Brembo's slotted discs are directional as well, regardless of the vane geometry. The discs should be installed such that the end of the slot nearest the outer edge of the disc contacts the pad first.

The number of holes in a cross-drilled disc is part of the engineered system. Brembo has done extensive testing with regards to the number of holes, their size, their location and their chamfering. This attention to detail is what truly sets Brembo apart in the world of braking. The same attention to detail that is delivered to the Ferrari Formula One effort is a component of the high performance program. The number of holes in a disc is in part a function of the size of the disc and the internal venting (if it is a vented disc).

Genuine Brembo Replacement Parts are manufactured to the exact fit, finish, and quality specified in the original Brembo Brake System. Comprised of advanced proprietary materials, these components are engineered to ensure optimal performance in a wide range of environments. The use of any non-Brembo replacement parts may severely degrade the performance and longevity of the brake system. This may result in damage to the brake system and/or its related components.

There are several reasons that a two-piece floating disc assembly is of benefit. First, by using an aluminum bell for the hub section of the disc saves a great deal of weight. Since this is both rotating and unsprung, it benefits the acceleration, braking, and handling of the vehicle. Secondly, it is better able to handle the large temperature changes that a brake disc experiences. In a two-piece floating disc assembly, the iron disc heats up uniformly, and the controlled float which is present allows for the differential expansion of the very hot brake disc, and the relatively cool aluminum bell. This allows the disc to be used under severe conditions without having a detrimental effect.

Brembo brake systems are designed to work with your standard master cylinder, and do not hamper the function of your ABS or traction control system.

Brembo makes every effort to test for and eliminate abnormal brake noise from the systems we offer. There are many factors that can contribute to abnormal brake noises, and while it is unlikely that a Brembo system will create noise, the engineering and customer service departments are available to answer questions and work to solve any noise issues which may arise. Please contact us if you have additional questions or concerns.