How to choose brake discs

The brake system is the most important element of the active safety of any car, which is why the choice of spare parts for it, and especially brake discs, the effectiveness of which directly affects the braking distance, is so important for everyone. In order to make the most rational choice, you should not ask the question: “Which drives are better?”, You need to carefully analyze the manufacturer’s recommendations, the technical characteristics of the products on the market, and your driving style. You should not strive to install specific products focused on sports driving, in order to improve the performance of brake mechanisms. This is unlikely to have a tangible effect, since this indicator is determined not only by the discs, but also by a number of other factors, besides, according to the current legislation, the car owner is not allowed to modify and modify the braking system. So, we will consider in more detail possible options for the choice.

content

1. Standard brake discs
   
2. Certified sport wheels
3. Classification of parts by target
4. Summing up

Standard brake discs

This product, oriented to a specific model, is completely identical to what was installed on the conveyor and may differ only in certain technological aspects, such as the accuracy of the groove, the name of the alloy from which they are made, and the cooling efficiency. The last parameter is especially important because it insures against overheating of mechanisms and boiling brake fluid. As a rule, ventilated and non-ventilated disks are distinguished. The difference between the first type and the second is the presence of special bulkheads and stiffeners between the two working surfaces, which ensures the best heat transfer.

High Performance Standard Brake Discs

As a rule, similar products are also oriented for a specific car model, their geometrical dimensions are identical to factory products, and the declared improved performance is achieved using a more dense alloy, as well as perforations and special grooves on the working surface. Grooves, in addition to increasing the force of friction, also contribute to the removal of wear products, as well as combustion, with extremely intensive braking. It is worth remembering that such design solutions give a slight increase in the effectiveness of brake mechanisms, but contribute to the intensive wear of the friction linings.

Identify poor-quality brake discs

To my great regret, it is this group of products that is most often subjected to unlicensed copying, and the market is literally swamped with counterfeit. The main features of a low-quality disk include:

1. beating during braking (indicates a slight curvature of the disk due to rough handling or warping already at the stage of operation due to the use of a cheap alloy in production);

2. beating while driving (this defect is much more serious, in this case it is impossible to operate the car, and the disc itself needs to be replaced immediately, and there is no need to speak about braking efficiency);

3. rapid wear of brake pads (this feature can be identified only after prolonged use, as a rule, it indicates the use of a metal of insufficient density, as well as poor quality milling and poor design of the perforation scheme);

4. the appearance of grooves and grooves on the surface of the disk, especially at its outer edge (such a defect signals an extremely low quality of the alloy and the predominance of low-grade cast iron in it).

The latter option may also be due to the fact that the material of the disc and friction linings do not fit together well.

Certified sport wheels

Such a solution is advisable only with aggressive driving style, as well as in the case of carrying out complex works on tuning and finalizing the car. As a material for sports disks, metal ceramics is used, which is more resistant to overheating and is able to work in extreme conditions for a long time without being subjected to warping and without acquiring thermal viscosity. As a rule, these products have an enlarged diameter, which does not imply the preservation of regular wheel disks. They are focused on installation in sports modifications, so the designers paid special attention to reducing the weight, which adversely affects the prescribed service life.

There are also completely ceramic brake discs, which differ in outstanding performance indicators, but their cost can be comparable to the cost of a budget car. In addition, to ensure an integrated approach to improving efficiency, their installation will require the replacement of brake calipers, and this is a serious alteration of the structure for which it is necessary to obtain a documentary permit.

Choosing a manufacturer

We now turn directly to the choice of brand brake discs. In most cases, the choice comes down to three main categories, determined by the price of the product.

1. The most budget solutions include disks of such brands as “FERODO”, “STARLINE”, “ABE”, “TEXTAR”, as well as products of domestic manufacturers. If you prefer quiet driving, as well as owning an inexpensive car, that such wheels will be a fully justified decision, and their service life will delight you.

2. More expensive products, which may well be installed on a premium-class foreign car, are distinguished by increased dimensionality and are also intended for use in high-performance systems of high-mass vehicles, including Zimmermann, RoadHouse, and ATE wheels.

3. The cost of the third category depends entirely on the stated characteristics and target audience, since these are brake discs designed for sports driving: “VALEO”, “BREMBO”, “BOSCH”.

Quality checking

It is worth remembering that in modern conditions, it is extremely high risk to purchase a fake part that imitates the product of a famous brand, so it is extremely important to pay attention not only to the packaging, but also to visual signs of the quality of workmanship.

1. Most manufacturers who value their reputation use metal discs cast under pressure for brake discs, so there are very few irregularities on those surfaces that are not exposed to grooves, they are almost smooth, which is especially noticeable on the internal surfaces of the ventilation ducts.

2. Next, you need to pay attention to the quality of processing directly work surfaces: the less noticeable they will be on the grooves of the turning tool, the better the processing was performed, and the longer they can be operated. Indirectly, this indicates a higher density of the metal, which also has a positive effect on wear resistance.

3. Next, you should pay attention to the axial curvature of the disk. Visually detecting small deviations is extremely difficult, but a strong curvature will appear even with such a simple check.

Fake criteria

1. A fake spare part is noticeably lighter than the original, due to the lower density of the material, as well as the desire to use softer alloys that are more amenable to processing.

2. This brand brake disc has the same thickness around the entire circumference, which is easy to check with a caliper. In addition, its ventilation channels are characterized by the absence of angles and smooth transitions to the stiffeners, which provides greater strength and resistance to deformation. Doubtful products are produced using outdated or semi-handicraft technologies and therefore such complex casting mechanisms are not available for them.

3. Most manufacturers, in addition to proprietary packaging, introduce special holograms, as well as individual numbers for each part, which allows you to protect yourself from the purchase of an outright fake.

Classification of parts by target

It is worth remembering that any manufacturer in the production line has products that are focused not only on different price categories, but also on the sales market, which predetermines the approach to quality.

1. The most preferred parts are those intended for delivery to the conveyor, that is, original products made to the specific requirements of the automaker.

2. The second group includes disks oriented to the aftermarket, that is, to the installation during the repair or maintenance of not new cars. Requirements for this category of products are significantly lower, since the factory warranty for them is no longer covered, and the overall wear of the structure does not allow to feel the difference between a high-quality disk and a part of the middle price category.

3. The third group includes discs targeted for sale in the third world countries. As a rule, these spare parts are also manufactured under license. At such enterprises they use outdated technologies and materials, and the tolerances can be greatly overestimated.

Summing up

Thus, to summarize, we can say the following: never buy questionable products, since the savings on the purchase are not at all worth the danger that you expose yourself in the event of a decrease in the effectiveness of the brakes.

1. If you own a car with a sufficiently large mileage, and your driving style can be described as measured, then you are ideally suited for drives of the budget price category, oriented to the aftermarket.

2. For relatively new and expensive cars, it is advisable to choose the original parts recommended by the manufacturer, in addition, you should not use the so-called "sports wheels". Remember that improving the efficiency of the brake system can be achieved by comprehensive diagnostics, adjustment, replacement of consumables, and installing more productive disks will not give adequate performance without an integrated approach to upgrading the entire system.

3. Always carefully inspect the brake discs before purchasing them, as well as at the initial stage of operation, which will allow you to promptly detect a counterfeit or prevent serious consequences due to excessively fast arrival of the disc.

4. Remember that the key parameter that determines the service life and stopping distance is the quality of workmanship, and not a great name, because any, even the most famous company, has its own production in the third world countries that produce cheap products for local markets

---

Attention! This material is the subjective opinion of the authors of the project and is not a guide to purchase.