Any reviews or experience with Ventilated Titanium Brake Heat Shields?

[OLEK135i]

I have been lurking on the Performance Driving Forum for a while in regards to reducing heat from braking and although I have seen reference and reviews to titanium backing plates, I have not seen anything regarding Ventilated Titanium Brake Heat Shields, specifically this product:http://hardbrakes.com/index.php?main...roducts_id=136
Curious if anyone has used this and will it suffice along with Ate Super Blue Racing Brake Fluid (using cool carbon front pads) to:
1) eliminate brake fade
2) eliminate damage to the calipers mentioned in many places including here: http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=658932

[pixelblue]

I have the non ventilated version and they definitely reduce heat transfer to the calipers. the ventilated ones maybe a little thicker so you may run into fitment issues with new pads. I would skip the ATE fluid and go with Motul RBF 600 instead. much better product!

[Focusedintntions]

Will it eliminate fade...no...will it vastly help...yes.

Cool carbons will suffice as a track pad if you're a beginner, however, if you're running in the intermediate or advanced groups I'll tell you you'll go through the pads very quickly. Also I'd recommend going with Motul rbf 600 as its a much better fluid. Make sure you bend in your splash shields too.

In terms of damaging the calipers, you can damage them and get them too hot with stock pads....as me how i know that one. It'll really depend on how you drive.

[dcaron9999]

Originally Posted by Focusedintntions

Will it eliminate fade...no...will it vastly help...yes.

Cool carbons will suffice as a track pad if you're a beginner, however, if you're running in the intermediate or advanced groups I'll tell you you'll go through the pads very quickly. Also I'd recommend going with Motul rbf 600 as its a much better fluid. Make sure you bend in your splash shields too.

In terms of damaging the calipers, you can damage them and get them too hot with stock pads....as me how i know that one. It'll really depend on how you drive.

Sorry to revive an old thread, but no one metioned what thickness Ti shields they went with - 0,5mm or 1.0 mm, or doubled stack 0.5mm (more options to compensate gradual brake pad wear)?

Any issues with 0.5mm shield warping or offering less efficiency than 1.0mm?

[Focusedintntions]

I have the thicker 1mm shields. No longer use them, but thats what I had. Don't think anybody has ever done a comparison between the two. But common knowledge would assume thicker is better.

[dcaron9999]

Originally Posted by Focusedintntions

I have the thicker 1mm shields. No longer use them, but thats what I had. Don't think anybody has ever done a comparison between the two. But common knowledge would assume thicker is better.

Thanks for your quick reply - may I ask why you no longer use them? With the thicker 1.0mm, did you struggle with fitment of new pads?

[Focusedintntions]

I haven't used them since I did the RB caliper rebuild. Once I moved to vented stainless pistons I haven't had issues with boiling the fluid. Granted my calipers are a lovely gold color, but that doesn't bother me. Running those with the thicker rotors they offer, you can't also use the shims and get new pads over the rotor.

[dcaron9999]

What are your thoughts on effectiveness of Titanium Brake Heat Shields versus stainless steel piston kits for occasional lapping/tracking with the BMW 135i?

It is true that the shims can produce a softer pedal?

See product info here:
#1 - Heat shields @ $85 for front calipers:
http://hardbrakes.com/index.php?main...f5668fe8135aae

#2 - Piston Kit @ $360 for front calipers:
http://www.racingbrake.com/Piston-Ki...W-p/bb-61p.htm

[Focusedintntions]

Depends what "occasional" means. Couple times a yeah, go with the shields. Going once a month, go with the pistons. Never heard of the softer pedal with the shields either. Really a soft pedal is generally a bad bleed, or the brake pads.

[BruceWarne]

Ah, now these ventilated shields look like a good idea. Thanks for reviving the post...I've thought about getting these for my track car in the past, but I've always been worried that they would prevent the pads from cooling off (by limiting heat transfer between pad and caliper)...the ventilated once probably solves that issue...

Thanks!

[dcaron9999]

Originally Posted by BruceWarne

Ah, now these ventilated shields look like a good idea. Thanks for reviving the post...I've thought about getting these for my track car in the past, but I've always been worried that they would prevent the pads from cooling off (by limiting heat transfer between pad and caliper)...the ventilated once probably solves that issue...

Thanks!

Just be careful with fitment of new pads as these are 1mm thick. So you need 2mm of clearance between your new pads and rotor. With the non-ventilated ones, you have a choice between 0.5 and 1.0mm. Some people even buy two sets of 0.5mm, and stack them as their pads wear down.

[joeo]

I've used the 0.5mm Ti shields. Your calipers are still going to go gold; even with stock pads. The dust boots are still going to melt. I never had issues with brake fade, but still use the Ti shields anyway.

-Joe

[dcaron9999]

Originally Posted by joeo

I've used the 0.5mm Ti shields. Your calipers are still going to go gold; even with stock pads. The dust boots are still going to melt. I never had issues with brake fade, but still use the Ti shields anyway.

-Joe

I have the 0.5mm shields, and cool carbon pads waiting in my garage for the "stockers" to wear out.

Last week, following a slight brake fade issue towards the end of my session, I changed my stock brake fluid to Motul RBF600 and did a thorough brake bleed (did two cycles of the four calipers, and tapped the calipers with rubber mallet during bleed). Took the 135i out to the track yesteday, and what a difference this fluid+bleed made in brake feal (more stopping power, and no fade).

[3002 tii]

Seems easier to just bend back the oe backing plate. Ti shields generally work fine, and I'm no physicist but you have to wonder where the heat is going... This plates just act as a barrier, doesn't actually cool down the brakes (as bending the backing plates would).

[OLEK135i]

3002 Tii, you are correct. It doesn't help cool, it acts as a barrier and helps "prevent" the brake fluid temperature to rise that results in brake fade. That's my understanding at least.

[e82n54]

Originally Posted by OLEK135i

3002 Tii, you are correct. It doesn't help cool, it acts as a barrier and helps "prevent" the brake fluid temperature to rise that results in brake fade. That's my understanding at least.

... which ideally should also reduce damage to the OE ceramic caliper pistons and seals, but according to joeo it's still not enough to prevent damage. That's frustrating.

[jafo1701]

Originally Posted by e82n54

... which ideally should also reduce damage to the OE ceramic caliper pistons and seals, but according to joeo it's still not enough to prevent damage. That's frustrating.

Even with the .5mm Ti shims and stock backing plates it took me 3 track days to melt the dust boots. Not sure how the seals are doing, but the pistons haven't started cracking yet. I'm going to do one more track day this year, then rebuild them with the RB kit before next track season.

[Nugget]

I don't suppose anyone has used these with Stoptech calipers?
My Stoptech street performance pads have backing plates but my Endless track pads don't.

[dcaron9999]

Last week-end, I installed Cool Carbon brake pads, 0.5mm Titanium heat shields, and bleeded my brakes on my 2011 135i, with Gulf RF800 brake fluid (prefer Motul RBF600, but could find any locally). I bedded my brakes as per instructions that came with the pad. First reaction I got is that brake bite seemed stronger when warm than my OEM pads.

Once cool, the bite is really not as good as OEM, but more gradual.

Took my car to the track for a couple of hours this week-end for an open lapping session, and when I started fealing brake fade, I would slow down and cool down the brakes for one or two laps, then back at it for another 30 minutes or so. After a few hours of this, I started gaining confidence, and eventually ran faster, without traction control and DSC turned off completely.

To my surprise, I started noticing a shudder in my brake pedal and steering wheel, with slight fade, but only when the brakes got hot. Fast forward two days, and the same thing happened at the track tonight towards the end of each of my three 20 minute sessions tonight. When the brakes are cooled down or warm, I have no such shudder to report.

Prior to this, I had stock pads which had 30% life left in them, and no heat shields and I never experienced this shudder. I suppose I was not as fast or agressive on the brakes at the time. I only started lapping about two months ago.

Maybe my front rotors are shot. Maybe there too much heat build up in the pads and/or rotors, since the shields are blocking the heat transfer to the calipers and brake fluid.

I may try pulling the shields, and giving the CC pads one last abuse at my next lapping event ...

Wonder whehter the pads or the shields are at fault. To my surprise, my seals and pistons were in great shape when I replaced my stock pads after 20 sessions or so (no melted or deteriorating seals or cracked pistons).