Ford Focus RS Forum banner

Racing Brake Carbon Ceramic brake kit

32K views 50 replies 22 participants last post by  White-RS2  
#1 ·
Hi All,



Christmas came early at my house. Yes, these are Racing Brake 380 mm Carbon Ceramic rotors.
First look how beautiful they are and how nicely packaged they come in the Styrofoam case. I’m so geeked about these. Almost too nice to get dirty.

You’re thinking CCM rotors on a Focus RS really? I know I can hear you now. Does it make sense to spend that much money on CCM brake rotors? Now hear me out on why I went to RB CCM.

The RS community is spending $3K+ on suspension up grades, but may draw the line at a $5K+ suspension system that is now out there. So, there may be a limit to what Focus RS owners are willing to spend but there are a few that are putting big money into their RS to achieve the performance they are looking for. Just read the Builds threads and see what many owners are doing with engine builds, suspension, accessories to complete track builds.

I’m now 100% happy with the mods I made to achieve the track performance I have (see mods listed in my signature) and read: http://www.focusrs.org/forum/33-foc...cing/83482-watkins-glen-track-days-report-rs-mods-performance-improvements.html

Here is why I went to RB CCM rotors. Icing on the cake, in short weight reduction and durability.

For serious tracking you need to upgrade the brakes anyway. Many agree the OE brake rotors and calipers are not up for the task. They cannot dissipate the heat and the 2 piece rotor will save the heat from destroying the wheel bearings. Upgrades are a matter of degrees and at the top of the heap is CCM rotors. Once you make the decision to upgrade to 2 piece, larger and wider rotor to handle the heat, then the decision is to go for iron or CCM.
Performance: Reduced weight. For a track car weight is the killer. This is a 3450 # car. The CCM rotors weigh less than half the weight of OE rotor OE 23#, CCM 11#. And its unspung weight off the front of the car.

Braking performance with durability (which gets into economic). Although I haven’t testing these on the RS yet but reading and talking to others about their experience using CCM rotors (on other cars) have convinced me to give it a go.
As you may know from reading my posts I have my RS performing at a level of other cars 2x $$ and more of the RS. And some of these cars have optional OE carbon ceramic rotors (Corvettes, Camaros, GT3s, M4s…). This is bargain performance even with the cost of CCM rotors.

Economical?: Perhaps in the long run if you track your car often, I estimate a break even around 18-20 events. Assumes: Initial Iron BBK cost $3500 (front only) and typical iron rotor last 6 events (conservatively) (replacement cost is $750) and pad life is 4 days (2 events) per set of pads (replacement cost is $250) Then after 24 track days (12 events) is total cost $6500.
The CCM BBK kit cost $6800. rotors and pads should last 24 track days (12 events) and cost is $6850. Add pad replacement $736 total cost with brakes ready to go is $7586.

After the initial investment I think the CCM system will be lower cost overall to maintain.
This is just an estimate from my limited experience and others that I have reviewed, however I don’t have total track time on these systems (yet) to validate the assumptions. Of course my pay back is longer since I purchased both rotors (same calipers will work).

This coming season I will be running the RB CCM rotors and XC-40 pads. I’ll be reporting on the experience.

For now its off to the garage to install them..
 
#3 ·
Can't wait to see the pictures. :)
 
#5 ·
Sorry they won't.....

But an interesting point to have a product that would.....
 
#7 · (Edited)
The stock rotors are heavy. I made the switch to my winter setup saturday and I forgot just how heavy they were. The weight savings you've gained here is worth another mention.

Hope you upgrade the seatbelts next, I doubt the factory ones are up to the job of keeping you on the proper side of the windshield
 
#9 ·
So rad!

I look forward to your track reviews and how things wear.

Friggin cool upgrade.
 
#10 ·
<drools on keyboard>
 
  • Like
Reactions: RocketRS
#17 · (Edited)
Got my RB Carbon Ceramic Rotors installed and all ready to bed in.





With OE wheels



And with my track wheels AG M610




Unfortunately its snowing right now
 
#18 ·
I shouldn't have looked at the pictures. Damnit all! :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Vwlopez3
#22 ·
Nice purchase.
I noticed you mentioned track and ceramics.
I am not aiming to rain on your parade but Ceramics have a drawback on the track.
A buddy of mine took his M4 to the Ring.
He had the optional ceramics purchased with the car. Roughly 9000 euros.
Imagine our surprise when on the cooldown lap , thank god, a piece of tiny debris found its way on the pad and pretty much destroyed the FR disc.
He had to replace both and it was heavy on the wallet.

Hope you don't get to experience the pain !
 
#24 · (Edited)
This CCB kit is exclusively built by RB with our own design and hardware (hat and fasteners), they are not the same as OE builds. The CCM disc is more fragile to impact in nature, but its light weight, thermal stability, and literally "never wear" characters are far more superior than iron.

If you track/race often using this kit with a proper brake compound you can save replacement cost as well as maintenance down time in addition to a constant confidence inspiring ride on a "bullet proof" brake system - Regardless you are on street or track, any climate condition.

Not only we make the kit affordable (used to be only available to Ferrari & Porsche, A-M, Lambo etc.). If you ever need disc replacement you can order from GM dealers for low to mid $1k, instead of Porsche/Ferrari/BMW dealers costing $4-6K per rotor.

Using an inadequate brake pad can ruin CCM rotors quickly - Resulting $5,000/rotor in replacement was the common concern to stay away from CCM, however this has been changed since our introduction of sintered brake pads.

Your purchase of the kit vested under our knowledge, experience, and extensive support on CCM brake to assure you a complete satisfaction in performance improvement and durability. So install the kit and pound them on tracks without these common worries and concerns.

You can read this extensive review by David Donohue - The most well know Porsche professional racer, and learn how RB CCB brake (front kit is same as RS) helped him manage 150+ turns on his recent Pike Peaks Racing.

https://rennlist.com/forums/991-gt3...1r/984947-how-to-restore-your-damaged-ccm-rotors-at-no-cost-7.html#post14330323
 
#23 ·
I just took the plunge and ordered the set and the two piece rears. Dealing with Team RB has been simple and painless. Just the way it should be. The stock brakes are adequate but I don't like adequate in a 3450 lb car. I'm a big believer in stopping fast before going faster on my cars. I'm in Chicago so I'm not putting these on until I switch back to my summer shoes. I'll use these a couple times a year for some DE drives and I can't wait to get to turn 5 at Road America.

I've got an old (are there any new) 928 that I've put bigger brakes on so this should be able to do this myself.

I'll post pictures when they come in.

Tim
 
#25 ·
RB Calipers - Designed and made for track duty in mind.

GT-R track racers are replacing their OE Brembo calipers to RB.

A recent post discussing alternative caliper replacement for Porsche 991 GT3.



Full RB CCB brake kit installed on 911 993 TT


Caliper construction details


How can RB calipers be stiffer than OE's mono-block
 
#26 ·
Learn more and fear less

Share with you are the replies to Viper G6 "skeptical" users on CCM.
https://driveviper.com/forums/threa...-RB-Sintered-Brake-Pads-for-Carbon-Ceramic-Rotor?p=332551&viewfull=1#post332551

That's interesting.

Personally I like the OEM (Brembo) CCM rotors/pad combo so my question is: Would it be OK to switch to the sintered pads for say, 2 track days, repair the rotors at the same time and switch back to the Brembo pads?
I'm assuming that the Sintered pads are cheaper than the Brembo ones (not too hard considering the $670 price tag) but are they as effective?
Stage of CCM rotor restoration process:
#1 Original set up (OE caliper, pad, and rotor)
Image


#2 After switching to sintered pads (OE caliper)
Image


#3 Replacing OE caliper to RB (sintered pad)

Image


Two weeks ago Russ's Z28 brake system was sent back to us for check up and maintenance. We notice the front rotor was pitted and before asking Russ admitted he had to replace the front pad to OE/Brembo (for the last racing at North Cal), here are the pictures of his rear rotor. Basically the OE semi-metallic pads worn off all the metallic deposit on rotor surface and the rotor was back to the original condition (see pic# 1).

Image

Image


Rotor at this condition can chew up any pads MUCH faster than normal use, although the rotor thickness was checked and found to be almost no wear & within spec.

We advised him of no discs replacement is needed however he will consumer more pad wear during the pad breaking-in and layer transfer process.

Hope above self-explanatory facts can answer to your questions whether you shall use OE pads or alternative such as sintered pads exclusively developed for CCM rotors.
 
#27 ·
https://driveviper.com/forums/threa...-RB-Sintered-Brake-Pads-for-Carbon-Ceramic-Rotor?p=332564&viewfull=1#post332564

Wait if I'm comprehending this correctly, sinistered pads will extend the life of CCM rotors?

Is this to point where they would have the same or greater life cycle in comparison to your iron rotors?
We offered two compounds:

XC-40 trackable street (or streetable track) Can go between street and track w/o having to switch the pad like semi-metallic.
XC-41 Dedicated track/competition racing - Not suitable for street driving.

Since these pads are made with high and consistent COF (0.6-0.65) so we recommend only for CCM rotors which are very hard and do not get soft like iron. Although they also perform extremely well on iron rotor (tested on Momentary Racing's Viper Race car & Focus RS) but will be at the cost of rotor wear, even on RB rotors that are known to be the most durable in the industry at 200-240 Brinell hardness because iron rotor gets soft at elevated temperature.
 
#29 ·
They arrived yesterday afternoon. WOW, these things are huge and light! It's only up to 15° so the install will wait until its more spring like. The pictures don't do justice to the scale of the rotors or the calipers.

Tim
 
#30 · (Edited)
Hi All,
I did have my RS out yesterday. I like these brakes. My initial impression is they are very street friendly. Modulation cold is good. No noise. The best track set up on the street.

I've only completed step 2 of 4 steps to bed these in. I will be doing some cold weather (Yes we still have cold weather before spring) drive impressions.
And it won't be long and I'll be back to Watkins Glen in April for a track report.
 
#31 ·
Ok Winter will not loosen its grip on Up-State NY... Temps in the mornings are below 30 Deg F and highs many days remain in the 30s... Ugh.....

But the good news is these brakes with CCM rotors perform very well at these temps on the street. My commute is about 22 miles and mostly highway so they remain cold yet when I need to stop they work well. Even cold modulation is very good and stopping power at legal speeds is as good as any high performance street brake pad.

As I said before and it remains true even in Low temps this is the most streetable track brake system I've used.

Now off to Watkins Glen for some track time, I hope it warms up!!

j
 
  • Like
Reactions: RocketRS and DeltaT
#42 ·
Sorry, took me a while to get back to this. I'm not a brake expert so bare with me please. I may very well be missing something or not fully understanding it. I only started down this path cause I was surprised to see with such a killer upgrade to the front that the rear seems (mostly) unchanged.

As you stated, the clamping force is dictated by the size of the pistons. Surely the addition of 2 more pistons over stock is to offer more clamping force yes? Or am I not following correctly, do the RB calipers and RB carbon rotors not offer any additional clamping force? If they do, as I suspect, then my question still stands. Without the addition new calipers to the rear, the clamping force at the rear has remain unchanged, so how does this monster brake setup not alter the front/rear brake bias? Or is it just not enough to matter?