Carbon Ceramic Brakes
Why buy Carbon Ceramic Brake Discs?
A lot of people wonder this, and it’s a fair ask – the bottom line is a multi-pronged response including better acceleration, better braking, better overall handling, reduced NVH, better fuel economy, and recyclability. Because most Carbon Ceramic Brake Discs weigh less than a third of a standard steel disc, the unsprung weight is substantially reduced – with less rolling mass, the car can spring from a standstill or bite down on the tarmac to stop; because the weight is lowered, the car can take a turn a little more aggressively without inertia pulling quite as hard to drag it off the track; drive responsibly and most experience a higher degree of fuel efficiency, again, the car isn’t having to work so hard to spin the wheels. And, at the end of the life cycle, Carbon Ceramic Brake Discs are infinitely easier to recycle than steel. With all these benefits, we wonder why more people don’t have a set. Check out all our CCM kits on TDE |
Our products
TDE has been refurbishing Brembo carbon ceramic discs for automotive applications since 2018, when we first supplied these components for the Ford Focus RS.
The high performance material, made from a special mixture of powders, resins and fibers in a complex manufacturing process, has been used since the 1970s in braking systems for aerospace applications and since the 1980s in motorsports.
Brembo Carbon Ceramic Brakes is currently the leading manufacturer of carbon ceramic discs, and supplies these components for the most exclusive models of prestigious brands such as Ferrari, Maserati, Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Corvette, Nissan, Lexus, McLaren, Volkswagen, Porsche, Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini, Bugatti and AMG.
When you brake while driving, the conventional metallic system doesn’t dissipate the heat generated by friction. As this heat builds up, the temperature of the steel wears on your entire braking system. Over time, these temperatures will degrade the cast iron and steel within the components of your brakes. Degraded components of course reduce your overall stopping power and can make driving dangerous. In some performance applications we often see cracks that can develop into disc failure.
Carbon-ceramic brakes are specially designed to manage the friction that’s generated within your braking system. This means that Carbon-Ceramic brakes are not as susceptible to “brake fade” as conventional brakes since they are more resistant to high temperatures. Brake fade is the overall loss of braking power under high temperatures, and this increases over time as conventional brakes degrade. (See Tech Tips about brake systems). Since CC brakes dissipate the heat better, it’s less likely for them to ever fade.
Carbon Ceramic brakes are tough and are more resistant to wear than traditional braking systems. The average cast-iron disc or rotor system lasts up to 60,000 miles, but CC brakes and rotors can operate and perform without replacement for well over 100,000 miles.
Carbon-ceramic brakes are lighter than their conventional counterparts, often weighing less than half as much as cast iron or steel rotors. This improves vehicle handling and creates an overall smoother ride. In addition to reduced weight, carbon-ceramic brakes are also quieter and resistant to corrosion.
With low unsprung weight, the dampers and springs are able to maintain good contact between the tire and road surface – We have witnesses that this can lead to a reduction in braking distance of 10%.
As with anything, there are downsides that come with the unconventional option. Carbon-ceramic brakes are more expensive than cast iron or steel brakes, in many cases several times more expensive. They are an investment, which is something anyone with a high-performance car is already used to. If you are looking to upgrade to carbon-ceramic brakes you could normally be looking at several thousand Euro investments. We at TDE are able tooffer CCM discs at a much lower price thanks to an effective refurbishing process that ensures the same performance as a new Disc.
TDE can manufacture CCM brake kits to most vehicles. At the moment we stock kits for Porsche Cayman, all MX5’s, GR Yaris and Focus RS and Fiesta ST.