[XCITsNU]

Brake & Rotor wear possibly fixed for late model SRT-8 - older owners are screwed???

Related to the ESP full disablement feature appearing on August build SRT-8's...

I did manage to talk to someone this evening. I'm still at the meeting but managed to pirate one of the hotel computers for a few minutes to get you guys the news, but you won't like it. There were no engineers here this time, only marketing folks. On the advice of one of our dealer friends in attendance who posts here occaisionally, and who some of us have bought our cars from (Bill Pemberton at Woodhouse) I talked to a guy VERY high up in the motorsports racing program. The news is not good....It is a running change, the cars are hitting the streets now, as we know. The bad news is that in addition to computer changes, it is a brand new HARDWARE situation. The brakes and abs system are all new and different and the new ESP only works with the NEW hardware. So a complete swapout would have to be done of the entire braking system. Viper guys are familiar with this as our cars did not have ABS until 2001, so some have desired an upgrade. It's more than 10k to swap the whole system. Would it be cheaper on an SRT8? I doubt it, our brakes are probably at least as sophisticated as Vipers. And the gentleman I spoke with just shook his head when I asked if a retrofit would be possible or reasonable. Sorry to be the bearer of that kind of news. If someone REALLY wanted to do this at any cost I think I would contact Chuck Tator at Tator Dodge. The same system is on the Magnum and Charger and Viper guys nationally refer to this guy as "The Wizard" Who can accomplish the impossible mechanically. He's in New York and I will dig up his contact info if anyone wants it. That's all for now, gotta grab some shuteye. I'll check back in after my flight home tommorow. But I won't be home till about 6pm est.

Sounds like they fixed the brake issue for the SRT-8's that are now being released. I guess us "Beta" testers who thought they were buying the finished product will have to either settle for inferior brakes and torn up Rotors on a regular basis or we'll need to start a petition to gather some legal momentum behind our well known brake issue. Perhaps getting our brakes fixed with the "new" hardware will result in full ESP disablment, but at this point I could care less about being able to disable my ESP than I do about having to replace my Rotors and brakes on a yearly basis!!! Does anyone else with the Brake issue find this extremely frustrating???

 

[haas]

Related to the ESP full disablement feature appearing on August build SRT-8's...


Sounds like they fixed the brake issue for the SRT-8's that are now being released. I guess us "Beta" testers who thought they were buying the finished product will have to either settle for inferior brakes and torn up Rotors on a regular basis or we'll need to start a petition to gather some legal momentum behind our well known brake issue. Perhaps getting our brakes fixed with the "new" hardware will result in full ESP disablment, but at this point I could care less about being able to disable my ESP than I do about having to replace my Rotors and brakes on a yearly basis!!! Does anyone else with the Brake issue find this extremely frustrating???

I think a brake system replacement will be cheaper than replacing my " discolored, pitted rims " caused by EXCESSIVE brake dust.. on a yearly basis :wink1:
Based on how particular we are with our cars it might even be twice yearly..

W

 

[XCITsNU]

Mine are justing starting to get pitted too from the constant brake dust. What a crock...

 

[AMGhunter]

"hitting the streets now" Can someone tell us when the change occured.

Does my late August build reflect the changes?

 

[dacbeth]

Well, I checked my esp button last night and got a full off. However, I still get significant brake dust, and a little brake squeal with 400 miles.

Mine was produced after 08/17/05 because it is silver steel. Delivery 08/31/05

 

[BONEFISH]

"hitting the streets now" Can someone tell us when the change occured.

Does my late August build reflect the changes?

This is exactly what I am thinking. My car will be here on Wednesday. Can we look at the "hardware" and notice any change? Any part numbers to check it against?

 

[AMGhunter]

My was produced on 8/18 (thanks ResumeSpeed) and I appear to have the same brake problem. ESP switch can be fully disabled.

 

[teahead]

Pads make a big diff. on brake dust and rotor wear. Just change the pads to a softer compound! It's not like you're going to autocross and need extra hard pads.

 

[AMGhunter]

hey teahead don't you think we would have done that by now if the pads were available?

Do you know something we don't know?

 

[ITZKEV]

Older Owners Are NOT Screwed

A service bulletin IS coming out for all affected. Be patient. This fix will not be inexpensive for Brembo or DCX.

 

[Northern Rider]

hey teahead don't you think we would have done that by now if the pads were available?

Do you know something we don't know?

He doesn't get out much, AMGhunter . . .

I also heard a fix was coming soon.

 

[goddardzilla]

Dcx Take Note.

A service bulletin IS coming out for all affected. Be patient. This fix will not be inexpensive for Brembo or DCX.

We have all been very patient.

I hope there is going to be enough supply to go around, for all the owners in Canada and America.

AND what sort of candy is coming too, as a sweetener for this major PITA !

BTW I have a nice effin keychain - so don't even think of it!

Keychain = frustration and extra cleaning, and potential premature pitting I think not! Says he - off to wash his wheels again!

 

[TLR-NUT]

Pads make a big diff. on brake dust and rotor wear. Just change the pads to a softer compound! It's not like you're going to autocross and need extra hard pads.

You have it backwards. Race pads us a softer compound. Gives you more friction and dust but easier on the rotors(because the pads take the abuse, not the rotor). But they wear out quickly. Cheap OEM pads are rock hard, don't wear much and little dust because they aren't wearing. But they are hard on the rotor.

 

[Rambit]

You have it backwards. Race pads us a softer compound. Gives you more friction and dust but easier on the rotors(because the pads take the abuse, not the rotor). But they wear out quickly. Cheap OEM pads are rock hard, don't wear much and little dust because they aren't wearing. But they are hard on the rotor.

So why are our rotors grooving then? Our rotors seem to be wearing out fast.

Rambit

 

[eggr]

I'm sure someone with considerably more knowledge will correct me, however, I believe the pads we have are designed for more track than street. As such, they need more heat to perform properly. Since we're driving them predominately on the street, they do not build up enough heat resulting in excessive brake dust being caught between the pads and the rotors causing the premature grooving.

I would think a reconfigured pad will somewhat alleviate our brake dust problem (as well as new rotors).

 

[goddardzilla]

From Tire Rack's brake Tech section

Organic compounds can't always meet a wide range of braking requirements. Unfortunately the steel strands used in semi-metallic pads to provide strength and conduct heat away from rotors also generate noise and are abrasive enough to increase rotor wear.

Since they were first used on a few original equipment applications in 1985, friction materials that contain ceramic formulations have become recognized for their desirable blend of traits. These pads use ceramic compounds and copper fibers in place of the semi-metallic pad's steel fibers. This allows the ceramic pads to handle high brake temperatures with less heat fade, provide faster recovery after the stop, and generate less dust and wear on both the pads and rotors. And from a comfort standpoint, ceramic compounds provide much quieter braking because the ceramic compound helps dampen noise by generating a frequency beyond the human hearing range.

Another characteristic that makes ceramic materials attractive is the absence of noticeable dust. All brake pads produce dust as they wear. The ingredients in ceramic compounds produce a light colored dust that is much less noticeable and less likely to stick to the wheels. Consequently, wheels and tires maintain a cleaner appearance longer.

 

[goddardzilla]

Both my front rotors have deeper grooves, than both my rear rotors. Anyone else find the same thing?

 

[Rambit]

Both my front rotors have deeper grooves, than both my rear rotors. Anyone else find the same thing?

Yeah Zilla, everyone has a groove goin' on, especially the fronts. It was jMatt who first reported it several months ago. He posted pics of his & they were badly grooved.

Here's a link to his thread with pics from this past May:

http://www.300cforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6770

Rambit

 

[jconnolly1119]

Both my front rotors have deeper grooves, than both my rear rotors. Anyone else find the same thing?

fronts are alot worse than the rears.......

 

[goddardzilla]

The Natives are getting restless.

Thanks Rambit.

I believe it was you that first pointed out the "SRT8 brake dust issue" way back in March.

http://www.300cforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4728&highlight=srt8+brake+dust

About five and a half months ago.


ITZKEV: any specific details:

Fix will be? - rotors + pads? and different calipers?

Improved or same or worse brake performance stats?

Ceramic pads?

And of course how long more to wait?