Titanium Shims | Good or Bad?

Car54 · 01-17-2013, 08:43 PM

What do you guys think about break pad shims? I recently shot through a set of PFC08 endurance pads in 3 track days. This is much faster than normal for me and the only major change was the titanium plates. I wonder if they keep the heat in the pads and not allow the heat to dissipate.

Thoughts?

Zoli007 · 01-17-2013, 11:22 PM

You went through the pads quicker due to the titanium shims? Interesting. I've always wondered about them.

AxisMagi · 01-17-2013, 11:33 PM

I didn't have much luck with them on stock brakes.

TXmtrhed · 01-17-2013, 11:36 PM

In my opinion the shims work great in reducing the heat transfer to the calipers and most especially the brake fluid. They have so far eliminated the soft brake pedal I used to get at the end of a session.

So though the piston side pad may run a little hotter the outer pad temp should not be affected (I only run shims on the piston side). I haven't noticed any difference in wear rates from before and after shims.

Were you running at the same track as before? Same session length?

Vic311 · 01-17-2013, 11:46 PM

Consider brake silicone grease instead?

interesting theory on heat dissapation with the shims. I would think they would act as a heat sink drawing heat away from the calipers/pads

Brian@MWP · 01-18-2013, 12:17 AM

What brand shims did you buy?

TXmtrhed · 01-18-2013, 11:35 AM

Bought mine from Hardbrakes.com. The kit for the OE M3 brakes consists of four shims in the shape of the front pads (no kit avail for the rear). I mounted two up front and reshaped the other two to use in the rear.

In addition to keeping my brake fluid temps down it should help preserve the caliper boots.

Porschefile · 01-18-2013, 11:33 PM

I always ran them on the stock calipers. It increases pad temp and therefore pad wear, but I'd rather run through PFC's faster (they can take the heat) than boil brake fluid. YMMV.

Superfly_M3 · 01-19-2013, 02:16 AM

Interesting to know, thanks for the info

bigjae1976 · 01-19-2013, 01:09 PM

The only reason that's tested is that the shims keep your pretty fixed calipers from changing colors.

I had the shims with my first set of pads and they lasted a long time. The second set of pads went pretty fast and I did not have the shims. Both pads were PF01s.

I also want to test the theory that PFC may have some consistency issues with their pads. I've never really gotten an consistent wear rate. I'm trying some pagids and stoptech pads so I can compare.

Car54 · 01-19-2013, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian@MWP

What brand shims did you buy?

Hardbrakes as well.

Brian@MWP · 01-20-2013, 10:27 PM

Thanks for the info guys!

01-17-2013, 08:43 PM	#1
Car54 Captain Drives: 1999 Z3 Mcoupe \| 2008 M3/4 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Lutz, FL Posts: 825 iTrader: (1)	Titanium Shims \| Good or Bad? What do you guys think about break pad shims? I recently shot through a set of PFC08 endurance pads in 3 track days. This is much faster than normal for me and the only major change was the titanium plates. I wonder if they keep the heat in the pads and not allow the heat to dissipate. Thoughts? __________________ Craig Brickner BMW CCA/PBOC/Chin Motorsports DE Instructor Click to Join: BMWCCA # 366493
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01-17-2013, 11:22 PM	#2
Zoli007 Private First Class Drives: 2003 M5 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Davie Florida Posts: 155 iTrader: (0)	You went through the pads quicker due to the titanium shims? Interesting. I've always wondered about them. __________________

01-17-2013, 11:33 PM	#3
AxisMagi Private Drives: 2011 E90 Lemans Blue Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 52 iTrader: (0)	I didn't have much luck with them on stock brakes. __________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ 2011 E90 M3 ZCP Lemans Blue / ESS VT2-600 Supercharger / Stoptech Trophy BBK / M-Performance Exhaust / Ohlins Road & Track / Audiophile Sound System / Beltronics STir Plus & LI

01-18-2013, 11:33 PM	#8
Porschefile Major Drives: E92 M3 DCT, E46, Formula Mazda Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,057 iTrader: (5)	I always ran them on the stock calipers. It increases pad temp and therefore pad wear, but I'd rather run through PFC's faster (they can take the heat) than boil brake fluid. YMMV. __________________ #18 Formula Mazda, Southeast Division SCCA

01-19-2013, 01:09 PM	#10
bigjae1976 Brigadier General Drives: 04 330Ci, 11 E90 M3 Individual Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 4,145 iTrader: (8)	The only reason that's tested is that the shims keep your pretty fixed calipers from changing colors. I had the shims with my first set of pads and they lasted a long time. The second set of pads went pretty fast and I did not have the shims. Both pads were PF01s. I also want to test the theory that PFC may have some consistency issues with their pads. I've never really gotten an consistent wear rate. I'm trying some pagids and stoptech pads so I can compare. __________________ Sponsored by Momentum BMW #593...We Bleed BMW BLUE!

01-17-2013, 11:36 PM	#4
TXmtrhed Second Lieutenant Drives: VO 1M Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Katy, TX Posts: 200 iTrader: (0)	In my opinion the shims work great in reducing the heat transfer to the calipers and most especially the brake fluid. They have so far eliminated the soft brake pedal I used to get at the end of a session. So though the piston side pad may run a little hotter the outer pad temp should not be affected (I only run shims on the piston side). I haven't noticed any difference in wear rates from before and after shims. Were you running at the same track as before? Same session length?

01-17-2013, 11:46 PM	#5
Vic311 Zen Drives: 2011 e92 M3 Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: CA Posts: 896 iTrader: (0)	Consider brake silicone grease instead? interesting theory on heat dissapation with the shims. I would think they would act as a heat sink drawing heat away from the calipers/pads

01-18-2013, 12:17 AM	#6
Brian@MWP Private Drives: BMW Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Chicago Posts: 90 iTrader: (0)	What brand shims did you buy?

01-18-2013, 11:35 AM	#7
TXmtrhed Second Lieutenant Drives: VO 1M Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Katy, TX Posts: 200 iTrader: (0)	Bought mine from Hardbrakes.com. The kit for the OE M3 brakes consists of four shims in the shape of the front pads (no kit avail for the rear). I mounted two up front and reshaped the other two to use in the rear. In addition to keeping my brake fluid temps down it should help preserve the caliper boots.

01-19-2013, 02:16 AM	#9
Superfly_M3 Captain Drives: 2011 M3 Sedan Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Toronto Posts: 885 iTrader: (0)	Interesting to know, thanks for the info

01-20-2013, 10:27 PM	#12
Brian@MWP Private Drives: BMW Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Chicago Posts: 90 iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the info guys!

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