Global OE brake manufacturer, TMD Friction, has put the quality and performance of its Textar brake disc coating to the test by comparing thickness, uniformity and corrosion against three competitor products as part of its benchmarking series.

TMD Friction defined 20 measuring points, including four at the contact surface of the disc top hat, and four on the visible outer surface of the disc to evaluate coating thickness and uniformity. The results showed that Textar had the thinnest coating in all measuring areas with only a slight variation in data, indicating high uniformity.

The test showed that Textar also had the most even coating while proving equally resistant to corrosion when compared to its thicker-coated competitors. The test also highlighted that coated discs have equivalent break-in properties to uncoated discs.

TMD say the results revealed that thinner coating does not lead to higher corrosion, and despite having the thinnest coating among the tested products, Textar had similar results to its competitors. To determine corrosion resistance, the brake discs were sprayed with five percent saline solution in a salt spray cupboard for 96 hours.

The findings are significant as both coating thickness and uniformity make a real difference to brake reliability. If the coating is too thick and uneven on the contact surface of the brake disc top hat, it can have a huge impact on runout. Too much runout causes brake growl and leads to steering wheel movement and/or vibrations in the brake pedal. The thinner coating not only ensures efficient use of materials, but also brings about improved braking reliability.

Vincenzo Di Caro, development engineer at TMD Friction, said, “Coated brake discs can be used as and when you need them, without preparation. To protect from corrosion, uncoated discs are stored in oil, which must be removed from the disc before assembly. Coated discs don’t require oil removal, reducing workload and making the process more environmentally friendly through reducing oil waste. We recommend garages always clean the existing hub and remove corrosion before assembly so that the new brake disc can reach optimum performance.”

TMD Friction regularly carries out tests within its benchmark series to secure and develop the high quality and performance of its products. The company always chooses a balanced mix of competitors, including well-known OE and aftermarket manufacturers.