JPR AutoSports

If I’ve come to know anything in this industry it is to never underestimate just how little you know about a subject. Braking technology, the metallurgical and physical impllications behind it, and the mechanical impact on the rest of the car is another area in which this truth has made itself abundantly clear. Martin, over at Girodisc (www.girodisc.com) certainly helped in this realization. He has a casual, easy way of explaining things that accomplishes two things immediately; one, he answers questions and provides quick and clear advice that you can apply immediately; two, in doing so you become aware of just how much information is available at his disposal, for which he is only leveraging what is necessary to solve your issue. It is VERY reassuring to have direct access to information that can make an immediate and real difference on the track. I suppose at some level it is a little disheartening to (for me anyway) to know, again, just how much I still have to learn.

I’ve had the opportunity to speak with Martin and his team a number of times this past season as we work to find the right brake pad combination for the Evo. At the track the stock Brembos are pretty strong, with nice sized pistons that can, with the right pad, stop the car quickly. The Evo is, however, heavy and so it is important to consider rotor and pad heat, wear and fade during a session. Separate from the pad and rotor decision, Martin recommneded steel braided brake lines and titanium shims as a complete solutionfor the stock caliper and rotor size. These two additional components are a must to provide a stronger pedal power and feel and reduce brake fade. The braided lines prevent expansion of the fluid when the pedal is depressed, while the titanium shims keep pad heat away from the caliper and other brake parts. (See my post on replacing the Brembos’ piston seals for more informaiton on seal and dust shield damage from heat.)

Girodisc offers a couple of rotor combinations, including their top of the line two piece floating setup which we use. These are beautifully made and well designed to separate the heat from the rotor from the rotor hat and Martin took some real time to walk us through the technology and design elements. This two piece solution reduces weight, fade and wear; critical elements for racing. Reducing the weight of the rotors reduces rotating mass and improves acceleration and responsiveness. Go to their website and learn more about their solutions. Certainly, there are other pad and rotor manufacturers out there but the combination of design and technology, build quality and access to information, the decision to work with Girodisc very, very simple. The braking performance of the Evo with the two piece rotors, shims, and brake lines, using Martin’s recommended Raybestos pads or the Hawk DTC70 is nothing short of spectacular. We’ll post some data on this analysis soon but know that the car stops gut wrenchingly hard.

We are very excited to be working with Martin and Girodisc and look forward to the improved stopping performance and lower lap times for the remainder of this season and into 2012.