Brembo/EBC Rotors Really Better??

[SoNic67]

But, considering Brembo's experience in racing, considering that they are OE on Porsche, BMW M, Ferrari, Dodge SRT etc.

I have installed Brembo pads on my various of cars - 2001 Mercury Sable, 2011 Ford Edge, 2000 Hyundai Sonata, 2011 Kia Soul.
What I can say is those pads, even if they are red painted and labeled "Brembo" are not at all like pads for super expensive cars. They are cheap-ish and probably made in the same factory like other non-OE pads are made.

More, their quality seems the have slipped. The first two sets (4 wheels) that I have installed about 4-5 years ago are still fine. But more recent installs (one year ago) have developed a squeaking noise when braking - when getting at a low rotational speed. Nothing looks bad visually... maybe the shim backing failed...

I am looking to put brake pads on my 2011 RAV4, but I definitely won't go with "Brembo" anymore. They are "Premium NAO Ceramic OE equivalent" and I will prefer something better than OE, probably that is carbon-ceramic or carbon-metallic.

 

[SoNic67]

Brembo.... fancy on a fancy car.... nothing special for OE replacement daily driver parts.

That's true. Brembo pads that we get for our daily drivers are nothing like the ones for sports cars. Check on their website, and you will see that they have "OE equivalent" descriptions.
https://www.brembostoreusa.com/

 

[Pew]

Unless you're getting Brembo Motorsports - the stuff you only run on the track and not the street, then you're usually for Brembo-labeled Ferodo/Pagid/Textar. Not that those 3 are bad either though.

The OEM Evo pads were actually brembo-labelled Ferodos. The closest performing but never actually confirmed match were the Ferodo DS3000s. Great choice of pads for OE.

 

[edyvw]

I have installed Brembo pads on my various of cars - 2001 Mercury Sable, 2011 Ford Edge, 2000 Hyundai Sonata, 2011 Kia Soul.
What I can say is those pads, even if they are red painted and labeled "Brembo" are not at all like pads for super expensive cars. They are cheap-ish and probably made in the same factory like other non-OE pads are made.

More, their quality seems the have slipped. The first two sets (4 wheels) that I have installed about 4-5 years ago are still fine. But more recent installs (one year ago) have developed a squeaking noise when braking - when getting at a low rotational speed. Nothing looks bad visually... maybe the shim backing failed...

I am looking to put brake pads on my 2011 RAV4, but I definitely won't go with "Brembo" anymore. They are "Premium NAO Ceramic OE equivalent" and I will prefer something better than OE, probably that is carbon-ceramic or carbon-metallic.

Brembo is trying to get piece of pie in aftermarket. Those pads are far from those on Porsche etc. Not sure you would want that anyway in regular driving.

 

[Jetronic]

Originally Posted by doitmyself
Is the Brembo clear coat UV finish any good? https://www.bremboparts.com/europe/en/products/innovation/uv-coating

What exactly is the purpose of UV protection on a brake rotor? What is sunlight going to do to a cast iron, or Stainless Steel brake rotor in the first place?

The coating needs to be UV resistant

 

[UG_Passat]

Originally Posted by doitmyself
Is the Brembo clear coat UV finish any good? https://www.bremboparts.com/europe/en/products/innovation/uv-coating

What exactly is the purpose of UV protection on a brake rotor? What is sunlight going to do to a cast iron, or Stainless Steel brake rotor in the first place?

1. You don't see stainless steel used for brake rotors
2. UV is most likely a reference to using a UV-light cured coating process Brembo uses.

 

[SoNic67]

Yeah, the metal for discs is 99.9% of times a low grade cast iron:
There are other exotic materials, but they are used mostly for racing:
https://knowhow.napaonline.com/brake-rotors-the-six-different-types/

And yes, Brembo makes those sport brake discs too, but they are another kind of animal:
https://www.brembo.com/en/car/original-equipment/products/carbon-ceramic-discs

PS: 668-horsepower Cadillac CT4-V / CT5-V Blackwing has an carbon-ceramic option for brakes, clamped with six piston front calipers:
https://www.brembo.com/en/company/news/all-new-cadillac-ct4-v-ct5-v-blackwing-will-brake-with-brembo

 

[miden851]

I have used PowerStop slotted rotors for well over 140K miles on my previously owned sedan and I've never resurfaced them; however id pay attention to the pads, choose softer pads with less warranty miles on them

 

[SoNic67]

Brembo NAO versus their Low-Metal.

 

[metroplex]

I've seen FNC rotors on GM vehicles survive years and 100k+ miles of MI winter/road salt and have exceptional wear resistance and corrosion resistance. The Geomet coatings are supposed to be good as well but they are coatings.

FNC seems to be something "new" and exotic as of 2009-2011 but it isn't. FNC is the more scientific name for nitriding. Those in the firearms industry have known of nitriding for decades. Glock's had their Tenifer process, and SIG with Melonite. Sometimes you'll see Nitrided QPQ (Quench Polish Quench) mentioned.

I have nitrided barrels that seem to clean a bit easier than chrome lined. Plus chrome lined just means the chamber/bore is lined with a layer of uneven chrome and the outside usually has something like manganese phosphate which can rust. A nitrided barrel is fully treated meaning the top layer of the metal undergoes the FNC process so it isn't a layer deposited like a coating. It is part of the metal itself. The black finish you see on nitrided gun parts is just a black oxide finish that can wear off, but not the actual FNC/nitrided metal.

The problem is I can't find any FNC rotors for Ford applications. AC Delco may carry OE replacement rotors for Fords but none are FNC, and only the ones spec'd for GM may be FNC.

 

[97prizm]

I've been following the recent coated rotors threads in anticipation of a front brake job next month(s). At 6 years, 80K miles my OEM rotors are reusable regarding wear, but it is a coin toss if the rust belt vane corrosion would last through a new set of pads.

Delivered pair costs: Raybestos Element 3's - $56. Brembo/EBC - $85/$90. OEM MOPAR - $140 (one ebay pic shows US made?). The other brands similar to Raybestos about $65 +/- delivered (Wagner, AC Delco).

I want to say that value is more important than actual cost. I used to buy AZ, CarQuest, or Advanced Auto rotors with o.k. results. I.m leaning towards the mid-priced EBC or Brembo, hoping that the metallurgy, fit/finish, longevity is better??

1.) Is the Brembo clear coat UV finish any good? https://www.bremboparts.com/europe/en/products/innovation/uv-coating

2.) EBC states " superior G3000 gray iron" - someone explain this please.

3.) Raybestos lifetime warranted vs. EBC 6 months/10K (defects only).

Opinions?? Thank you.

You could also get them cryo treated which hardens them further. I know a bunch of the scca guys do that but that may be a racecar thing.