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Wilwood Ultralite UUC BBK Rotors - Cracking

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    Wilwood Ultralite UUC BBK Rotors - Cracking

    I just wanted to let everyone know my experience with Wilwood's Ultralite 32 Vane Rotors, which are the standard rotor provided with UUC's 4-lug BBK.

    If you are using the UUC BBK and tracking your car, I would highly recommend upgrading the Wilwood rotors to the HD 36 Vane Rotors (part numbers 160-12284 and 160-12283).

    I've been using the Wilwood Ultralite rotors on my s52 swapped track car for the past couple years (installed new rotors May 2015) in UUC's BBK. I noticed earlier this year after a track day the rotors were cracking when swapping my street wheels back on the car. I just got around to replacing the rotors with upgraded Wilwood HD 36 Vane Rotors, and was appalled at the condition of the Ultralite rotors I removed. Multiple cracks on the rotor surface and many of the mounting hole brackets had rusted/corroded off! See the pictures below.

    These rotors were on my car for just over 2 years, and had a total of 9 track days, with less than 5k total miles. I've been using Hawk DTC-60 and DTC-70 pads on the track. Car hasn't seen snow/salt and is stored off the road in a dry barn during winters.

    I've never had any issues with the UUC BBK, it's been a fantastic kit and provides excellent braking capabilities for my car on the track. The Ultralite rotors just aren't up to the task of dealing with multiple track days.

    Driver Side



    Passenger Side


    M/S52 Wiring Diagrams
    Z3M S52 to late model 325i wiring diagram
    M52 to 318is wiring diagram

    #2
    That is a strange failure. Do the pads wear evenly? Almost looks like an alignment issue between rotor and caliper or something
    - '88 m54 coupe

    <3

    Comment


      #3
      how many sets of pads did you use on these rotors?
      Build Threads:
      Pamela/Bella/Betty/325ix/5-Lug Seta/S60R/Miata ITB/Miata Turbo/Miata VVT/951/325xi-6

      Comment


        #4
        Pads wore evenly, nothing made me question the rotors when swapping new pads in. Never had any shaking or vibration from the rotors, even under hard braking on track (Palmer Motorsports Park for most of the track days, Limerock for a couple)

        I think there are 3 sets of pads on these rotors. A set of Hawk DTC-60 and 2 sets of DTC-70. Though the last set of 70s still have more than half the pad left, so they are still on the car with the new rotors.
        M/S52 Wiring Diagrams
        Z3M S52 to late model 325i wiring diagram
        M52 to 318is wiring diagram

        Comment


          #5
          Originally posted by luckysnafu View Post
          Pads wore evenly, nothing made me question the rotors when swapping new pads in. Never had any shaking or vibration from the rotors, even under hard braking on track (Palmer Motorsports Park for most of the track days, Limerock for a couple)

          I think there are 3 sets of pads on these rotors. A set of Hawk DTC-60 and 2 sets of DTC-70. Though the last set of 70s still have more than half the pad left, so they are still on the car with the new rotors.
          I ask because the only other time I've seen these crack was a buddy of mine who ran 3 sets of pads on a rotor. They're cheap enough to replace every time your pads reach end of life IMHO.
          Build Threads:
          Pamela/Bella/Betty/325ix/5-Lug Seta/S60R/Miata ITB/Miata Turbo/Miata VVT/951/325xi-6

          Comment


            #6
            You generally only get to run two sets of pads per one set of rotors if you're lucky.

            Comment


              #7
              I don't necessarily have a problem with the rotor facing cracking, that's understandable for what I put them through. It's the fact the mounting points all deteriorated to the point they fell apart, that's unacceptable in my mind.

              The pads for the UUC BBK are slimmer than normal pads, the calipers only accept pads up to just under 1/2 inch thick (0.48" according to Hawk). The other pads available from Hawk are 0.625" thick, but won't allow the rotor to fit between them.

              I will be closely monitoring the new rotors and won't run more than 2 sets of pads on them before replacement.
              M/S52 Wiring Diagrams
              Z3M S52 to late model 325i wiring diagram
              M52 to 318is wiring diagram

              Comment


                #8
                Are they ducted?

                Comment


                  #9
                  Chinese steel!!
                  NASA
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                  PCA member 25yrs




                  1991 318IS slick top
                  1997 M3 sedan
                  2001 325CI DD

                  “whoever turns the wheel the least, wins"

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by 1990m3 View Post
                    Are they ducted?
                    No, just the OEM ducts through the lower valence, but nothing ducted right to the rotors.
                    M/S52 Wiring Diagrams
                    Z3M S52 to late model 325i wiring diagram
                    M52 to 318is wiring diagram

                    Comment


                      #11
                      If these are 0.81" rotors with straight vanes, no wonder they can't hold up to track sessions. They are light duty street rotors. I suggest you fit a set of Hawk DTC rotors. They are very, very good. Obviously not as cheap as these $34.00 rotors but at least you won't crash your car or cut a track weekend short. ;-)

                      Free Shipping - Hawk Performance DTC Rotors with qualifying orders of $109. Shop Brake Rotors at Summit Racing.


                      Brake harder. Go faster. No shit.

                      massivebrakes.com

                      http://www.facebook.com/pages/Massiv...78417442267056





                      Comment


                        #12
                        add ducting too -- with the power of your motor and the weight of it as well you are putting a lot of heat into those brakes. Even with a ducted BBK from Massive I was cracking rotors with my s50 318is -- I had it working well but the rotors only lasted so long.

                        Comment


                          #13
                          That's scary. Not so much the cracking, but the broken mounting tabs are bad news.

                          RISING EDGE

                          Let's drive fast and have fun.

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Palmer is rough on brakes too we found. We all know steel coming out of China is crap so that does not help.
                            https://www.facebook.com/BentOverRacing

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Originally posted by Massive Lee View Post
                              If these are 0.81" rotors with straight vanes, no wonder they can't hold up to track sessions. They are light duty street rotors. I suggest you fit a set of Hawk DTC rotors. They are very, very good. Obviously not as cheap as these $34.00 rotors but at least you won't crash your car or cut a track weekend short. ;-)

                              Free Shipping - Hawk Performance DTC Rotors with qualifying orders of $109. Shop Brake Rotors at Summit Racing.




                              I actually tried a set of those in .81 thickness this year, but I had bad luck. I got 4 1/2 track days out of them before one cracked. My brakes are ducted, running Hawk HT10 pads. Granted, Indy Motor Speedway's GP track is very hard on brakes, but I was still pretty disappointed. I'm not sure what to try next. Any other good brands?


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                              '86 325es S50
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