Brembo Rotors

[Jim Susko]

I recently had a call from a first gen Mazda customer whose Brembo rotor he just purchased lasted about three laps before it parted from the car. He called a reputable Mazda prep shop and asked them about it and was told that they have a couple thousand dollars in replacements and that this is a factory defect. Apparently the threads are bad in some way. However, Brembo will do nothing about the defect, not even talk about it. This can only mean they have a lot of them out there and have something to hide, in my way of thinking.

If you have purchased Brembo rotors please inspect the internal stud threads to make sure they are well formed and complete. Exactly what the problem is is unclear but you will be able to tell by close inspection if there is some problem with the threads.

Has anybody else had problems of this sort with Brembo rotors? Have you heard of someone else in any class having the same experience?

This could be a serious safety issue besides the thousands of dolllars that this may cost retailers and racers.

Jim Susko

[Jim Susko]

My previous statement on this subject was meant to say the wheel parted from the car when the studs pulled out. Apparently when I edited it I failed to update my edit. I apologize for any confusion.

Jim Susko

[ITA_honda]

Wow. That is really bad. Ive used Brembo rotors (solid surface) for two years on my ITA Civic and have never had an issue with them. Next time Ill be sure to take a look at them before installation. I havent heard of other drivers talking about it.

Very interesting...

[lateapex911]

I've used them when I can source them. Which isn't that often. No issues here. Too bad the design makes us have to replace the whole thing everytime the things crack, and it adds extra expense for bearing replacement.

[dyoungre]

Greg,
I don't know about the Honda design, but the 1st Gen RX7 used wheel lug bolts, not pressed in studs. The integral brake rotor / hub is threaded, and most racers then thread studs into the brake rotor to enable the use of lug nuts, instead of using lug bolts. I'm guessing that the honda rotors are either captured between the wheel hub and wheel, or use pressed in studs? Like I said, not familiar with the Honda design, but wanted you to know the unique design 'feature' of the RX7 brake rotor.

[lateapex911]

Further to Daves point, the wheel mounting surface is less than two inches away from the brake disc, which makes it impossible to press a stud in from the back. So the studs used are, in my case, double threaded, The short end threads into the disc/hub, then bottoms out on the non threaded portion of the stud, The lugs thread on the exposed threads. They are torqued via an allen wrench from the external end. (and red locktited)

[joeracerx95]

I recently had a call from a first gen Mazda customer whose Brembo rotor he just purchased lasted about three laps before it parted from the car. He called a reputable Mazda prep shop and asked them about it and was told that they have a couple thousand dollars in replacements and that this is a factory defect. Apparently the threads are bad in some way. However, Brembo will do nothing about the defect, not even talk about it. This can only mean they have a lot of them out there and have something to hide, in my way of thinking.

If you have purchased Brembo rotors please inspect the internal stud threads to make sure they are well formed and complete. Exactly what the problem is is unclear but you will be able to tell by close inspection if there is some problem with the threads.

Has anybody else had problems of this sort with Brembo rotors? Have you heard of someone else in any class having the same experience?

This could be a serious safety issue besides the thousands of dolllars that this may cost retailers and racers.

Jim Susko

Jim, the answer is yes and yes.

I have had a rotor have this issue, luckily it was only one stud so I never lost a wheel. I first heard of this problem with Brembo rotors about two years ago.

[Gary Gentry]

For what its worth:

I have used Brembos with no previous issues and employ 1/2-20 studs (cut to desired length) and using a low profile lock nut on the back side.....and using copious amounts of red lok-tite on all threads.

I also have a new set of Brembos that I have examined closely and all appears to be well with those, which have not yet been drilled & tapped......