RacingBrake MKV R32 2 Piece Front Rotor Review

[cleanA3]

do they come assembled?

Yes , they come assembled . wipe them down and go bed your pads and we should be good to go

[Ryan E.]

What kind of pads you going to run?

[cleanA3]

What kind of pads you going to run?

Im debating on EBC reds or HPS

[mr2guru]

Got mine yesterday, although I haven't even opened the box.

I'll be using EBC reds.

edit:
Here they are.... looks like they drilled one bolt pattern and added the set screw hole. Nice. These are beautiful! Can't wait to get them on.

[ZPrime]

Go back and re-read RacingBrake's site. Unless they explicitly tell you EBC are OK, I wouldn't use them. They call out the Hawks on purpose because they know those work. See the link I posted in one of the RB threads about softer compound pads and how they glaze the rotors...

[gottiR32]

Go back and re-read RacingBrake's site. Unless they explicitly tell you EBC are OK, I wouldn't use them. They call out the Hawks on purpose because they know those work. See the link I posted in one of the RB threads about softer compound pads and how they glaze the rotors...

[BetaOp9]

What is the life expectancy on these rotors? I just noticed the slots are pretty shallow.

[willlangford]

What is the life expectancy on these rotors? I just noticed the slots are pretty shallow.

I would agree. Once I see Ryans in person I will be able to comment more about how deep they are. Once I get new rotors I'll measure how much wear on the rotor my HP+'s have done over the course of 20k miles.

[ZPrime]

I would agree. Once I see Ryans in person I will be able to comment more about how deep they are. Once I get new rotors I'll measure how much wear on the rotor my HP+'s have done over the course of 20k miles.

That's the thing though, RB is using a different grade / hardness of steel. You won't get nearly as much rotor wear on these, and in order to even stop correctly you have to use a much more aggressive pad.

According to RB, you will burn through multiple sets of pad before you have to replace the rotor discs.

The flipside of this is that you can't use a softer pad, because if you do, it will glaze to the rotor surface and your braking will go to crap. Reference the guy who used Carbotech pads (even "race grade" pads) with RB discs and had all sorts of problems, to which RB basically gave him the finger and then changed their website (after the fact) to state that they only support certain types of pads.

Had this been known by the buyer up front, then I've got no sympathy for him, but for the company to not support him and then alter their policy post-purchase is kind of low.

So I say again, make your choice of pad based on their recommended list, and don't stray if you want their support / don't want problems.

[BetaOp9]

That's the thing though, RB is using a different grade / hardness of steel. You won't get nearly as much rotor wear on these, and in order to even stop correctly you have to use a much more aggressive pad.

I knew about this, but even still it is very thin ergo my reason for asking. Just don't want to be swapping out outer rings every 20k or less @ $500+ a set.

If that were the case, I'd be limiting my usage to specific applications.

[infiniteecho]

I knew about this, but even still it is very thin ergo my reason for asking. Just don't want to be swapping out outer rings every 20k or less @ $500+ a set.

If that were the case, I'd be limiting my usage to specific applications.

[car all torn apart, wife walks out]

Mrs. Beta: What are you doing?
Mr. Beta: I feel like driving hard today, I'm putting my good rotors on.
Mrs. Beta: [walks away]
Mr. Beta: What? I'm saving money! [under breath] Little does she know it's for

[BetaOp9]

[car all torn apart, wife walks out]

Mrs. Beta: What are you doing?
Mr. Beta: I feel like driving hard today, I'm putting my good rotors on.
Mrs. Beta: [walks away]
Mr. Beta: What? I'm saving money! [under breath] Little does she know it's for

This is exactly why I need an in-ground lift for the garage!

[Uncle Wiggley]

Echo, would you go Racing Brake or stay with the Stoptech?

[infiniteecho]

Echo, would you go Racing Brake or stay with the Stoptech?

I have no plans of going back to just a rotor setup.

All the other benefits are far too great. Why would I give up better pedal feel, even less weight vs the stock caliper, better stopping distances, even more heat capacity and extremely precise modulation? That wouldn't make sense, would it?

I do have plans to go bigger though:
396mm rotors, 8 piston calipers up front
380mm rotors, 6 piston calipers out back
Engineered specifically for my car and my new setup that is coming.

[Ryan E.]

Dam sunnn....

Just an FYI, I believe RB has replacement rings for your brakes, so that could be another sell point if you're looking to sell them.

[infiniteecho]

Dam sunnn....

Just an FYI, I believe RB has replacement rings for your brakes, so that could be another sell point if you're looking to sell them.

Didn't know that. Good info.

What'cha damn sonnn'ing at?

[nkgneto]

I can't wait until this is offered for the MK4 crowd. I'm glad I sent them an email back in December which has led to these being offered.

Ryan Thanks for going out there for the fitments, have you mounted your set yet?

Yes RB offers a replacement 355 ring which is about $120 cheaper than the ST replacement rings.


Edit: Rotor ring - 355x32mm (1 each left & 1 each right ) Incl. hardware

[infiniteecho]

Edit: Rotor ring - 355x32mm (1 each left & 1 each right ) Incl. hardware

Those are sexy! Makes me want a set.

[gottiR32]

I can't wait until I get my MKV .:R32...

Fixed...

[Gotsol]

I'm going to need to see the source please

That's the thing though, RB is using a different grade / hardness of steel. You won't get nearly as much rotor wear on these, and in order to even stop correctly you have to use a much more aggressive pad.

According to RB, you will burn through multiple sets of pad before you have to replace the rotor discs.

The flipside of this is that you can't use a softer pad, because if you do, it will glaze to the rotor surface and your braking will go to crap. Reference the guy who used Carbotech pads (even "race grade" pads) with RB discs and had all sorts of problems, to which RB basically gave him the finger and then changed their website (after the fact) to state that they only support certain types of pads.

Had this been known by the buyer up front, then I've got no sympathy for him, but for the company to not support him and then alter their policy post-purchase is kind of low.

So I say again, make your choice of pad based on their recommended list, and don't stray if you want their support / don't want problems.

[Gotsol]

I just mounted up a set and so I'm very impressed. I think it feels more lively at lower speeds. I can't wait to take them to a track

[dubnick32]

These are on my to do list for sure. Soon.

[Gotsol]

It just so happened my rotors were warped. I wish I had them at the dragon meet last month.

[Gotsol]

My wife drives the car daily. her feedback after driving the car was this: "It does feel lighter and going into exit ramp it surprised me when it felt more response in the initial turn-in"

sweet! she's becoming a car guy

[Ryan E.]

Very nice, it seems these came out better than expected with the mounting screw and 1 specific bolt pattern

Solid feedback from the wifey!

My wife drives the car daily. her feedback after driving the car was this: "It does feel lighter and going into exit ramp it surprised me when it felt more response in the initial turn-in"

sweet! she's becoming a car guy

[Ryan E.]

Hawk HP+ pads are in, picking up the combo tomorrow morning, woot!

[nkgneto]

These are on my to do list for sure. Soon.

LMK when your ready?

[Ryan E.]

Just picked them up along with some swag (hats, stickers, etc). Holler at the R32 GTG if you want any gear...

These things look even better than the pre-production models!

[abeR]

my rotors will be poop soon.


will be calling you lui

[dubnick32]

I'm almost ready myself.
In a week or so I should be getting some $

[Ryan E.]

Nice!

I'm almost ready myself.
In a week or so I should be getting some $

I'm taking down a stock rear rotor on Monday so they can start production on them!

[infiniteecho]

Nice!



I'm taking down a stock rear rotor on Monday so they can start production on them!

They're making rear 2 pieces as well?

[nkgneto]

They're making rear 2 pieces as well?

Rear thread for those that have the fronts and want the rears post up some interest here please!

LUI

[ZPrime]

I'm going to need to see the source please

I'm too lazy to go find it, but it's in one of two places: their forums, or an excerpt from e-mail that went back and forth between the Subie guy who had the Carbotech problem and RacingBreak (I think that was all posted on nasioc or some other subaru forum).

[edit]
I already posted the Subie link once in this thread and I think that's where I read the stuff about different compounds.

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=936395

Also, from RB's own forum:

RB two-piece rotors are made from specially formulated alloys and high carbon cast ion and are proven in the race tracks that they are highly resistant to wear, warping or thermal cracking under extreme heat cycles than OE or others.

Since our disc material is different from OE or other rotor manufacturers, the same racing pads you used to know or install (typically Carbotech or Ferrado) and work well on these rotors may not function satisfactorily on our rotors. One of the most common issues is the pad deposit which is a substance emitted from the pad under high heat and transferred to the rotor surface that can cause vibration, pedal pulsation and hot spots on rotors surface resulting in thermal cracks or pre-mature brake failure.

(Bold is mine for emphasis)

Also from their website:
http://www.racingbrake.com/v/main/manufacturing.asp
See the section at the bottom related to the materials / iron formula.

They claim all over the place that they use a different iron from OE and imply that it is harder/more durable.

http://www.racingbrake.com/v/main/tw...bly.asp?i=disc
From another section of the site, under the column for racing brake:

High carbon with alloy cast iron and heat treat

Under the column for OEM / others:

Mostly made from standard SAE grade G3000 gray iron

Is that enough reference for you?

[kevin FaKiN spLits]

I guess I'll attempt to tie this into this thread instead of start a new thread.... Has anyone done the non ecs way of mating porsche cayenne front calipers to the mkv r using oem spec'd rotors? I know mk4 guys have done it but the search function sucks SH*TY A**HOLE

Btw I have the calipers and I know a few places to get brackets made.