Rotor temps at the track

[Hrant]

Well, after years running with my dust/brake shields, I finally opted to remove the front ones and see how much more cooling I would get.

My set up is a 98-T, NA, with OEM rotors but Cryo treated, SS lines, Panther Plus pads and Dali deflectors (street version - always on the high position otherwise I am scraping ......).

The before after comparisons were done using an infrared pyrometer from Sears. The only variable from last year is the new Cryo treated rotor but I also took measurements before removing the dust shield with the Cryo rotors.

I had read the reviews where removing the dust shield had reduced the temps by 100F. Well, to my surprise, there was NO discernible difference in my case! In fact, the temps were about 30-50F higher than my previous measurements with the dust shield - but that could be also due to ambient temp, braking harder, or different cooling down laps.

Readings from this Thusrday/Friday at Thunderhill where we had winds up to 30 mph with temps in the 60-70s were about 500F on the fronts (range was from 490 -520; the right front gets the most work out); and about 480 on the rears (the left rear gets little work out). The tires showed the normal range of about 15F higher on the inside fronts.

What are your readings, with what set up - and yes I know, the driver makes a difference

 

[nsxtasy]

John Vasos of Acura of Brookfield - the leading servicer of NSXs in the Midwest, as well as the leading servicer of modded NSXs and track-run NSXs - advises against removing the brake dust shields. He has seen quite a few cars which have done this and subsequently experienced failures of the front ball joints, because the removal of the shields exposes them to more heat from the brakes.

 

[Ponyboy]

Last June, I recorded 580's and 620's in the third session of the day running pretty hard. Recorded with a laser pyrometer device so it may not be the most accurate but I'm sure it's in the ballpark. Ambient was typical Oklahoma summer weather which is like living on the sun - 90 + degrees and high humidity.

 

[ncdogdoc]

Easily 500's in front with stock solid rotors. Similar in the rear.

With Project Mu front rotors typically less than 400 degrees in the front, with 500+ in the rear. Panther + pads on stock calipers and stock sized rotors.

I have not measured since the Project Mu rears went on last month.

THe above temps were on both the full weight red car and the lightened white car.

 

[DanO]

My set up is a 98-T, NA, with OEM rotors but Cryo treated, SS lines, Panther Plus pads and Dali deflectors (street version - always on the high position otherwise I am scraping ......).

The only think I can think of is that the deflectors on the highest setting are too high. If you bend down looking from the front, can you see the deflectors protruding down as the lowest point of the car? If they are tucked up above or even with the front air dam then there might not be a lot air for them to grab. When I tested mine, they were at the lowest setting (~100 degree cooling). I’ve often thought of riveting on plastic (made from 1-gal plastic bucket) scoops to “lower” the deflectors a bit more into the air stream.

Discovery Channel’s recent Harley V-Rod program shows a cooling problem they were having with their radiator until they added scoops big enough to reach beyond front tire’s air stream. Maybe the same principle applies here?

.02
DanO

 

[Hrant]

Good point DanO. I will try that next time. I know Mark Johnson has preached that as well and why he introduced the larger track version ......... but I wanted to compare apples to apples first ...

Even at the normal upper hight for the deflectors, I was scraping my driveway so I had to cut the 90 degree lip from the lower front edge to the kink on both sides. But will see what the impact will be on the track when lowered.

Could it be that the aero design of the 97+ dust shield with its two holes was able to suction enough air that without the shield the difference is not that discernible?

Gary and Shawn, did you have the deflectors too?

(By the way, those temps were on Yoko OEM tires).

 

[ncdogdoc]

I have just recently (three weeks ago) removed the dust shields, and I do not have the Dali deflectors. Temps are with both SO3's and Kuhmo R compound tires, although with the R compounds, it was about 40 degrees cooler that day than in Texas with the SO3's.

 

[VBNSX]

John Vasos of Acura of Brookfield - the leading servicer of NSXs in the Midwest, as well as the leading servicer of modded NSXs and track-run NSXs - advises against removing the brake dust shields. He has seen quite a few cars which have done this and subsequently experienced failures of the front ball joints, because the removal of the shields exposes them to more heat from the brakes.

I just bought those deflectors. I was about to do that.... do you have the deflectors? What about if I dremel most of the shield off except for where the ball joint is at?

thanks for everything,
-x-

 

[Chuck]

I just bought those deflectors. I was about to do that.... do you have the deflectors? What about if I dremel most of the shield off except for where the ball joint is at?

thanks for everything,
-x-

That is the answer. It gives you the best of both worlds!