Thursday 9th September 2004

Brembo gauge for checking disc wear

Gauge allows owners to ensure safe brake performance

---

Track days and hard road driving are hard on brake discs as well as pads. Brembo reckons its has the answer to checking how worn your discs really are. While changing brake discs is a vital part of ongoing vehicle maintenance, determining just when individual discs should be replaced can be a difficult and often inexact process. Brembo beleives this is set to change with the arrival of its new Easy Check range of aftermarket passenger car brake discs.

The key innovation of the new Easy Check disc is its unique wear indicator – two small holes of different depths machined into the face of the disc. When the first hole disappears it indicates that 80 per cent of the usable disc surface has been expended. When the second disappears, it signifies that the disc needs to be replaced immediately. The concept means the Easy Check disc range provides a definitive indication of wear rates, enabling car owners and mechanics alike to ensure vehicle safety by checking disc degradation more reliably.

Brembo, which claims to be the European brake market leader, producing more than 30 million brake discs each year, has completely overhauled its UK aftermarket passenger car brake disc range with the introduction of Easy Check. All types of vehicle will be covered – from small cars to supercars.

The new range of discs has been subjected to rigorous tests to ensure optimum performance combined with low levels of noise, vibration and heat transfer under the most arduous conditions.

Why monitoring brake disc wear is crucial

When disc wear is at an advanced stage, brake pad erosion increases rapidly resulting in a marked drop in performance of the brake system. If left unattended, disc wear can also lead to ‘vapour lock’ (when bubbles of vapour enter the hydraulic circuit), or even ‘cracking’ (where the surface of the disc deforms).

"The Easy Check concept will help to widen awareness of the importance of regular disc checkups for the safe running of all types of passenger car," explains Andrea Taschini, After Market BU Director at Brembo. "By offering a much clearer indication of wear, the new disc range will also help mechanics build trust with those car owners that are sceptical about the need for replacement parts during regular servicing."

In order to better appreciate the functionality of Brembo Easy Check, the new discs come supplied with an explanatory leaflet to be given to the car owner, and an adhesive sticker that can be applied inside the car’s door.

To locate the nearest Brembo Easy Check brake disc supplier, contact Brembo UK Ltd by telephone on 01933 357391, or by email at [e-mail].

[TUS 373]

You have to ask, its so simple - why hasn't anyone done it already? Afterall, we've had tread wear indicators on tyres for donkey's years - how come no one thought about something similar for brake discs.

The beauty is in the simplicity.

[tvrman]

Fab idea, but isn't is a bit much to expect the owner to care. After all how many people on the roads check oil/water/tyres...... weekly/monthly/yearly!!!

Some people just don't understand the importance of water in a car engine, and the right tyre pressures.

Ho Hum

Ian

[Alfa Mad]

That only shows when brake discs are actually worn down due to repeated braking over tens of thousands of miles. From experience in the workshop, 90% of discs are changed due to corrosion (under the main surface area- indicated by blackening of the disc), peripheral corrosion (corrosion of the edges encroaching into the main area and cauing the disc to flake), and warping. We hardly change ANY discs due to wear. Yes, our area is cursed with old gits littering our roads who have an allergy about pressing the middle pedal. Therefore, how are these discs going to make a significant effect to road safety and awareness espcially around Perthshire?

Also, as I am only a mechanic who obviously knows precious little about braking systems, how on earth does worn brake discs promote vapour locks in the hydraulic system?

>> Edited by Alfa Mad on Sunday 24th October 18:31

>> Edited by Alfa Mad on Sunday 24th October 18:32