Here's a new one. Has this happened to anyone else?

Last year, John and I noticed that after a number of track days the formerly red "Brembo" decals on our calipers had turned black, presumably from the heat. Well, now my whole caliper has changed from the original gold, which nearly matched the LS color of the car, to a deep coppery brown.

Here's the strangest thing: it's happened to the front and rear calipers, but only on the left side. The right side may be a little bit darker than original, but both front and rear rights are still gold. I could understand both fronts changing, but this is strange.

I only noticed it after the first session of Seat Time yesterday at Summit Point. I instructed at FATT last Friday, so I only ran three sessions, and I think I would have noticed if it started happening then.

So has anyone else seen this? Should I be worried?

Since my350Z.com apparently isn't allowing you to post pictures anymore, go here to see my pix: http://www.cinergetics.com/brembos/

(I'm posting this to the Racing forum, since I doubt anyone who hasn't raced or track driven a Z could have seen this.)

 

After Mid-Ohio, my front left caliper became a darker coppery color. I think Bruce told us that his friend baked his to a Hershey brown color.

 

Yep, the heat bakes the paint, that is what happens when we actually use our brakes, wear it as a badge of honor that you are one of the few that actually use the car to its limits

 

That's what I figured, but I hadn't heard of it happening to anyone else.

But why only the left side? The tires on that side get worn more, because they're on the outside of most turns on a clockwise track, but most braking is in a straight line. So why not both sides evenly?

Any guesses?

 

Interesting question, That could be the reason, mine have been mainly Sebring which you have a lot of left and right turns and both are just as dark.

 

LONG SHOT.......
But If the gearbox is on the left, that would make it a good deal heavier on that side and put more strain on the left side???


George

 

I now have his rear brakes....Not quite Hershey brown, but noticeably darker. Let me try an find a pix. His new 14" Stoptech caliper lettering has turned from white to cream!

Your pix sure make the caliper look REAL dark! I guess I have to brake harder!!!!!

I think my front hats turning from black to a brownish purple is pretty cool too!

Not sure why the different sides are changing at different rates.

 

Mine were nice and dark brown when I finally traded in my Z (I made sure to trade the car in at night). Sounds about right for the dozens of times I brought the car into the pits with the brakes literally smoking!!

 

Well I don't know about the gearbox, but there is something that weighs about 240 pounds on the driver's side.

 

 

Yeah, after my first day at Summit Point in the Z with the Stoptechs, the lettering on the calipers also went from nice white to cream colored. As was mentioned, it's a badge of honor. Now I always check out peoples track Brembos/Stoptechs to see if they're for bling or for actual track use.

 

Hey guys, add me to the list. Right now I'm at a dark orange "Brembo" on the fronts. The gold color still seems ok. Hmmm, I wonder if Brembo offers a refinishing service...I can't imagine finding that paint anywhere, otherwise I'd do it myself.

Oh well, the price you pay for waxing some Porsche-fanny!!

 

you can just use regular car paint. I worked for an IMSA team for a while and we just threw the calipers in with other misc body parts to get painted. Doing it that way looked perfect too, rather than the rattle can caliper paint you can buy for cheap. Either way they'll just get torched again after a few events. Only real way around it is to paint the calipers black.

 

The only reason I've come up with for why the left side turned brown and not the right is that when I was at Mid-Ohio in April, I changed the pads and on the left side decided not to put those little metal shims back in between the pad and the pistons. Although I can't imagine how they would have insulated the calipers or dissipated so much heat, it's the only difference.

I put new pads on the fronts again this weekend, and put the shims back. They squeak a lot less with the shims.

Now the question is, should I pull the shims on the right side, to try to even up the color all the way around?

 

Awesome pic!

 

Thanks! This was taken at Waterford Hills at the Porsche club event in May. They had some professional photographers come out for the day. This pic was my favorite. It also shows the last time the Brembo lettering was red too!

Hmm, I figured the brakes would get too hot even on the street for automotive paint...but it may be worth a try. I am curious as to the stuff Brembo uses; they took some pretty high heat in the last year before the lettering finally changed.

Commasense, it seems a stretch that the shims are saving the calipers from turning colors. When I swap my HP+ pads in, I never use the shims. The calipers never changed color at the last event, but that track was more wide open than the one I just ran...I think it's more airflow related than shim related. Could it be that you have a brake dragging on one side?