Disc brakes : heat cracks

[sieger]

Thankyou!

[geartox]

so after 16 month with the front Kobra discs , and many many trackdays , the status of the discs :

 

 

 

 

 

I never get any braking problem. 

Is it the time to change ? the brake feeling is degraded , but hard to say. due to the price (2x the price of OEM disc) maybe I will go back to OEM.

 

[GFWilliams]

Mine were looking similar so I just replaced them.  I think you’d really regret going back to standard if you track the car.  Also, you should be careful with wheel cleaning products as they’ve changed the colour of the bells.

[Arun_D]

Yes I think they're due a change. Is it 2x the price of OE even if you're just changing the rotor?

[Hangar 111]

50 minutes ago, GFWilliams said:

Mine were looking similar so I just replaced them.  I think you’d really regret going back to standard if you track the car.  Also, you should be careful with wheel cleaning products as they’ve changed the colour of the bells.

Agreed.  If you have done "many many trackdays", then I suspect they have lasted better than anything else would.

You need to make sure you cool them down properly, as not doing this makes the crazing worse.

Dave

[geartox]

thank you for your feedback. 1690 euros vs 700 euros for OEM. 

[geartox]

So I will go, again, with the komotec pack. I will do the maths at the end of this year, after 3 years of track days. Until then, just have fun and enjoy the car.

[Arun_D]

As per @W31SSN, earlier this year I swapped out my very tired brakes for Dave @Seriouslylotus 's fully floating front discs, opting to stick to standard diameter, matching the rears at the same time by changing his to J-hook rotors and retaining the original Cup bells. Stuck with PF08s and had my usual initial grumbles from them which come good once you give them a proper pasting. Very happy with these.

Apologies for the wheels covered in brakedust from recent Spa day. The anodised floating bells are great in black, so much better than the standard Lotus 2-piece bells which looked tired really quickly.

 

Edited August 9, 2018 by Arun_D

[Arun_D]

Found a clearer picture for posterity,  before I gave them a good ol' pasting, but can't edit my previous post.

[Jack]

Switched my stock cross-drilled rotors as well to Dave's @Seriouslylotus ---- excellent product.

Of course, they will also develop cracks eventually, as do all rotors when used on track. 😉

[geartox]

interesting. it seems that there is no more stock for PFC disks. So I didn't change yet. I will check on seriouslylotus web site for others options.

[geartox]

https://www.seriouslylotus.com/braking/brake-upgrade-kits/exige-v6-332mm-alcon-front-disc-with-floating-bells-425

same size as the PFC disks. very interesting !

[W31SSN]

They are epic. Although I went from stock Lotus solid discs. Will be replacing the rears this winter. 

[Hangar 111]

Be aware (it's not strictly an issue) that the Alcons are wet machined.  And I have never in my life seen a brake rotor balanced in a way that interferes with the braking/pad surface.

We usually have PFCs in stock - got a pair coming in early part of next week if it helps at all.

Dave

Edited August 23, 2018 by Hangar 111

[geartox]

thank you for the info @Hangar 111 . I will forward your web site link and the one of seriouslylotus to my local dealer.

 

[geartox]

new disks are now installed and ready for the next trackdays. thank you to @Hangar 111

 

[geartox]

do you know if there is a repair kit (with new bellows) for the brake caliper ? I don't find any Lotus reference but maybe with APracing ?

otherwise in december I will update my introduction post by adding new comments about how to maintain your car when your track it and really use it. I made many mistakes...

[geartox]

Rear OEM disks with PFC pads after 1 year :

 

disks measured to 24.6 mm, minimum is 24mm

 

 

 

[Jack]

Get those changed out ASAP!

[geartox]

yes it will be changed this week before next trackday sunday. I have have also to change the "bearings"... track usage is expensive

 

[NW76]

PFC pads are too much for OEM discs imho ... thats why I went for the Kobra4 setup right away ... I am also in the 2nd set of bearings btw ... track use is certainly not cheap but it could be worse if your track car is a Porsche, McL or even Ferrari ... 

[Schnitzel]

When you say bearings, do you mean wheel bearings?

[geartox]

yes wheel bearings. @NW76 did you change front and rear or just front ? 

[NW76]

Sorry, for me it were the Suspension Bearings... probably related to my Öhnlins Track Upgrade and taking “too much” Curb ... 

Wheel Bearings are fine... 

[geartox]

disks have been replaced. the car is ready.