General Front disc replacement

[ClassicFiat500]

Hi can I pick a few brains please? I have a 2014 Anniversario 25K on the clock, it went in for an MOT last week they put an advisory on staying the “Front Brake Disks worn, pitted but not seriously weakened on both front inner” (see photo) As i like to keep the car in the best poss condition, I intend to replace them but it seems there is a wide choice, I will obviously change the pads at the same time . I intend to leave the rear ones as they are as there is hardly any wear on them.
1st option is - ABARTH 595 COMPETIZIONE TRIBUTO EBC SLOTED FRONT BRAKE DISCS 180 BHP 305MM

These are all Black cosmetically looks good, they are made by EBC and say they are compatible with the Brembo Calipers which I would not change
I would not change the rear discs as they appear to be fine.
Is there any benefit in not having drilled discs which appear to be a lot cheaper? Or is there anyone out there fitted these ?
Also I noticed on my original discs they have bolts near the hub,(see photo can any one explain what these are for, as the EBC are just plain.
All advise greatly appreciated

 

[PuntoHowTo]

Hi can I pick a few brains please? I have a 2014 Anniversario 25K on the clock, it went in for an MOT last week they put an advisory on staying the “Front Brake Disks worn, pitted but not seriously weakened on both front inner” (see photo) As i like to keep the car in the best poss condition, I intend to replace them but it seems there is a wide choice, I will obviously change the pads at the same time . I intend to leave the rear ones as they are as there is hardly any wear on them.
1st option is - ABARTH 595 COMPETIZIONE TRIBUTO EBC SLOTED FRONT BRAKE DISCS 180 BHP 305MM View attachment 446901
These are all Black cosmetically looks good, they are made by EBC and say they are compatible with the Brembo Calipers which I would not change
I would not change the rear discs as they appear to be fine.
Is there any benefit in not having drilled discs which appear to be a lot cheaper? Or is there anyone out there fitted these ?
Also I noticed on my original discs they have bolts near the hub,(see photo can any one explain what these are for, as the EBC are just plain.
All advise greatly appreciated

View attachment 446902

The picture above is of a floating disc, these are not the same as the discs you have pictured.

While you may be able to fit a non floating type disc, this could be seen as a modification in the eyes of an insurance company or affect the performance of the brakes.

You really need to be looking for the correct discs for your car.

If they are in spec then you may be able to have the discs resurfaced, making them as good as new but for a lot less than the price of a new set

 

[RedAbarthMTA]

My 2018 Competzione came with solid discs fitted by a dealer when it should have floating ones. After investigating I was told either are acceptable for the Brembo calipers. All brake components these days, no matter the manufacturer have to be at least OEM spec I quote:-

European legislation came into effect in September 1999 titled ECE R90 that stipulates that all brake pads ( and now also discs/rotors) sold for use on vehicles manufactured after this date must be tested and comply with R90 standards. This test which involves taking each homologated vehicle used on the public roads within Europe and comparing the front and rear brake performance with the original parts to those of aftermarket offerings has closed the door to cheap and nasty imported brake pads throughout Europe.

 

[ClassicFiat500]

My 2018 Competzione came with solid discs fitted by a dealer when it should have floating ones. After investigating I was told either are acceptable for the Brembo calipers. All brake components these days, no matter the manufacturer have to be at least OEM spec I quote:-

European legislation came into effect in September 1999 titled ECE R90 that stipulates that all brake pads ( and now also discs/rotors) sold for use on vehicles manufactured after this date must be tested and comply with R90 standards. This test which involves taking each homologated vehicle used on the public roads within Europe and comparing the front and rear brake performance with the original parts to those of aftermarket offerings has closed the door to cheap and nasty imported brake pads throughout Europe.

Hi Red Abarth, thank you so much for your advice, very much appreciated & makes logical sense. Would you know the maximum discs can be skimmed to, I was a little worried it may take them too thin.

 

[RedAbarthMTA]

Most discs have a wear indicator on them. I include a picture 'stolen' from pistonheads to give you an idea.
I have just checked my spare set of Brembo floating discs for the front and stamped on the rim of the disc is MIN THICKNESS 26MM

 

[PuntoHowTo]

Normally I’d advise against disc resurfacing because it’s pointless when a new set of discs is £20 as it is on most fiats,

However with floating discs they are stupidly expensive and I’d advocate getting as much use as is possible, they are designed for propper driving and motor sport and can safely be resurfaced as long as in spec.

The min thickness is almost always stamped on the edge of the disc which can be a problem if the discs are corroded around the edge.

 

[jackwhoo]

BREMBO TWO-PIECE FLOATING DISCS LINE 09.B085.13 Brake Disc for ABARTH

BREMBO TWO-PIECE FLOATING DISCS LINE 09.B085.13 Brake Disc for ABARTH 500 / 595 / 695 Perforated / Vented, Two-piece brake disc, Coated, with bolts/screws. ML Performance offers Free UK Shipping - next day delivery on in stock brake discs such as Bosch, Febi Bilstein, Hella, Ferodo, Pagid...

www.mlperformance.co.uk

 

[jackwhoo]

£217 from autodoc

 

[ClassicFiat500]

£217 from autodoc

Thanks for all your helpful comments, I have now decided to keep the floating discs, the prices most of the factors quotes are for single pcs, this seems stupid as I cannot see how anyone would just replace One side only. So I am now leaning towards having the original disc’s skimmed which equates to about 1/4 of the price unless any one comes up with a realistic price for a pair including new pads which are obviously a necessity.

 

[jackwhoo]

My opinion is the tester put down worn so they could make it look like they doing job correctly.
Vosa doesn't like it if too many go through with zero advisory notes.

From your photo those discs look totally fine.

I would only consider skimming when new pads required.

You could clean up outer rim and paint with high temp brake paint if you unhappy with the current look.

 

[jackwhoo]

Cheapest i found for pair just over £400

 

[PuntoHowTo]

From your photo those discs look totally fine.

hard to tell from a straight on photo but i think there is definately a lip on the inner and outer part of the contact patch of the disc.

A reskim would sort that out and remove any glazzing of the braking surface as well as long as its all in spec this is what i would be doing looking at that disc
and throwing in a new set of pads

 

[chris3234]

hard to tell from a straight on photo but i think there is definately a lip on the inner and outer part of the contact patch of the disc.

A reskim would sort that out and remove any glazzing of the braking surface as well as long as its all in spec this is what i would be doing looking at that disc
and throwing in a new set of pads

Definitely this
If floating discs and there plenty of life left get them to a machine shop to be skimmed and put some fresh pads on

 

[RedAbarthMTA]

My spare set cost £593.70 for front floating discs, rear discs, pads all round including wear sensors genuine Brembo. Decided at that price it would buy them in for future spares. They are now £624.95. Think I bought at the right time. Out of stock at present but here is a link

 

[ClassicFiat500]

My spare set cost £593.70 for front floating discs, rear discs, pads all round including wear sensors genuine Brembo. Decided at that price it would buy them in for future spares. They are now £624.95. Think I bought at the right time. Out of stock at present but here is a link

Slight dilemma now! I felt at the price of replacement against having them skimmed was a no brainier, (replacement £600 skimming £180pair)
So off I go to the skimming shop, 1st they said “I cannot believe they put an advisory on the MOT for this” but then on inspection he said they are just that too close to be skimmed, it will make the disc too thin as they don’t give you enough tolerance in the 1st place to skim them, his advise was just leave them as they are as I only do about 1500 miles a year in the car. My question is to the Forum.- Would you buy a car with slightly scored discs (rotors) or would you just accept them or would you want them replaced? The skimming garage said I have years of wear in them & there not worth changing.

 

[ClassicFiat500]

One advice the skimming garage said is to run a drill through the holes (a tight fit not to make the hole bigger)

 

[RedAbarthMTA]

Just to clear out the carbon and brake dust. I used to do that on my old 911 once a year until the discs had to be changed. I think I agree with the advice given reference resurfacing. There is not much difference between brand new and supposedly "worn out" (26mm) As far as accepting them on a car you are buying, if the seller will replace them then happy days but I suspect not.

 

[jackwhoo]

The car has brake discs that passed mot and skimming tech said had years of wear left.
The car only covers low miles per year.
A good clean and paint with very high temp paint would not go amiss.

 

[PuntoHowTo]

It does look like there is a lip on the discs in the picture at the top of this post, even if the skimmer just takes the lip off then it will at least make them look less worn.

As for the breaking surface they only need take a thou off they don’t normally need to take off any significant amount of material, so there is a floor in the argument that if they are no where near worn out then there should be plenty of material for skimming, if they can’t be skimmed then they are worn out and need replacing, you can’t have that one both ways.

Maybe try another machine shop

 

[ClassicFiat500]

It does look like there is a lip on the discs in the picture at the top of this post, even if the skimmer just takes the lip off then it will at least make them look less worn.

As for the breaking surface they only need take a thou off they don’t normally need to take off any significant amount of material, so there is a floor in the argument that if they are no where near worn out then there should be plenty of material for skimming, if they can’t be skimmed then they are worn out and need replacing, you can’t have that one both ways.

Maybe try another machine shop

Your answer seems to make logical sense, I will try somewhere else