FW: FW: Cross Drilled Brakes

["Hussey, Dan" <husseyd@rayovac.com>]

After several requests to elaborate and post to the list, I figured I
would:

OK, about a year ago I needed a brake overhaul.  I had Cool Carbons
(terrible street pads!!!!) and stock rotors...which were serely dished
after only 6 months.  So, I ordered a set of new Ferodo "street" pads
(the best street pads you can buy IMHO) and some new rotors.  To
experiment, as I always do, I decided to try a set of Brembo
cross-drilled rotors in the front.

I got the rotors though a listmember at a very reasonable price, as they
were able to get them at wholesale (I will not publish the name, so
don't bother me about it) .  They were very impressive looking italian
cross-drilled rotors.  Looked very nice.  Put all the stuff on that car
about a week prior to driving to Pikes Peak last year.  No problems.
Drove to Pikes Peak, and had no problems.  On the way home from Pikes
Peak I started noticing a lot of vibrations when I hit the brakes.  They
were not bad at first but quickly became more severe.  

I brought it to my mechanic and we swapped tires around thinking that
could be the problem.  He tore  the brakes apart and put them back
together again.  We did all this....problem still continued.  

So, having just bought these (discounted) yet still pricey rotors, I
decided to have them proffessionally resurfaced (yes, the correct way)
buy a local (and very well known) Porsche shop (Kelly Moss Motorsports).
Did that, put them back on the car.  Drove down the street, hit the
brakes and.....Yes, the vibrations were still there.  

I gave up.  Out of spending a ton of money and time already, I just
bought a stock set of front (ATE) rotors, and WALAH!  The problem was
miraculously gone!  

My mechanic thinks that my rotors were defective.  I don't know what the
story is.  I didn't bother trying to get my money back from Brembo
either as I sold the car shortly after that and I gave the new owner the
Brembos with the car.  The guy (Jeff) at Kelly Moss told me that he has
seen many parts (specifically rotors) being sold through some of these
wharehouse operations that are lower quality than from other places.
IE: He has found that Porsche rotors from some wholesale discount places
were many times LOWER quality than the ones he bought from the dealer.
I said "No way" and he told me that he's been racing for a long time and
they compared them when they were running a 944 S2 in the Firehawk
series.  The REAL Porsche stock rotors lasted 2 (or more) races, while
they were lucky to get one race (barely) out of the OTHER Porsche
"stock" rotors though discount sources.

So, I am thinking that many of these Discount type places get good deals
on these items (such as rotors) and are able to sell them so cheap
because they get the products that aren't quite up to the usual quality
standards!  

This is my hypothesis, and I would love the chance to prove it myself,
but unless the government gives me a grant to study this claim, it will
remain a hypothesis.  But, BE CAREFULL!  Don't be fooled by imitations.
Get the REAL stuff.  BTW, there is virtually no way you can tell by
looking at them.....they come in the same box, etc.  So, WARINGING TO
ALL!

Later,
Dan
'90 200TQ

> ----------
> From: 	Armstead, Brian[SMTP:barmstea@usia.gov]
> Sent: 	Friday, July 17, 1998 1:51 PM
> To: 	husseyd@rayovac.com
> Subject: 	Re: FW: Cross Drilled Brakes
> 
> Dan:  Please elaborate and post to the list.
> 
> Thanks,
> Brian
>