Can we talk about brake cooling?

[Nate047]

Hey guys, I'd like to hear what kind of brake cooling setups you are running, and what you like and dislike about them. Apologies if there's already a good thread about this.

[Estoril]

I just punched out the factory stone guards and have never had an issue.

[Wernd]

https://advancedautofab.com/p/aaf-e46-m3-brake-cooling-duct-kit/

I have the AAF kit on my ZHP and am very happy with it. I think the 3d printed fog light inserts are better than the other option I've seen, as are the actual cooling tunnels you install in the wheel well. If I recall correctly I actually liked the hard Motorsport backing plates better but I could be wrong. I'm actually thinking about getting the AAF setup for my M3

[maw1124]

I just punched out the factory stone guards and have never had an issue.

I don’t need brake cooling. But if I did I’d probably go this way rather than adding components because less is more, and because I believe air at speed will find its way through that vacuum port. But I’ll read with interest what others are thinking and doing. I’m having SS lines installed now but didn’t think about cooling. I don’t track the car but it’s certainly hot where it lives.

maw

[bigjae46]

Brake cooling extends brake pad life so it’s worth dealing with it as long as the car is not a DD.

I just use a NACA duct in the foglight opening, BW plate that goes on the hub. If you route the hose by the sway bar to the hub then it will last a long long time.

[Pklauser]

I've been seriously considering building something like this guy did with his splash pan: https://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/threa...3.81241/page-3

[Altaran]

On my car I use a fog light delete brake cooling kit I bought from MK (simply because he's not too far from me) and I use my car mostly on track and don't bother keeping it OEM looking.
Nothing too special, just cools the brakes. Nothing to dislike.

For street cars there ist another solution which is a straight bolt in:

https://www.speedengineering.de/produkt/bremsenkuehlung-passend-fuer-e46-m3-komplettset/

If the car is not a track conversion this is what I would go for.

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[Nate047]

https://advancedautofab.com/p/aaf-e4...ling-duct-kit/

I have the AAF kit on my ZHP and am very happy with it. I think the 3d printed fog light inserts are better than the other option I've seen, as are the actual cooling tunnels you install in the wheel well. If I recall correctly I actually liked the hard Motorsport backing plates better but I could be wrong. I'm actually thinking about getting the AAF setup for my M3

I don't mind losing the fender liners, that's maybe not ideal though, but the thing that gets me is that link says not to be used with A/C. That would be an issue for me as I am keeping A/C.

That setup on the M3 cutter link looks interesting, TBH it kind of looks extra work though when you can just buy any number of kits, unless I'm missing something. Sure, he is saving some money. Also it seems like it would be harder to clean those vents if/when something gets lodged in them, since they are set back quite a bit. And it seems like more shit would end up in there since they are so low and right above the pavement. I didn't read further into that thread though.

MK setup looks good, I have his lip, wing and dive planes so I know he makes good stuff. I would be interested in seeing how much he wants to ship something small like that though. That other kit looks good if you plan on keeping the fender liners.

Anyone have thoughts on the Hard Motorsport setup? I know their fitment can be hit or miss. I had their door handles on my e36 and they fit like shit.

[George Hill]

Rhetorical: Do you even need brake cooling?

https://www.essexparts.com/news-blog...n-my-track-car

[r4dr]

Rhetorical: Do you even need brake cooling?

https://www.essexparts.com/news-blog...n-my-track-car

I thought about saying something along these lines. I would suggest using rotor paint to gauge where your track temps are, and use it to tweak your cooling. You could even need to partially or fully cover your ducts based on what track you are running.

[Nate047]

To be fair, I do not know if I need brake cooling yet or not. This is more for information gathering. I have bought the wrong stuff enough times to know that it's best to look into things carefully and ask the forum before jumping in, which is really the purpose of this thread. And maybe it will help some other people too.

[Obioban]

Brake cooling extends brake pad life so it’s worth dealing with it as long as the car is not a DD.

I just use a NACA duct in the foglight opening, BW plate that goes on the hub. If you route the hose by the sway bar to the hub then it will last a long long time.

I like having brake ducting on the street, too? I used to get fade on the street on hard backroad drives. No longer.

Really, on the street I've functionally found it better than on track-- I never get fade on track with track pads, but it's not hard to get fade on a hard street drive with street pads. For track, I really just have it to stretch component life.

[Obioban]

I'm running pretty much a full hard motorsports setup.

Backing plates:



Whatever they call their pass through duct:



Which I like because it allows me to have steering at full lock without any rubbing:



And then their ducts that replace the entire fog light, which still looks stock enough that it doesn't bother me:

[George Hill]

To be fair, I do not know if I need brake cooling yet or not. This is more for information gathering. I have bought the wrong stuff enough times to know that it's best to look into things carefully and ask the forum before jumping in, which is really the purpose of this thread. And maybe it will help some other people too.

That was my point. First step is to determine if you need brake cooling... if you don't need it then there's nothing to jump in to.

I'm starting to see more and more "track" cars going away from a ducted tube off the front off the car and to either nothing or scoops and more open backing plates like modern factory performance cars are implementing.

[lcrain]

I'm starting to see more and more "track" cars going away from a ducted tube off the front off the car and to either nothing or scoops and more open backing plates like modern factory performance cars are implementing.

I am testing this theory on my racecar. Used to run nicely built brake hoses to backing plates ducted off of my fully sealed front radiator ducting. Recently removed all of it. I actually think I had more fade with the backing plates and hoses than without, so far.