Brake Rotor Metallurgy
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,234
Likes: 2
From: New Jersey
Brake Rotor Metallurgy
An SAE Tutorial
Introduction to Gray Cast Iron Brake Rotor Metallurgy
Mark Ihm
TRW Automotive
Link:
http://www.sae.org/events/bce/tutorial-ihm.pdf
Introduction to Gray Cast Iron Brake Rotor Metallurgy
Mark Ihm
TRW Automotive
Link:
http://www.sae.org/events/bce/tutorial-ihm.pdf
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
Good stuff. I actuly understood most of it. 
I have to get out more 
and how would cryo-cooling effect rotors:
1: in the intial cool stage
2: after the rotor has cooled to abeint temp
I have to get out more and how would cryo-cooling effect rotors:
1: in the intial cool stage
2: after the rotor has cooled to abeint temp
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,032
Likes: 0
From: North Fork,Lawn Guyland New York
NEWBIE QUESTION...I'm about to make an offer on z51 equiped c6 that has been sitting on lot for 3 week that I know about..rotors are pretty covered w surface rust...will this be a problem or will it be gone after a little braking...once they have a glaze will this rusting stop? john
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,234
Likes: 2
From: New Jersey
Originally Posted by cleo
NEWBIE QUESTION...I'm about to make an offer on z51 equiped c6 that has been sitting on lot for 3 week that I know about..rotors are pretty covered w surface rust...will this be a problem or will it be gone after a little braking...once they have a glaze will this rusting stop? john
Cast iron gets surface rust pretty easily. The good side is that the cover of rust actually protects the iron underneath.
With time and access to a catalyst all iron will rust to dust. But for a car that's driven that won't happen. If it does, chances are there are far more expensive parts that rusted to dust along with the rotor.
The surface rust on a brake rotor is not an issue, a bit of braking will quickly clear it and you'll be perfectly fine.
Surface rust will occur every time the rotor gets wet from washing or rain. Its just a very thin veneer and not a problem.
Just do some light braking at slow speeds and it will shine like new.
If the hat of the rotor is rusted then you may want to paint it with high-temp paint which can be purchased at Home Depot. Mostly so it looks nice.
Most metals have surface oxidation, even aluminum.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 16,935
Likes: 26
From: Lackey, my own dragstrip VA.
Virginia Events Coordinator
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
NCM Ambassador
Some more info on cryogenic treatments and their worth........
http://www.frozenrotors.com/
http://www.metal-wear.com/Articles/H...20Progress.pdf
http://www.metal-wear.com/More%20Detail.htm
Some racers have found rotor wear rates of 15-25% better if cryo’d....vs claims of 200-300% better! Some have found it not cost effective.......
All I know is if you tighten up the crystalline structure of the rotor, it can only help with longevity and reduced stress cracking.
But is it diminishing return issue if I spend over $100 per cryo’d rotor when I can buy new for $25. Each application will be different
SAE.who dat?
http://www.frozenrotors.com/
http://www.metal-wear.com/Articles/H...20Progress.pdf
http://www.metal-wear.com/More%20Detail.htm
Some racers have found rotor wear rates of 15-25% better if cryo’d....vs claims of 200-300% better! Some have found it not cost effective.......
All I know is if you tighten up the crystalline structure of the rotor, it can only help with longevity and reduced stress cracking.
But is it diminishing return issue if I spend over $100 per cryo’d rotor when I can buy new for $25. Each application will be different
SAE.who dat?
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,456
Likes: 6
From: Spicewood, Texas, USA TX-Texas
Originally Posted by ALLTHROTTLE&NOBOTTLE
SAE.who dat?
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 16,935
Likes: 26
From: Lackey, my own dragstrip VA.
Virginia Events Coordinator
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
NCM Ambassador
Originally Posted by JmpnJckFlsh
Society of Automotive Engineers. Much of the cutting-edge technology used by manufacturers is first published by engineers in the SAE journal.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,456
Likes: 6
From: Spicewood, Texas, USA TX-Texas
Originally Posted by ALLTHROTTLE&NOBOTTLE
I know..........
Sorry. I knew it was either a rhetorical question, or you were dumber than a stump. It could go either way on this board. I try to assume the worst case, and give a gentle answer to every man...ignorance, afterall, is not a crime. 
