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Technical F.A.Q.

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No more boiled fluid at CMP.

No more boiled fluid at CMP.

I forgot to get back to you on those shields for the PBR twin piston Mustang/Corvette calipers.They definately work as I haven't boiled my fluid...
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Endurance Racing "Must Have"

Endurance Racing "Must Have"

We had not raced in the Continental Tire Series for a few years, so stepping back into this world, we knew that there would be some new things to...
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Track Wisdom

"Fluid fade... happens when the temperature of the caliper cylinder (or the piston) reaches the boiling point of the brake fluid and tiny bubbles of compressible gas form in and are diffused through the previously incompressible brake fluid. The pedal then goes to the floor, giving rise to frantic pumping of both the brake pedal and the driver's heart[...] Basically, if the pedal goes all soft and horrible you [...] have boiled the brake fluid. The only cure is to either upgrade the fluid or keep it cooler. This can be achieved either by increasing the cooling to the caliper or by insulating the caliper pistons."

-- Carroll Smith, Engineer to Win

Why kind of titanium do you use?

Hard Brakes uses only the best available Titanium alloy for our brake heat shields. We use exclusively the 6AL-4V alloy (sometimes called "Grade 5"), which is actually a combination of Titanium blended with Aluminum and Vanadium. This specific alloy is chosen for its excellent thermal protection, light weight, structural integrity and resistance to corrosion. This 6AL/4V Titanium alloy provides far better thermal protection than other metal shim materials, and give roughly twice as much thermal protection as Stainless Steel. Thermal protection of our 6AL4V Titanium is 6 times better than other steels (like the stock backing plate on brake pads), and 30 times better than the Aluminum used in most brake caliper and piston constructions. Our Grade 5 Titanium is long lasting for use and reuse as you replace your brake pads, your heat shields should last you for as long as you own your car.

Beware of imitators offering lower grade titanium alloys, such as the inexpensive CP (Commercially Pure) titanium or Grade 2 titanium. These other types of titanium alloy, while cheaper to manufacture, do not provide the same levels of thermal protection and resistance to corrosion.