Titanium Brake Shims

[zquez]

Okay corner carvers,

Who uses brake shims with their pads? Most heavy duty race calipers use titanium pistons to keep from transferring heat to the fluid. Supposedly these shims are the next best thing. Does anyone have some empirical evidence as to their effectiveness? If so, what thickness do you use? They typically come in .5 mm, 1 mm, and 2 mm.

 

[ddd4114]

I tried 1mm shims for one weekend. I was running 20 min sessions and had just as much brake caliper carnage as before. I suppose they might work for short TT sessions, but eventually, heat will transfer through them.

If you'd like to try a set and have base model brake calipers, I'll sell you my old set!

 

[captdistraction]

I've worked with them on cars in the past usually with good success.

 

[zquez]

I tried 1mm shims for one weekend. I was running 20 min sessions and had just as much brake caliper carnage as before. I suppose they might work for short TT sessions, but eventually, heat will transfer through them.

If you'd like to try a set and have base model brake calipers, I'll sell you my old set!

Brembos here bud. Thanks though!

I usually run 20 minute sessions too but I wonder if they would make a bigger difference on the brembos than base calipers.

I've worked with them on cars in the past usually with good success.

What thickness have you used? I'm just curious if the extra cost is worth it for the 1 or 2 mm.

 

[ddd4114]

It's hard to say without knowing more about your case.

What sort of brake wear are you seeing right now?

What kind of tires do you use, and how hard are you pushing your car?

Have you measured temperatures with paint or anything else?

How fast are you going through brake pads, and when do you throw them away?

How often are you frying dust boots or boiling brake fluid?

I certainly don't think they'll hurt (other than in your wallet), but they could easily have no effect. I read some paper once showing that they don't provide much of a benefit if you're pushing your car hard for more than 10 min or so. I forget where I saw that though, and I don't remember what type of car was tested.

 

[ArizonaGT]

I run them on stock brembos with race pads (PF01) and they definitely work. Dust boots look brand new practically. Definitely not snake oil.

Get the 0.5mm set or you might have trouble getting them fit with fresh pads.

Please see the YouTube link in my signature if you have any questions regarding use conditions.

 

[csamsh]

I run them on stock brembos with race pads (PF01) and they definitely work. Dust boots look brand new practically. Definitely not snake oil.

Get the 0.5mm set or you might have trouble getting them fit with fresh pads.

you must not be braking hard enough....ha just joking. I fried some week-old dust boots in ONE DAY using the shims back in July. Track was Eagle's Canyon...which I'm told is tough on brakes.

 

[Osiris]

I use them but I started the same time I went to 600 brake fluid so I dunno....

 

[captdistraction]

you must not be braking hard enough....ha just joking. I fried some week-old dust boots in ONE DAY using the shims back in July. Track was Eagle's Canyon...which I'm told is tough on brakes.

He brakes hard enough. Having followed him into some turns, I have no doubts (and a few pucker moments).

 

[STEVE_POE]

I take a set of brake pads that are worn and grind what is left of the pad material away and use the backing plate as a shield when pads start to get low . it works well and it's free . basically you have the backing plate then the backing plate of the pad with material on it .

 

[zquez]

So the general consensus is that they're worth getting? cool.

I run PFC 01s and conti slicks. I've boiled ATE super blue a couple times and I'm gonna try RBF 600 fluid next time. I've also got temp strips and paint ready for the next track day. With these shims and any luck, I can keep from boiling anymore fluid and maybe save some maintenance on the calipers.

 

[ddd4114]

I thought about doing that too. It's pretty hard to pass up a $0 alternative.

How much lower can you run your pads after adding your homemade spacers?

 

[zquez]

I take a set of brake pads that are worn and grind what is left of the pad material away and use the backing plate as a shield when pads start to get low . it works well and it's free . basically you have the backing plate then the backing plate of the pad with material on it .

That's an interesting idea. Maybe I'll try that too once I wear my new pads down enough.

 

[STEVE_POE]

are you running brake ducts ? we run the 4" fr500s brake cooling system

 

[zquez]

I run 3" ducts and custom scoops.



I wish I could run 4" ducts but there's barely enough room as is.

 

[ArizonaGT]

I take a set of brake pads that are worn and grind what is left of the pad material away and use the backing plate as a shield when pads start to get low . it works well and it's free . basically you have the backing plate then the backing plate of the pad with material on it .

Nice...that should improve the pedal travel on used pads as well.

 

[Red06GT]

I've been using the .5 mm shims for years to save the dust boots on the stock calipers. I use them only on the inboard side and double them up as the pads wear down. I don't use them on the outboard side so the caliper can dissipate the heat. Seems to work well and saves the boots.

 

[Sky Render]

Anyone have a link to where you can buy these?

 

[ddd4114]

I got mine from here:

Brembo: http://hardbrakes.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=6_7_137_1264&products_id=30

Base: http://hardbrakes.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=6_7_137_697&products_id=96

 

[Sky Render]

I got mine from here:

Brembo: http://hardbrakes.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=6_7_137_1264&products_id=30

Base: http://hardbrakes.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=6_7_137_697&products_id=96

Ooooh, nice price, too. Thanks for the link!

Any reason you couldn't run these on the street with dual-purpose pads?