Braking The DBA Way

At Racer Products, our customers always seek the best braking advice and parts for their racing cars. Did you know Racer Products can now help you with your tow vehicle's brake system?

In this article, we'll dive into key considerations that will help you with valuable advice and guidance to ensure you have the best braking system on your tow vehicle.

Which brakes are best for your tow vehicle?
People are surrounded by 'systems' when driving their cars these days. The visible ones, such as electronics and connectivity, have become commonplace. However, rarely do people consider the hidden systems like their brakes.

Brakes are often taken for granted, and few people consider how they work and how they safely bring the vehicle to a critical stop when needed. Let alone ask themselves, can I improve my brakes and create a safer environment for myself and my passengers?

To help you have the 'right' brakes for your vehicle, let's first look at what your vehicle may have as "standard" brakes and their performance aspects.

Most vehicles from the factory are fitted with plain brake rotors. Some niche vehicles have alternatives, but we will get to those further. The standard plain-face rotor works by creating friction between the rotor and the brake pad face. This, in turn, creates heat. Depending on the driving type and what extra activities are undertaken, these rotors can, if abused, warp or be damaged prematurely, limiting life. That said, a plain rotor is more than sufficient for daily use under normal general driving conditions and will provide for thousands of kilometres of driving. Hence, these are the applications of choice as standard rotors in most OE vehicles.

DBA STREET SERIES rotor (OE replacement)

What are the options?
If your’re looking to not only improve the braking performance but also enhance the look of your vehicle, an excellent place to start is DBA "slotted" rotors. These rotors can be added without any upgrades or changing pad profile unless the customer wishes to. The base rotor for DBA's slotted designs is essentially the same – unless you opt for a high-performance rotor such as the DBA ‘5000 SERIES' – and the materials and how they are manufactured are consistent with any OE-supplied rotor.

So what are the benefits?
The slots provide for some unique performance upgrades. The rotor slots come in various styles and profiles but essentially do the same function. Slots are designed to allow gases and brake dust to escape from the system. This benefit is that it creates better contact between the rotor and the pad. How? The microscopic particles of worn rotor and pad as braking occurs are expelled along the slot paths, reducing heat and enhancing the life of the brake system. Depending on your driving habits, this may also minimise warping under extreme conditions. The other positive improvement is that the slots aid in "cleaning" the pads as they pass over the slot edges, minimising pad build-up and inhibiting brake shudder. For most vehicles, DBA provides two different slot patterns across its three tiers of disc rotors (STREET SERIES, 4000 SERIES, and 5000 SERIES) that can be coupled with different styles of brake pad composites to enhance performance further.

DBA STREET SERIES T2 and 4000 SERIES T3 slotted rotors

For those seeking a further visual differentiator and as a replacement for some European marques, DBA supplies either drilled only or drilled and slotted variants. These designs allow gas/particle "venting" as per slotted-only versions. But the cross-drilled holes also participate in the outgassing. The cross-drilling may also "clear" water in wet conditions, allowing for earlier dry braking. In a parked position, the cross-drilling provides an excellent aesthetic for your vehicle. They look great! The DBA range, as outlined, is designed for applications from daily driving (STREET SERIES) to performance (4000 SERIES, 5000 SERIES).

DBA STREET SERIES EXDS and 5000 SERIES XDS T3 rotor

Brake Pads
Next, we're on to the brake pads. Generally, most pads available in the market, including the DBA STREET PERFORMANCE range, are designed with slots and chamfers to reduce braking vibration and noise. There are, however, some simple questions to ask that aid in deciding which type of pad suits. Suppose a vehicle mainly does everyday street driving. In that case, pads with either ceramic or semi-metallic friction material will more than adequately do the job. Ceramic offers what is known as a 'clean wheel' solution as it emits no visible brake dust. Semi-metallic, on the other hand, performs consistently well at high temperatures.

DBA STREET PERFORMANCE pads will suit if your tow vehicle is a high-powered car, SUV, or LCV. These, too, are semi-metallic but contain carbon fibres to perform at even higher temperatures.

Finally, if you have towing and/or off-road driving in mind, or when it comes to performance cars used at track days, then it is recommended to look closely at DBA XTREME PERFORMANCE pads as these provide for the best bite whilst still being low in copper content.

For further information contact sales@racerproducts.co.nz.