BRAKE & CLUTCH
DBA EXPANDS ITS RANGE OF BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS And even more new releases are on the way
Disc Brakes Australia (DBA) continues to expand its range of performance brake rotor and pad applications and in this article shares some tips on what to look out for when selecting a braking component for the racetrack. The latest models to have been added to DBA’s impressive line-up include the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 Trackhawk, Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and Hyundai iN30, while forthcoming releases will feature performance products for the Toyota Yaris GR, Volkswagen Golf R Mk8, and many more. It has also been a successful year of collaboration between DBA and Supercars team Tickford Racing/Automotive, with 5000 Series rotors and XP pads now available for the current Ford Ranger and Mustang models – not just through the wide network of DBA brake specialists but also directly from Tickford. DBA’s performance pack consists of its twopiece 5000 Series brake rotor and the Xtreme Performance brake pads as the perfect complement. When looking for brake rotors for a track going car with the intention to re-use the rotors after a session, DBA would like to remind vehicle owners and mechanics alike that a heat-treated product is really the only way to go. All 5000 Series rotors undergo Thermal Stability Profiling (TSP), meaning they receive heat treatment cycles during the manufacturing process, resulting in increased metallurgical stability.
With its 6061 T6 aircraft grade aluminium hat, 5000 Series rotors feature a two-piece design, which thanks to its reduced unsprung mass notably improves vehicle handling. It also enables users to replace only the rings at the end of their service lives. 5000 Series performance rotors, like their 4000 Series counterparts, are available in various slot and drilled surface designs. For track use DBA recommends the T3 slotted surface design. DBA warns that a cheap rotor with inferior material and poor cooling vents can crack under extreme heat. It says the 5000 Series rotors feature DBA’s unique, patented Kangaroo Paw ventilation design, facilitating up to 20 percent more efficient cooling of the rotor. Further, 5000 Series rotors make use of thermographic heat paint (TGHP), providing a method to monitor rotor temperatures and take appropriate measures in case maximum recommended temperatures are frequently exceeded. When it comes to brake pads, DBA says its Xtreme Performance pads are the ‘ultimate road pad’ for unparalleled stopping power and reliability. Features include its unique, low metallic, low copper friction formulation, scorching treatment for increased performance, and application-specific HVN shims and slots for reduced vibration.
The range consists of over 160 unique part numbers, of which approximately 60 percent have so far received ECE R90 approval and covers all popular performance models in the market. While the Xtreme Performance pad is also perfectly capable of performing light trackwork, DBA advises that its all-new range of Race Performance pads, exclusively developed for track and racing applications, will be launched later this year, with more information to be released soon. To learn more or find a DBA performance product for a particular vehicle, visit www.dba.com.au, or call 1800 730 039.
GET INTO THE GROOVE With ER² Clutch Cover Assemblies
Every now and then a genuine innovation comes along for a product that has basically remained unchanged for many years. Clutch Industries says such an innovation can be found in its performance clutches with its ER2 Groove pressure plate. 4Terrain and Mantic Stage Cover Assemblies include this Patented ER2 Groove Design which is
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Australian Automotive Aftermarket Magazine February 2022
a unique groove pattern that is CNC machined on the friction face of the pressure plate. This groove has been specifically designed to increase the Mean Effective Radius of the pressure plate and assist in heat removal. The increase in the Mean Effective Radius of the cover assembly gives a significant increase in torque capacity. By adding the groove to the pressure plate, the inside radius of the friction face has effectively been increased. The first 8mm of the pressure plate has all but been removed and added to this, there is progressively less material removed as the radius increases. The net effect of this is to move the effective inside radius further out. When comparing the Mean Effective Radius (Rm) of the ER2 version to the non ER2 version, you can see the ER2 version is further out (left image). Clutch Industries explains that moving the Rm out has the effect of increasing the surface area
of the clutch which increases the torque capacity. Torque capacity is directly related to Rm, so the greater Mean Effective Radius the higher the toque capacity. Clutch Industries states that this Australian engineered innovation gives 4Terrain and Mantic clutches an advantage over other performance clutch systems while not compromising on drivability or durability. For more information, visit www.clutchindustries.com.au
