Alfa Romeo

  About
Carbotech™

Performance Brakes

Carbotech is a premiere manufacturer of Ceramic-Metallic high performance brake pads. Their products enjoy a very high reputation among  racers.  One very important consideration for all Alfa racers is the fact that Carbotech Engineering offers street and race compound pads for all Alfa models from 101 Giulias on. 
In addition, Carbotech has race compound rear pads for all Alfas.  Even more remarkable is the fact that they will make custom pads for very little extra, and will re-line brake shoes as well.  Carbotech’s product offering is enormous – and pads can readily be supplied for any make or model – including your everyday car and your tow vehicle.  Please call with any questions you may have about availability.

Carbotech Engineering's proprietary ceramic-metallic compounds are described more fully below, but a few words regarding ceramic friction materials are appropriate here.

Friction materials that contain ceramic formulations have become recognized for their desirable blend of traits. Ceramic compounds use copper fibers (amongst other materials) in place of the semi-metallic pad's steel fibers. This allows the ceramic pads to handle higher brake temperatures with less heat fade, and provide faster recovery after the heavy braking.  

Another characteristic that makes Carbotech-Ceramic™ materials attractive is the absence of noticeable dust. All brake pads produce dust as they wear. Carbotech-Ceramic™ compound ingredients produce a light colored dust that is much less noticeable and less likely to stick to the wheels.  On that same note, all Carbotech compounds produce a 100% non-corrosive dust that can usually be rinsed off with a hose.

Ceramic compounds extend brake life compared to most other semi-metallic and organic materials, and at the same time they outlast other premium pad materials by a significant margin, without compromising in noise control, pad life, and all around braking performance.

Most brake pads sold today are considered semi-metallic, semi-metallic brake pads use brass, copper, and steel wool shavings held together by a resin. Unfortunately the main drawback about the use of steel strands, iron, graphite, and small amounts of filer and friction modifiers (used to provide strength and conduct heat away from the rotors) is that the metal shavings and iron must rub against steel rotors every time the brakes are applied. This can also generates a lot more noise and are a lot more abrasive on the rotors.  It also creates corrosive dust that can damage your braking system as well as the paint on your wheels and car.

Disc Brake Pad Compounds:

Carbotech™ Bobcat 1521™:The Carbotech Bobcat 1521™ is our high performance street compound that is our most successful compound. The Bobcat compound is known for its awesome release and modulation, along with unmatched rotor friendliness. Like our AX™ & XP™ line of compounds, Bobcat 1521™ is a Ceramic based friction material offering minimal rotor damage and non corrosive dust. Bobcat 1521™ offers outstanding performance, even when cold, low dusting and low noise with an excellent initial bite. This compound’s virtually perfect linear torque production provides incredible braking force without ABS intervention. Bobcat 1521™ operating range starts out at ambient and goes up to 900°F. Bobcat 1521™ is suitable for ALL street cars, perfect for your tow vehicle, police cruiser, and has won multiple SCCA Solo 2 and Prosolo National Championships. The Bobcat 1521™ compound has been found to last two-three times longer than OE pads you can purchase at a dealership or national retailer. Bobcat 1521™ compound has also been found to extend the life of your rotors 2-3 times. That’s one of the beauties of Carbotech Ceramic brake compounds. Bobcat 1521™ is NOT recommended for any track use.

Carbotech™ AX6™ (1106™): The AX6™ takes the place of the Panther Plus™ compound that was so successful. AX6™ was specifically engineered for Autocross applications. A high torque brake compound delivering reliable and consistent performance over a very wide operating temperature range (150°F to 1250°F +). Advanced compound matrix provides an excellent initial “bite”, high coefficient of friction, and very progressive brake modulation and release characteristics. AX6™ offers high fade resistance, rotor friendliness at all temperatures, excellent cold stopping power, and non corrosive dust. As a result, AX6™ is an excellent choice for Autocross & novice track day drivers and beginner high performance driver education (HPDE) drivers on street driven cars using street tires eliminating the need to change brake pads at the track. AX6™ has gained tremendous popularity with SCCA Prosolo/Solo2 competitors for its fantastic bite, release & modulation. Many drivers use the AX6™ for street driving as well, even though Carbotech doesn’t recommend street driving with AX6™ due to possible elevated levels of dust and noise. AX6™ is NOT a race compound, and should not be used as such. AX6™ shouldn’t be used by any intermediate or advanced track day drivers, and should not be used with “R” compound tires (racing tires). Cars in excess of 300hp and/or 3,000lbs should not use AX6™ for any track use.

Carbotech XP8™ (1108™): A high torque brake compound with a wide operating temperature range (200°F-1350°F+). Carbotech XP8™ is the first of our racing compounds. Outstanding initial bite at race temperatures, high coefficient of friction, excellent modulation and release characteristics. Extremely high fade resistance, very rotor friendly with 100% non-corrosive dust. Excellent as a front brake pad for lighter ITA, ITB, ITC, SRF, H4, H5, and other cars that weigh less than 2,400lbs. Perfect for novice, intermediate and advanced track day (HPDE) use with any tire, and can still be driven safely to and from the track. There are several vehicles that use XP8™ on the street, autocross, and at track day (HPDE) events. Carbotech does NOT recommended XP8™ as a daily driven street pad due to elevated levels of dust and noise. XP8™ is also a great rear brake pad for almost any race car (Spec Miata-T1/T2/CMC). XP8™ is a great compound on the front & rear of most open wheel and sports racers.

Carbotech™ XP10™ (1110™): When Carbotech unleashed the XP10™ to the general public, and it was an instant success, gathering multiple regional, divisional, and national championships. The XP10™ is a very high initial bite friction material, with a coefficient of friction and rotor friendliness unmatched in the industry. Fade resistance is in excess of 1650°F. Due to the high level of friction and bite, this material is recommended for cars weighing around 2,000lbs or more, not including formula cars and cars with brake bias bars weighing less than 2,000lbs. This is the preferred compound for the front of Spec Miata racers, SSC,SSB, T3, SRF, ITS, ITE, H1,H2, H3, H4, 944 Cup, ST, GS, Factory Five Cobra’s and many more Grand-Am/ALMS/SCCA/NASA classes. XP10™ is also ideal for advanced/instructor level HPDE drivers. XP10™ still maintains the highly praised release and excellent modulation, rotor friendliness, and 100% non-corrosive dust that have made all Carbotech compounds so successful. XP10™ is not recommended as a daily-driven street pad due to possible elevated levels of dust and noise.

Drum Shoe Compounds:

Carbotech Kelated Metallic Green - 913. This compound is an excellent compound for the track.  Has a very high coefficient of friction, is very easy to modulate, works well from ambient, and Is easy on liners.  Can be used sucessfully in a street or dual purpose car.  Excellent for vintage racers.

Carbotech Silver Streak - 912.   This organo-metallic compound has a slightly lower coefficient of friction than the Kelated Metallic Green.  It is an excellent street compound with a high coefficient of friction, an outstanding modulation all through the pedal range.  Excellent wear characteristics.  

Some Key Tech Tips:

    Do I have to resurface (turn) the rotors, or get new rotors when I buy new brake pads?

If you have had another manufacturers brake pads on those same rotors; then you will ABSOLUTELY have to replace or resurface (turn) those rotors before installing the Carbotech brake pads.

If the rotors and drums are in relatively good condition, meaning they are smooth, flat,  with no visible cracks, deep scoring, distorted, and with no other visible damage; and you have ONLY had Carbotech brake pads on them, then they do not have to be resurfaced or replaced.

     Why should I follow bed-in procedure?

Proper bedding of pads & rotors will result in greater performance and longer pad life & less rotor wear. Failure to properly bed in your pads could lead to friction materials chunking and breaking up.  This could also lead to overheating your pads and causing them to glaze over resulting in the car not being able to stop or slow fast enough. 

   Do rotors require a bedding process?

New rotors just like new pads need to be bedded in. This process is the same as the brake pads. However, we do NOT recommended bedding new brake pads and new rotors at the same time.  If you don’t have the ability to do this for various reasons (one reason might be because you have never tried Carbotech pads before, so therefore you don’t have used rotors with a thin layer of Carbotech compound material transferred onto the surface of the rotor), then you need to follow the brake pad bed-in procedure two separate times to have both the pads & rotors properly bed.  Proper bedding will increase the rotor life and make it more resistant to thermal cracking. Before installing the new brake rotor(s), be sure to thoroughly clean discs with clean wipes and brake cleaner.   This is to be sure you have completely removed any and all grease, surface residue, and debris that might contaminate or damage the brake pads. 

10. What’s the proper way to bed pads & shoes?

Proper bedding instructions for BRAKE PADS & SHOES:

*Proper bedding of pads and rotors will result in greater performance and longevity of both pads & rotors.

  1. All new brake pads/shoes require a bedding process; start the process by pumping your brakes a few times to assure proper installation.  Once on track perform several moderate (medium) speed near stops (usually requires at least two laps) to thoroughly warm up the pads/shoes and rotors. This transfers a thin layer of the pad material to the micro-grooves present on all rotors.
     
  2. After the pads and rotors are warm, perform a series of hard near stops until some brake fade is felt.  Do not lock the tires.  Once this occurs, slow down immeadatly and stay off the brakes (as much as possible) and bring the vehicle into the pits or paddock.
     
  3. Allow the brake pads and/or rotors to cool down to ambient temperature; NOT less than 30 minutes.

WARNING: Failure to properly bed in your pads could cause the friction material to chunk and break up resulting in poor pad performance and pad life.  This can lead to overheating and cause your pads to glaze.  Glazed pads can result in the vehicle not being able to slow properly or stop.

NOTE: The proper way to bed your brake pads and brake rotors is to bed them on the racetrack, NOT on the street (excluding the Bobcat 1521 compound).

    What is the proper way to bed brake rotors?

Like brake pads, you must bed new rotors.  The process is similar to bedding brake pads.  Proper bedding will increase rotor life and make rotors more resistant to thermal cracking.  Before installing new brake rotors (always install rotors in axle sets), be sure to thoroughly clean the rotors with clean wipes and brake cleaner.   Make sure you completely remove any grease, surface residue, and debris that might contaminate or damage the brake pads.  Once the brakes are installed on the vehicle, perform the following steps:

NEW BRAKE ROTOR bedding procedures:

  1. Start with several near stops for the first two laps, with multiple stops per lap, while gradually increasing your speed and brake force with every stop (6-12 times per lap). 
     
  2. Next, do another two laps at normal speed followed by a cool down lap. The resulting gray coloration is from the pad material depositing a transfer layer of material into the micro-grooves of the rotor.  This process is critical to achieving the best performance and life out of the rotor.
       
  3. Stop the vehicle and allow the rotors to completely cool down to ambient temperature; not less than 30 minutes

USED BRAKE ROTOR bedding procedures:

  1. If rotors were been previously bedded with Carbotech™ brake pads, then bedding the rotors again is not necessary. 
     
  2. If rotors were previously bedded using a different manufacturer’s brake pads; the used rotors must be reconditioned (turned).  Only recondition rotors that are in very good condition and meet the manufacturer’s minimum specifications.
     
  3. Start with several near stops for the first two laps, with multiple stops per lap, while gradually increasing your speed and brake force with every stop (6-12 times per lap).
       
  4. Next, do another two laps at normal speed followed by a cool down lap. The resulting gray coloration is from the pad material depositing a transfer layer of material into the micro-grooves of the rotor.  This process is critical to achieving the best performance and life out of the rotor. 
     
  5. Stop the vehicle and allow the rotors to completely cool down to ambient temperature; not less than 30 minutes. 

Check brake pads regularly.  If the pads are wearing evenly, they can be used until worn within 5/32 of an inch of the backing plate.

Warning: Do not “drag” your brakes by driving around the track with continuous pressure applied to your brake pedal.  Dragging the brakes does not bed brake pads or rotors properly.  It can severely affect the performance and life of both your brake pads and rotors

 

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