Help with tracking brake temps

leviathon

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Hey guys sorry I know this is a newb question. But I need to track my rotor temps to see if I have a caliper sticking. How do I go about doing this?
 

908ssp

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I used colored paint which fades to white when the temperature of the paint designated on the label is reached.
 

leviathon

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ok my problem is that one of my brakes is making a weird noise only when I apply the brakes kinda hard. not slam them but you know. I am supposed to get some rotors pretty soon because i have cross drilled and slotted ones now and dont really care for them
 

Department Of Boost

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leviathon

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Department Of Boost

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Floating rotors? I'm not familiar with them. Also no need to track them anymore. Took tie tires and put it in drive driver side spins. Passenger side doesnt. I just replaced that caliper though!! :/

Floating rotors allow the rotor "ring" to move independently from the rotor "hat". They dramatically reduce brake warpage and if you do manage to warp them you only need to replace the ring.

http://www.girodisc.com/Girodisc-Front-2pc-Floating-Rotors-for-Mustang-GT500_p_6316.html

images
 

leviathon

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ahh ok two piece rotors, gotcha. well now im thinking my rotors arent the issue....The only thing I can think of is the brake hose maybe, but I still need to put the ass in the air again and see if the rotor spins without the caliper on it
 

SoundGuyDave

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Ah, I missed that it was a rear... probably not the hose, I would check the parking brake cables. I've seen SEVERAL that have one side frozen up, and this will cause a drag on that corner. Easiest test is to simply pull the cable from the affected side, and see if that changes your condition.

Also, not all two-piece rotors are floating. Some are simply an aluminum hat bolted directly to the iron rotor ring. A floating rotor has bobbins/drive-pins that ride in slots in the rotor, allowing for differential expansion rates in the two materials. This helps prevent "belling" when the rotors get towards the upper end of their heat-sink capability. The downside is a bunch of rattling and chattering when they're cold. Honestly, not the most street-friendly design, but for an all-out track toy, worth considering.
 
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leviathon

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I know this is extremely delayed but finally got around to looking at it again, the front rotors warped and the noise is resonating in the cabin :/ new front rotors are in order!
 

Sam Strano

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I sell both temperature sensitive paint you can put on the rotor, and also strips that stick to the caliper to measure temps. The temp strips are not expensive at $34 (and I seem to recall there are 12 or so in a pack). The paint is a bit more at $59.95 for 3 bottles, 750/1000/1250 degrees.
 

kevinatfms

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the strips have worked great the past 2 times i have used them. i used them when i had my Baer kit but not with the brembo's and 1 pcs rotors, yet. a great way to check brake temps and either block or open up your cooling ducts/change pad compounds.

sam - you recommend the strips over the paint? or vise versa?
 

Sam Strano

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Paint is what you need for reading rotor/pad temps. Strips show you how hot the caliper and fluid is getting. I'd have to recommend paint over strips if you would only do one, but both would be most ideal to get a complete sense of what is happening.
 
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