Stoptech trophy kit - finish gone after 6 months

[e60cs5]

I have heard back from Stoptech and they are attempting to help me resolve the issues. Looks like I need to send the calipers in to them for repair.

This whole situation is really a bummer. I can understand Stoptech's perspective that this looks like an issue with an abrasive cleaner, etc. I don't want to tarnish their reputation when there's no way that I can say with 100% certaintly that these brakes weren't exposed to something. I mentioned from the beginning that I did have the car hand washed in Cali.... I just don't know why this has happened.

With all that said - Thanks for the comments - Stoptech is trying to help me fix the problem. I"ll keep you posted.

Wes

[THE TECH]

I will be waiting eagerly to hear how this works out. Sucks that your car will be down for several weeks while this happens. This is one of those times when it's prob ok you live in a place where the car prob never comes out during the winter.

[Beedub]

Originally Posted by kk2

IMO.. It looks like your problem. Either you bought the wrong kind of brakes for your intended purpose or used the wrong cleaner.

what a fucking stupid ass comment.......

No WAY is this the OPs problem..... keep at em OP and make sure you get the product you paid for... AFAIK the ST-Trophy is meant to be a track caliper, track calipers are seeing a much harsher environment therefore need to be constructed/finished better to survive the riggers of proper use, thats what i read into, with the whole ST-trophy braking system and its higher price point.

[Technic]

Originally Posted by e60cs5

I have heard back from Stoptech and they are attempting to help me resolve the issues. Looks like I need to send the calipers in to them for repair.

This whole situation is really a bummer. I can understand Stoptech's perspective that this looks like an issue with an abrasive cleaner, etc. I don't want to tarnish their reputation when there's no way that I can say with 100% certaintly that these brakes weren't exposed to something. I mentioned from the beginning that I did have the car hand washed in Cali.... I just don't know why this has happened.

With all that said - Thanks for the comments - Stoptech is trying to help me fix the problem. I"ll keep you posted.

Wes

Somebody from StopTech must be reading the forums... good, because one sale (mine) was dependent on them solving your issue.

[maaicher]

I have the same issue with my brakes...i have been in contact with stop tech trying to resolve the issue since august and purchase new bolts because they are saying that my calipers were exposed to a cleaning product and will not warranty the brakes. I don't even use soap on my wheels for fear of it messing with the finish. I never brought this up on the forums because i did not want to tarnish their reputation, but seeing that there is another thread on here regarding this.

[maaicher]

here are a couple pictures...

[THE TECH]

Wow! Two kits with identical issues. Seems to me like Stoptech may have cut corners somewhere.

I was going to do the Trophy on mine as well. This is giving me second thoughts.

[4sevens.com]

Wow now I'm worried. I just ordered ST-60 trophies. I hope they get this straightened out before I get mine. Perhaps stoptech would care to chime in here to alleviate our worries?

I do know that aluminum annodization is very very tough - both in hardness as well as resilience to corrosion etc... it's pretty much a ceramic type coating.

I'd like to know what kind of annodization - is it type 3 (hard annodized?). It does look like it but confirmation would be nice. Also whats the spec thickness of the annodization?

Bolts shouldn't be rusting unless brake compounds got on it and is eating away at it.

[paradocs98]

Subscribed.

Hope you two get some answers.

[Team Plutonium]

Brembo FTW!

OP: Good luck!

[Donbona]

Glad to hear they are dealing with it... I have a set of 6 pot ST's... had them on for around 3 months.... going to check mine now

[Donbona]

Mine are ok

[maaicher]

Stop-tech has gotten back to the OP and I. They are offering to fix the brakes this one time. Just sucks that after trying to get in contact with them since summer, asking for only a part list to purchase new bolts for the Calipers, it took posting on the forums to get this issue resolved.

[THE TECH]

Originally Posted by maaicher

Stop-tech has gotten back to the OP and I. They are offering to fix the brakes this one time. Just sucks that after trying to get in contact with them since summer, asking for only a part list to purchase new bolts for the Calipers, it took posting on the forums to get this issue resolved.

This one time?? Was that verbatim? If so, sounds like a bunch of assholes.

[M3PO]

Originally Posted by e60cs5

I have heard back from Stoptech and they are attempting to help me resolve the issues. Looks like I need to send the calipers in to them for repair.

This whole situation is really a bummer. I can understand Stoptech's perspective that this looks like an issue with an abrasive cleaner, etc. I don't want to tarnish their reputation when there's no way that I can say with 100% certaintly that these brakes weren't exposed to something. I mentioned from the beginning that I did have the car hand washed in Cali.... I just don't know why this has happened.

With all that said - Thanks for the comments - Stoptech is trying to help me fix the problem. I"ll keep you posted.

Wes

If someone else washed your car, how do you know that they didn't use a harsh cleaner?

[maaicher]

Originally Posted by THE TECH

This one time?? Was that verbatim? If so, sounds like a bunch of assholes.

Haha yes it was. I understand though. They can't prove that harsh wheel cleaner was used, and I can't prove that it was a manufacturer error.


"The following is stated on page 4 of our install manual which legally clears us from having to offer any support but are willing to help anyway:

Caliper, Hat and Bracket Finish Disclaimer

Many wheel-cleaning solutions contain strong acids that may damage the finish on any caliper

or aluminum anodized finish, especially the plating on the hardware. Check for adverse

effects by trying a small amount of the cleaner in question on an inconspicuous area. Avoid

over-spraying, and rinse cleaning solutions off as quickly as possible. StopTech is not liable

for damage to calipers, hats or bracket finishes, due to corrosive chemical exposure. " - Stoptech

[THE TECH]

Originally Posted by maaicher

Haha yes it was. I understand though. They can't prove that harsh wheel cleaner was used, and I can't prove that it was a manufacturer error.


"The following is stated on page 4 of our install manual which legally clears us from having to offer any support but are willing to help anyway:

Caliper, Hat and Bracket Finish Disclaimer

Many wheel-cleaning solutions contain strong acids that may damage the finish on any caliper

or aluminum anodized finish, especially the plating on the hardware. Check for adverse

effects by trying a small amount of the cleaner in question on an inconspicuous area. Avoid

over-spraying, and rinse cleaning solutions off as quickly as possible. StopTech is not liable

for damage to calipers, hats or bracket finishes, due to corrosive chemical exposure. " - Stoptech

Of course they want to give themselves a reason not to help the customer out. You would think the fact that more than one person has complained about the same exact issue would cause them to look into it with a more service related attitude.

[tlp]

Originally Posted by THE TECH

Of course they want to give themselves a reason not to help the customer out. You would think the fact that more than one person has complained about the same exact issue would cause them to look into it with a more service related attitude.

Brembo has the same/similar disclaimer. The difference is that the Brembo's caliper is a monbloc's with no bolts or painted the large assembly bolts. If you were to use a caustic cleaner on the Brembos it would affect it the same way but would be minimized to the rotor hat, McClaren Nuts and bleed screws.

I would like to see a list of approved cleaners for ST & Brembo BBK's

[e60cs5]

Originally Posted by M3PO

If someone else washed your car, how do you know that they didn't use a harsh cleaner?

I don't know. I disclosed this to Stoptech.

It was one car wash where the car was hand washed. I doubt they'd use a highly corrosive cleaner. Car washes don't want these kind of problems and they aren't stupid. But...I just don't know. Nobody does.

However, I must say that the brakes don't seem to be very resiliient at all and if I would have known this I would not have purchased them.

[Technic]

Originally Posted by M3PO

If someone else washed your car, how do you know that they didn't use a harsh cleaner?

I was going to ask the same question.

Because the caliper itself looks like a harsh cleaner was also used -on both cases shown in this thread- then I understand now why StopTech is saying that their exchange will be a one-time deal.

That or the Trophy finish is really very delicate. My old and current OEM calipers were painted with VHT caliper paint and they never looked like that after using the OEM wheel cleaner. They are still quite shiny...

[aus]

Strange that it's the Trophie's that are having this issue. They are suppose to have the better finish compared to the regular calipers. I've had mine go through car washes and haven't had any issues. The calipers are definitely not as shiney as when new, but they still look fine when I get around to washing them off.

StopTech TOTALLY took care of me when I had issues with pad deposits/vibration after getting my set. They had AutoTalent do the install.

.

[e60cs5]

Once the bolts are swapped, I'll be happy.

Stoptech is providing lots of good information and they're being very helpful when it comes to the details of getting the situation resolved. I'll keep this thread updated - I may not ship them back until after the Holidays.