Anyone have discoloration with blue Stoptech ST-60s?

[dbyrd]

I'm considering blue even though this color is not recommended for the track. Has anyone done much tracking with this color and kit?

[dbyrd]

Anyone have this color or have anecdotal info?

Thanks!

[Amirsm3]

The used Brembo BBK I bought for my 350Z turned in color from track use by the previous owner. I'm sure it happens to all brakes - just the color is more or less obvious depending on which direction you go.

[Tortoise]

Daniel, you've seen my yellow StopTechs and the slight fade, but one of the new rear ST40s has shown a lot of pickling of the paint across the caliper. It looks as though the caliper was cooked and the paint pulled away from the metal surface of the caliper. When the purchasing shop contacted ST to show them the problem, the ST tech blamed me in what he "thought" was a clear case of brake fluid sitting on the painted surface. Wow. These guys didn't ask me for any information (product number, build date, condition of the packaging upon receipt, etc) they simply wrote it off as a user induced problem.
I installed the calipers and I can say, without a doubt, that there was never any brake fluid in contact with those surfaces. I've bled and flushed my brakes many times and any fluid that came in contact with the painted surface was wiped off and cleaned and never caused the painted surface to pickle as this one has.

My take away is the brake set still works as it should, but this is really a testament to StopTech's poor customer service approach and in my experience poor quality control.

[dbyrd]

Thanks for the feedback, guys.

Jay,
Sorry to hear about your pickle and lack of customer support from Stoptech.

I'm much more interested in track performance than color, but I thought I might be able to get away with blue. I'm thinking otherwise now.

I may have found a great deal on the Trophy ST-60 so I may go in that direction if it pans out. If not, I'll probably go with the recommended black or red.

Hope you see you at the track soon.

-Daniel

[Tortoise]

Originally Posted by dbyrd

Thanks for the feedback, guys.

Jay,
Sorry to hear about your pickle and lack of customer support from Stoptech.

I'm much more interested in track performance than color, but I thought I might be able to get away with blue. I'm thinking otherwise now.

I may have found a great deal on the Trophy ST-60 so I may go in that direction if it pans out. If not, I'll probably go with the recommended black or red.

Hope you see you at the track soon.

-Daniel

The Trophies would be a great set for your car. Good luck on the purchase!

I'll see you on the track - TWS PDS in a couple of weeks then back to COTA in February.

[bigjae1976]

I've never had an issue with stoptech finishes fading or turning colors (3 different sets of BBKs). The key is to use titanium backing plates in your front calipers. Otherwise the heat will turn the color of the calipers.

But the brake dust will likely not make your calipers not look pretty. Then cleaning them with brake cleaner will remove the gloss.

[Amirsm3]

That's the first time I've seen Stoptech's finish go bad from the factory. Sucks they passed you off without even trying to at least trouble shoot with you.

[surlynkid]

I saw Tortoise's caliper and there is clearly something funky going on that is a stoptech problem. He keeps his calipers immaculate. I spill brake fluid drips down mine, wipe it off, spray brake cleaner on them, etc and they do not look anything like the finish on his caliper. Mine don't look fresh by any means but they never did what his did. His caliper finish has some kind of factory flaw. Stoptech completely blew him off. All of this on the heels of their whole clusterf$&@ with the abutment plate on the ST60 for a batch of calipers. Tortoise needs a damn pry bar to get his pads in our out. Ridiculous. If I was doing it all over again, I would buy AP Racing. Yes - more money, but you get what you pay for in this case.

[1MOREMOD]

I have silver calipers probably the worst for track application. Mine look fine but I pull my wheels after track days to clean clag off the barrels and also clean up calipers most times. I do have peeled paint right at the nipple for bleeding the brakes due to fluid.

[bigjae1976]

I've gotten brake fluid on mine and the finish did not look like that. Hot brake fluid will cause the finish to look like that. But that looks kind of weird because I don't imagine brake fluid would sit in the bottom part of the caliper. Especially the concaved part.

If you want a refinish..I've used these guys for a couple of things. Always comes out pretty good.

http://thepowdercoater.com/

[Tortoise]

Thanks Jae. I'll wait to see how this paint ends up before I turn it over to a shop for a powder coat, but it's good to have options.

[bigjae1976]

Where did you buy them from? I'd call Stoptech directly.

[dbyrd]

Originally Posted by Tortoise

Thanks Jae. I'll wait to see how this paint ends up before I turn it over to a shop for a powder coat, but it's good to have options.

Hey Jay,
I agree with James - give Stoptech a call - ask for Eric. I spoke with him yesterday and he was very knowledgeable and helpful. Good luck with that.

I'm at different events than you until March. Let me know where you're running in the Spring.

-Daniel

[ilikebmxbikes]

I have had a yellow stoptech kit that I tracked and the paint showed no signs of fade or bubbling like your photo.

I currently have a stoptech trophy kit on both my e92 m3 and my 1m3 and I absolutely love them.

[NELSON.MLGB]

^same experience here

[dbyrd]

I decided to go with the Trophy ST-60 kit for the front. I'll wait a while before making a decision re: the rear.

Looking at Pagid RS-29s, PFC-08s (although I've been told these are no longer available), and the SR 33 or 34s. Any other recommendations?

Thanks for all the feedback - I still love this forum!

[1MOREMOD]

Originally Posted by dbyrd

I decided to go with the Trophy ST-60 kit for the front. I'll wait a while before making a decision re: the rear.

Looking at Pagid RS-29s, PFC-08s (although I've been told these are no longer available), and the SR 33 or 34s. Any other recommendations?

Thanks for all the feedback - I still love this forum!

Trophy are nice. I've used Pagid rs19 and sr34s and like both. Sr34s are a good value, cheap but won't last as long as pagid.

[bigjae1976]

Congrats on the BBK!

I've found that SR34s last just as long as Pagids on my Stoptechs. I believe SR34s are more rotor friendly but develop more heat cracks. The SR34s also bite like PF01s.

I don't really like the SR33s.

[wrecklessfool]

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

If you want a refinish..I've used these guys for a couple of things. Always comes out pretty good.

http://thepowdercoater.com/

+1 This guy did great work on my retrofitted Porsche calipers on my E46. Fast turnaround and reasonable prices. Under $400 to completely disassemble, strip, finish in any color you choose, reassemble, and ship back. I also sent him new piston seals and boots and he built them back up using these parts. Basically brand new calipers when they were returned.

[Amirsm3]

Originally Posted by wrecklessfool

+1 This guy did great work on my retrofitted Porsche calipers on my E46. Fast turnaround and reasonable prices. Under $400 to completely disassemble, strip, finish in any color you choose, reassemble, and ship back. I also sent him new piston seals and boots and he built them back up using these parts. Basically brand new calipers when they were returned.

Whoa, that's hella cheap for a complete rebuild.

[bigjae1976]

Originally Posted by Amirsm3

Whoa, that's hella cheap for a complete rebuild.

He will replace the seals and dust boots at no labor charge.

He does good work, my calipers with the ///M logo are in the gallery on his website. Pretty happy with his work.