High-performance brakes are the unsung heroes of racing; while the engine propels your car forward, it's the brakes that safely bring it to a stop. A split-second delay in stopping can mean the difference between victory and defeat. This guide dives deep into the components of a high-performance brake system, from pads to calipers, to help you understand what it takes to build a configuration that can withstand the extreme demands of the track. Whether you're an amateur racer looking for an upgrade or a seasoned pro fine-tuning your setup, this information is essential for maximizing your braking performance.

Brake Pads

Choosing the right racing brake pads can significantly impact your vehicle's performance. Under the intense pressures of the track, standard brake components can quickly overheat, leading to a dangerous condition known as brake fade. This loss of braking power can dramatically increase stopping distances, putting you and your car at risk. Understanding the different brake pad materials and their characteristics is crucial for making an informed decision that can change your racing game.

Organic Brake Pads

Now mostly made in organic materials, these brake pads once contained asbestos, a dangerous carcinogen. Today’s organic brake pads contain a combination of materials, including fiberglass, rubber, cellulose, and even Kevlar®, bound together with resin. While quieter and gentler on rotors, organic brake pads struggle to handle the extreme heat generated during high-performance driving.

Ceramic Brake Pads

These brake pads are made in a material similar to ceramic pottery, but it’s denser, more durable, and embedded with copper fibers for optimal friction and heat conduction. Ceramics offer reduced dust and noise compared to organic pads, but their limited heat dissipation can lead to increased wear on other brake components. This makes them a better option for daily driving than track use.

Semi-Metallic Brake Pads

The best high performance brakes for racing must manage the heat, and that means they typically contain a mixture of metallic compounds. Some of the common mix-ins for semi-metallic brake pads include steel, iron, copper, and alloys mixed with carbon fiber, graphite, and resins to create a brake pad that’s at least half metal in composition. Semi-metallic brake pads are the preferred choice for racing applications, conducting heat better and cooling down faster after pedal release.

Whether you’re shopping organic, ceramic, or semi-metallic, stick with high performance brake pads from some of the top racing brands, including Hawk Performance and Wilwood Brakes, to ensure your stopping power on race day.

Brake Rotors

The design of your race car’s brake rotor will affect how quickly you stop and the overall lifespan of the pads and other brake system components. Running hard on the track means everything gets hot quickly, so getting that heat under control is imperative for a good finish. But with so many brake rotor types on the market, it’s not easy to pick the best ones for your needs.

Smooth Steel Rotors

Also called blank rotors, this smooth surface minimizes pad wear, making them a reliable choice. This performance rotor material holds up well in high temperatures from quick pit stops and repeated laps, giving you the peace of mind that your rotors won’t suddenly crack under pressure. But, they may struggle to dissipate heat effectively in extreme conditions.

Drilled Rotors

Sometimes called cross-drilled rotors, this style features a set of holes along the disc. The number-one argument in favor of drilled rotors is the ability to improve heat dissipation, gas expulsion, and water clearance for optimal stopping in extreme conditions. While they offer advantages in certain conditions, the drilling process can weaken the rotor's structural integrity.

Slotted Rotors

Combine the strength of smooth steel and the venting power of drilled and you get slotted rotors. Instead of drilled holes, slotted rotors feature short channels carved into the disc at a diagonal that runs from the edge to near the center. Much like their drilled counterparts, slotted rotors direct heat, gas, and water away from the brake pads, but they offer better braking bite. Slotted rotors are stronger than drilled rotors, but can eat into your pads faster than other types.

Carbon Ceramic Rotors

Instead of steel, these high performance brake rotors are made in a combination of carbon fiber and silicon resin, heated to extreme temperatures to create a super strong silicon carbide material. Offering superior heat management, strength, and weight reduction, these rotors are ideal for demanding racing applications. Their high cost is often offset by their exceptional performance and longevity.

You’ll find brake rotors of all different styles from top racing brands including BERT Transmissions and Bicknell Racing Products.

Brake Calipers

The brake caliper is a critical component responsible for applying pressure to the brake pads, slowing down your vehicle. Between caliper types and materials, here’s what you need to know for a performance system.

Brake Caliper Types

There are three main types of brake calipers: floating, sliding, and fixed. Knowing the differences can help you make an informed decision when updating your performance race car.

• Floating calipers are commonly found on street cars, and have one or two pistons on one side. The caliper floats on pins to accommodate rotor thickness variations.
• Sliding calipers are similar to floating calipers but with pins or sliders allowing the caliper to move back and forth for even pad wear.
• Fixed calipers mount directly to a bracket and offer superior rigidity and even pad pressure distribution, making them ideal for high-performance applications.

Brake Caliper Materials

In order to stand up to extreme conditions, high performance brake calipers must be made of strong, corrosion-resistant materials that can withstand pressure.

• Cast iron calipers are strong and durable, but heavier, so they’re less ideal for performance applications.
• Aluminum calipers offer a lighter weight option without sacrificing strength or corrosion resistance—a popular choice for performance vehicles.
• Thermoplastic calipers come in the newest material, combining lightweight properties with heat resistance, making them suitable for high-performance racing.

Whatever type or material brake caliper you choose, trust a top racing brand like Performance Friction or Wilwood Brakes for the best performance on the track.

Brake Kits

Racing brake kits offer a convenient and performance-oriented solution by combining carefully matched components. These kits typically include high-performance pads and rotors designed to work optimally together. Some kits even include calipers for a complete system overhaul.

Whether you're upgrading a dirt modified, drag, or sprint car, there's a brake kit to suit your specific needs. Many manufacturers offer kits tailored to popular vehicle makes and models, such as Jeep, Ford, Chevy, Oldsmobile, and Pontiac.

Additionally, Wilwood brake conversion kits are available for vehicles requiring a significant brake system upgrade. These kits often include new calipers, rotors, and mounting hardware to accommodate larger brake components, providing substantial improvements in stopping power and performance.

Trust Behrent’s for performance brake pads and systems to give your car superior stopping power on race day. For more information on the best brakes for your race car, check out our Wilwood open wheel racing brake guide for a further breakdown of components.