Brakeman Rotor Issue

[koscieldrk]

Just want to know if anyone else is having issues with the Brakeman Rotors. We are only getting 2 race weekends out of them before they have severe open cracks. We replaced another set again this past weekend and are trying the Coleman rotors which seem to have a little more meat on them as well as being directional. One other racer we talked to is also having the same issue. The reason I know this is because he came around to see if we had an extra pair. Also we have 4” duct going to the center of the rotors, so we are getting the cooling.

Just an FYI/data point. I run the Wilwood 2-piece rotor (non-floating) with their superlite 4-piston caliper. I have 3 race weekends, minimal to no pad wear and minimal rotor wear and no cracks. I run 3" dia. ducting to them.

You are not the only one having problems. Tom Ellis was having the same thing happen to hs rotors. The cracks started toward the center and worked there way out. He was going through a set of fronts a race.
I personally think the brakeman rotors are a little thin, the Colemans have a little more meat to them.
Since that time Brakeman has tried a different rotor, you may want to contact them about the problem.
Chuck

[jimwheeler]

I put on a set of Willwood floating rotors before the fall 2006 race at HPT. I bought a new set of rotors last month because they were showing signs of slight cracking and I wanted to have spares, if it got any worse. The ones from last year are still on the car. I ran one national in 06, the Runoffs and seven nationals and two regionals this season on the same rotors. So, that's 10 full races, plus the entire Runoffs week. Same rotors, one and a half sets of pads.
wheel

[koscieldrk]

Originally Posted by Dawson Motorsports

You are not the only one having problems. Tom Ellis was having the same thing happen to hs rotors. The cracks started toward the center and worked there way out. He was going through a set of fronts a race.
I personally think the brakeman rotors are a little thin, the Colemans have a little more meat to them.
Since that time Brakeman has tried a different rotor, you may want to contact them about the problem.
Chuck

Chuck that the exact same problem we are having. Starts out as a small crack towards the middle and opens up by the time it gets to the edge. We are also on our second set of pads after 3 1/2 weekends. They seem to wear faster once you hit the half way point.

[jimwheeler]

I would think they would wear very quickly once the rotors start cracking. Gut feeling is the cracks would be pretty hard on the pads.
wheel

Out of curiosity, are you heat-cycling the rotors when they are new?

[jimwheeler]

I follow Willwood's break-in recommendations for the pads. I just put on the rotors and ran them.
wheel

[koscieldrk]

Originally Posted by Walther

Out of curiosity, are you heat-cycling the rotors when they are new?

Following the Brake Mans recommendations. Same with the pads.

[kbsmith1]

I had the same issues with pads & rotors, and with rotors
replacement cost as well. I decided that I would try coleman
rotors instead. First I tried their directionally vented heavy duty
rotors at about 150 each.

http://http://www.colemanracing.com/...oducts_id=1714

With these I was using Brakeman pads for one weekend, and
Raybestos ST-42 for one weekend. They were showing some
very thin heat cracks after 2 weekends.

For this season, I wanted to try cheaper rotors, so I got a set of
the Coleman lightweight directionally vented rotors

http://http://www.colemanracing.com/...oducts_id=1688

These seem to be lasting better, with no cracking at all through 1
double race weekend, and a single race weekend, and they are cheaper
too.

I also am pretty happy about the wear rate of the Raybestos pads, and
the prices are reasonable, about $150 for a set. I started the season with
a new set of pads, and at this point I haven't measured, but I have
removed them for checking, and it looks like there is more than half left.