Background

The critical importance of understanding the temperature thresholds your rotors, pads and calipers are experience during performance driving, is well known.

Unchecked overheating can lead to, at the minimum; premature wear and degradation of braking components and loss of performance and at the maximum; catastrophic brake failure leading to severe vehicular damage and loss of life.

It is important to have a reliable, irreversible and low driver interaction method of monitoring these critical thresholds.

Performance Brake Systems (PBS) incorporates factory applied colour-changing thermographic paints (TGP’s) to all our rotors (2-piece floating iron and carbon ceramic rotors) which change colour irreversibly, within seconds of surpassing pre-determined barrier temperatures. These indicators are applied in three (3) stripes on the outer edge of the rotors. All coloured stripes will melt and change to black upon surpassing the designated temperature.

2-Piece Floating Iron Rotor Temperature Thresholds

The iron discs have factory applied Yellow (427C), Orange (538C) and Red (649C) TGP indicator stripes.

NORMAL operating temperatures are indicated when all three TGP stripes are still visible.

HEAVY operating temperatures are indicated when the yellow TGP has melted to black, but the Orange TGP is still visible. Typically associated with towing applications and occasional severe braking events.

SEVERE operating temperatures are indicated when both the Yellow and Orange TGP’s have melted and turned black, but the Red TGP is still visible. Typically associated with multiple, continuous severe braking events, typically found by tracking your car, drifting or generalized crazy-ass street driving.

EXTREME operating temperatures are indicated when all three TGP’s indicators have melted and turned black. Typically associated with extreme and frequent track use, often exceeding the safe limits of the rotor materials, pads, calipers and fluids. Severe brake fading and/or complete loss of braking may occur. Severe damage to brake components is likely.

Carbon Ceramic Brake (CCB) Rotor Temperature Thresholds

The CCB’s have factory applied Yellow (427C), Orange (538C), Green (800C) and Blue (850C) indicator stripes.

NORMAL operating temperatures are indicated when the yellow TGP is still visible.

HEAVY operating temperatures are indicated when the yellow TGP has melted to black, but the Orange TGP is still visible. Typically associated with towing applications, severe terrain and occasional severe braking events.

SEVERE operating temperatures are indicated when both the Yellow and Orange TGP’s have melted and turned black, but the Green TGP is still visible. Typically associated with numerous, continuous severe braking events, typically found by tracking your car for 3-5 laps. The instantaneous rotor temperature can spike to 600C+ and slight gasification of the Silicon Carbonate coating to CO2 will occur, but will not damage the rotors severely. Keep in mind that the SiC coating is only 800um (0.8mm) thick and even moderate gasification of this coating will lead to losses of between 100-200um.

SEVERE PLUS operating temperatures are indicated when the Yellow, Orange and Green TGP’s have melted and turned black, but the Blue TGP is still visible. Typically associated with frequent track usage. CCB’s will glow cherry red when temperatures exceed 770C and severe degradation (gasification) of the SiC coating will occur by as much as 30-50%.

EXTREME operating temperatures are indicated when all four (4) TGP’s indicators have melted and turned black. Typically associated with extreme and frequent track use, exceeding the safe limits of the rotor materials, pads, calipers and fluids. Severe brake fading and/or complete loss of braking may occur up to or including; shattering of the CCB disc. Severe damage to brake components is likely, resulting in a very expensive day at the track when you need to replace your front CCB’s and perhaps your rears. A one-way trip to the hospital is a distinct possibility. PBS does not cover these journeys.

PBS supplies a full range of thermographic paints for purchase as shown below, for your additional and customized application to pads, calipers and brake components. All sizes are 2oz. Includes brush applicator.