Erfahrungsbericht ATE Ceramic Bremsbeläge | Posts 16+

Both are normal for me.

After the protective coating is removed, the discs are clear with the described gray transfer film, which is evenly distributed and barely visible.

You can take it however you want... I don't like the way the surfaces of the discs appear to be moving in the pictures. Especially not the uneven wear, including the formation of grooves. But maybe someone can explain to me why that's supposed to be a good thing?!

That's what the windshields of new cars look like when they're being broken in. It's not pretty, but it will be gone after 1,000 km.

So, the windows are new, but they still smell musty?

You now have a silver protective coating applied, which is specifically designed to be removed by braking. The first few kilometers after that look brutal briefly, but even though it may seem otherwise, that completely disappears after a short running time.

Okay, good! Thank you for the explanation.

With Zimmermann or Jurid rotors, the .20 and J versions are always initially coated, so that only the friction surface becomes bare relatively quickly. But it's not squeaky. It stops quickly once you apply proper braking force, and you shouldn't be bothered by the loud scraping noise.
However, Rainer described a later stage characterized by significant disc wear.
It seems there's a problem with the alignment between the top and bottom components.
Whenever possible, I prefer to buy both components from the same manufacturer, although Zimmermann also has boxes of Brembo parts available.
The high-carbon version, also from NK (but starting with 3 instead of 2), is more resistant, but primarily to deformation rather than wear.
When choosing between T4/5 and Sprinter vans, it's always best to go with the Sprinter, even if it's more expensive. @ Rainer, you should try the EBC Greenstuff brake pads.

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Hi, somehow Bolzer's picture of the brake disc seems to fit more with a vehicle that has less braking, rather than Rainer's statement about higher disc wear.

I tend to agree. There are rust marks on the front brake rotors that correspond to the shape of the brake pads. These occur when the vehicle is parked with wet or salted windshields, or when it is left standing for an extended period.
Normally, this would dissipate on the front brake discs, but that doesn't seem to be happening in this case.

Hi!

Based on my experience, I can say that using acidic wheel cleaners when cleaning a vehicle can cause problems. If you don't thoroughly rinse the brake discs quickly after using the cleaner and then dry brake them, it can lead to significant issues.

After approximately 40,000 km, the performance of my disc brakes has become similar to what @Bolzer has experienced.
The braking performance is okay, but I have to say that it's noticeably weaker than with the original brake pads. The brakes simply don't bite as aggressively anymore; it's like going back to the braking level of a small family car. With hot brakes, the braking performance improves, if you can understand that.

Even on my vehicle, the brake discs show signs of poor wear and rust marks, but not quite as severe as on Bolzer's car. Since I live in the mountains, I don't think the problem is caused by insufficient braking power, but rather that the rotors and pads simply aren't compatible with each other.

During the next brake service, the pads will be replaced with standard ones again. While the pads wear down very little, the brake disc is now wearing down (it was newly installed with the pads).
That's not worth it to me, considering the reduced risk of dirt on the rims.

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During the next brake service, the pads will be replaced with standard ones

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Currently, based on the state of the art, this seems to be the only correct way.

Hi,

I don't want to defend these parts at all costs, but I've had them on the back for 30,000 km and they've been through one winter. You can still see the grooves from the initial manufacturing process, just like they appeared at the beginning under the protective coating (see pictures). The lenses show no signs of wear in terms of thickness, and there is no noticeable burr.

I've only put about 1500 km on them now, so they still look good. The braking performance from top speed isn't great; there's noticeable fading. However, that might be because this was the first time I've braked hard from that speed. I'll keep an eye on it. From more moderate speeds, the effect is initially subtle compared to the standard version.

Here's what my brake discs look like after approximately 30,000 km...

Hmm. Not quite as good, but in my opinion, not yet alarming.
Was that based on the time elapsed (due to the dried droplets)?

At MT, images of VW-Original windshields have sometimes been shown, which looked significantly more corrugated.

If the high-speed cornering feels better, I'll be happy. Lately, the constant tire scrubbing has been really annoying. It's a relief that this is no longer necessary.

My uncle has his own workshop and has been using Ceramic products almost exclusively on his customers' vehicles ever since they became available. So far, he hasn't received a single complaint. I've had no problems with two C-class cars, a G IV, and a Touran either.

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Was that based on the dwell time (due to the dried droplets)?

No, I even went up and down the winding road twice, just to brake properly. It was even worse before.

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If the high-speed fading stops, I will be satisfied.

For me, the brakes initially only provide a little bit of stopping power, but the more they heat up, the better they work. However, I don't drive like a Formula 1 car all the time, so it doesn't really benefit me.

Best regards, Rainer.

dieselschrauber wrote:

No, I even went up and down the winding road twice specifically to brake properly. It was even worse before.

Wow...

It's strange how people have such different experiences with these parts. It seems ATE still has some work to do.