Brake pad deposit is a substance emitted from the brake pads under high temperature and transferred onto the rotor surface. Pad deposit can cause vibration, pedal pulsation and hot spots on rotors surface, resulting in thermal cracks or premature brake failure. Pad deposit does not come from the rotor, but it can cause the rotor to fail.

Why does brake pad deposit occur?
Brake pad deposit occurs when a brake pad and a rotor are not compatible with each other. RacingBrake two-piece rotors are made from specially formulated alloys and high carbon cast iron. Our disc material is formulated to a Brinnell hardness level of 207-255, harder than the material used by other rotor manufacturers. As a result, our rotors have been proven on the racetrack to be more highly resistant to wear, warping or thermal cracking under extreme heat cycles.

Since our disc material is has a higher hardness level than OE or other manufacturers' rotors, the same racing pads (brands such as Carbotech or Ferodo) that may have worked great on your original rotors may not work well on our rotors. These pads, commonly used by weekend racers, are affordable but are often not aggressive enough to be used with our rotors. Using these types of pads on RB rotors may result in pad deposit at high temperatures, and/or an unsatisfactory "bite" on the rotor at low temperatures.

The opposite issue occurs if a pad is too aggressive for its rotor, for instance, using track pads on an OE rotor. The abrasiveness of the pad will wear down the rotor very quickly. This is why it is critical to make sure that the pads and rotors that you use are compatible with each other.

For optimal performance and safety, be sure to use true racing pads in conjuntion with RB rotors: brands like Mintex, Raybestos, (Porterfield), Cobalt or Pagid. We have worked closely with Hawk to develop rotors that are compatible with these pads. True racing pads are able to handle high temperatures without the concern of pad deposit. Any use of noncompatible pads is at your own risk.

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