Re: brake parts

["Sasha Nackovski" <snackov@domain.elided>]

Colin, ATE made the original braking components for your car (in fact most
Alfa's since the late 60's have used ATE components, including the current
Alfa range, except for the performance orientated models that use Brembo
brakes), so if you buy ATE components then you are in essence buying genuine
Alfa components. No need to pay for the Alfa Ricambi box, as it contains the
exactly the same parts you can buy cheaper in an Ate box.

I have never used "Car" brand discs, but having had some trouble with
"cheap" brake rotors on several cars recently, I would probably advise you
stick to better known braking components. I have been using genuine Ate
components for some years now, with only some minor problems- they generally
make excellent quality components. Brembo also make very good components,
and there are a number of less expensive brands that are also reasonable
quality- Bradi, Guttman, Bendix etc. With rotors, the trend nowadays is to
manufacture them very close to their minimum thickness- ie. they cannot be
grinded, so choose your pads carefully if you want long life from your
rotors.

As far as pads go, it depends on the type of braking the car will see. For
normal city/suburb driving, genuine Ate pads do the job just fine. I am a
big fan of Textar pads, which are slightly more expensive than Ate, but can
put up hard braking better than the Ate's and give nice pedal feel. For very
serious braking you would want a set of Ferodo's or Pagid. Anyway, I am sure
you will get lots of opininions on who makes the best pad, but I think you
will find standard Ate pads are adequate for your braking needs.

I may be flamed for this, but I believe cross drilled rotors serve very
little purpose on a street car, and are generally only bought for the wank
factor. Grooved discs can help, but you will generally not notice the
difference in normal street driving. On the track, well that another
story.....

Regards,

Sasha Nackovski- Melbourne, Australia.

> Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2002 00:11:28 +0800
> From: "Colin Chan" <ColinChan@domain.elided>
> Subject: Brake Discs ...and Pads
>
> People,
> I need some advice on brake discs and pads too beside Ferodo.
>
> Im looking to change my discs and want to get something that will last.
> my local parts supplier claims that he can supply original alfa discs and
he
> says that he ordered them and they would probably cost SGD 140 each (thats
> about US 80 or STG 50+).
>
> I've been sorucing the international parts suppliers and their websites
and
> dont seem to find any one carrying the original alfa part.
> I've come across the itallian discs "CAR"-brand (which costs about half
excl
> postage) and original ATE Brakes supplied by Alfastop (the stock isnt in
yet
> though).
> Well, so far, ATE is as close to the original that I can get.
>
> Would appreciate if you could answers some of these questions.
>
> 1. are there original alfa brake discs still available and where can i
find
> them?
> 2. is there a significant difference in the quality (which translates to a
> longer lifespan) of the original compared to the OEMs?
> 3. what about the brand CAR? any experience?
> 4. how about the sport discs - drilled and groved. would it improve the
> braking of the car?
>
> My car is a used daily on average about 20 miles per day, normal road
> driving.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Colin Chan
> Singapore
> 1972 GTJ 1600 (RHD)

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