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Author
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Topic: Caveat Emptor- AEROSPACE Disc Brakes- Buyer Beware
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r j sledge
Journeyman Posts: 8
From: boerne, texas
Registered: Feb 2004
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posted 03-17-2005 10:23 PM
   
If you are considering purchasing a set of AEROSPACE disc brakes for your race car, you need to contact me.I purchased two complete sets of brakes (front, rear, master cylinder, lines, etc) from them one set in late Jan 05 and the other set in Feb 05. I had problems with getting the right parts, parts being wrong, holes not drilled to the correct size (have to take to local machine shop to be corrected). Their located in Florida, don't know how close to Orlando they are, but Mickey, Minnie and Goofy must be moonlighting for them. "Quality Control" must be like a foreign language to them. Except for not shipping the front calipers in the first kit and then shipping me a set of calibers for a "Street" set up, it went together with out too many hitches and seem to work fine. I received the second brake kit from them the middle of Feburuary and started putting them on the car yesterday. Wrong hubs and bearings and ONE rear rotor was drilled wrong where it attaches to the "Hat". A .300 hole you are suppose to put a 5/16" bolt through. Last time I checked 5/16" bolt is .3125 in size, so it was a little tough to put it together. I called and really unloaded on them, (my mistake, but I had to vent), and now they say they will not replace any parts because.....you ready for this, they only have a 30 day replacement period. I have to purchase the correct parts from them and then I can send them the "wrong" parts for evaluation and they may or may not reimburse me! Really a class Operation don't you think?? I have purchased several sets of Disc brake systems from other Manufactures (Lamb and Strange) and I was very pleased with the product and the support from the companies in question. I made a bad decision when I spent the $3000.00 with AEROSPACE and now I am paying the price. I know that other racers have had good and bad experiences with this company, and just want everyone to know of my experience with them. The bitter taste of poor quality and company support lingers far longer than the sweet taste of a low price. You get what you pay for. If you have a new order from them, double check everything NOW, before their 30 day return period is up. If you are considering Disc brakes for your car, you really need to take heed. I am stuck with them, but you can make a wiser decision than I. RJ
Last
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Moneymaker
Administrator Posts: 25883
From: Lyons, IL, USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 03-17-2005 11:17 PM
Well, that answers that question. 
I have heard about some track width issues and a few other machining irregularites from Aerospace, but the poor customer service takes the cake. 
RJ is a smart man and a good mechanic so it's not as if he doesn't know what he's doing.Methinks I'll put Strange brakes on Tony's car as they will drill the rotors 4 lug for us.
I still love Wilwood products, but they won't do 4 lugs. ------------------
Alex Denysenko
Co-Administrator and Moderator NHRA/IHRA/SRA member and licensed Superstock driver
NHRA and IHRA SS/LA & SS/MA National Record Holder '00,'01,'02,'03,'04 &'05
First SS/MA in the TENS!
IHRA division 5 Superstock Champion
Fleet of FoMoCo products including 88 ASC McLaren Mustang #28 The Barry of BarrysGrrl Quote #1: "I never met a magazine mechanic I liked."
Quote #2: "Make sure brain is in gear before engaging mouth!"
Quote #3: "If you can't run with the big dogs, stay on the porch!"
www.moneymakerracing.com
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jsracingbbf
Gearhead Posts: 2751
From: Batesville,MS. , U.S.A.
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 03-17-2005 11:35 PM
I am glad you posted this. I was debating Strange or Aerospace, but leaning towards Strange. You just made my decision for me. wilwood brakes drag after a few passes. one side will clam up half way and cause problems. I know several cars that have encountered this. I've heard alot of good things about Strange though. I guess you do get what you pay for. ------------------
JS
"never submit yourself to scientific tests no matter how bad you need the money, for all you know they could have erased your memory and YOU WERE REALLY SOMEBODY BEFORE"
69 Mustang Pro ET Drag
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Moneymaker
Administrator Posts: 25883
From: Lyons, IL, USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 03-17-2005 11:46 PM
Fix for the Wilwoods Jerry.
I had the same problem.
It doesn't occur until they are over a year old.
Dissasemble the calipers, clean and scotch brite the bores, replace the caliper seals ($8.00 for 4 calipers) and they are like new.
Wilwood recomends this proceedure once a year.  ------------------
Alex Denysenko
Co-Administrator and Moderator NHRA/IHRA/SRA member and licensed Superstock driver
NHRA and IHRA SS/LA & SS/MA National Record Holder '00,'01,'02,'03,'04 &'05
First SS/MA in the TENS!
IHRA division 5 Superstock Champion
Fleet of FoMoCo products including 88 ASC McLaren Mustang #28 The Barry of BarrysGrrl Quote #1: "I never met a magazine mechanic I liked."
Quote #2: "Make sure brain is in gear before engaging mouth!"
Quote #3: "If you can't run with the big dogs, stay on the porch!"
www.moneymakerracing.com
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jsracingbbf
Gearhead Posts: 2751
From: Batesville,MS. , U.S.A.
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 03-18-2005 01:31 AM
THANK U ! JS
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n2oMike
Gearhead Posts: 2419
From: Spencer, WV
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 03-18-2005 11:39 AM
A friend purchased a set for his FOX body mustang. After installing them, he noticed that they stuck his wheels out about an inch further than the stock brakes! Now, he's PO'd, and his car looks funny. ------------------
Mike Burch
66 mustang real street
302 4-speed 289 heads
10.63 @ 129.3
http://www.geocities.com/carbedstangs/cmml_mburch.html
http://www.fortunecity.com/silverstone/healey/367
http://www.mustangworks.com/cgi-bin/moi-display.cgi?220
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Moneymaker
Administrator Posts: 25883
From: Lyons, IL, USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 03-18-2005 12:12 PM
quote:
Originally posted by n2oMike:
A friend purchased a set for his FOX body mustang. After installing them, he noticed that they stuck his wheels out about an inch further than the stock brakes! Now, he's PO'd, and his car looks funny.
This is the most common complaint I have heard about the Aerospace product Mike.
That alone discouraged us from purchasing them for our Fox cars until I could actually inspect a 4 lug set up on a car.
Unfortunatly last year we ran only IHRA and not one of the Fox cars we encountered had the Aerospace product so I never did verify it for myself.
Did you look at your friends car?
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Alex Denysenko
Co-Administrator and Moderator NHRA/IHRA/SRA member and licensed Superstock driver
NHRA and IHRA SS/LA & SS/MA National Record Holder '00,'01,'02,'03,'04 &'05
First SS/MA in the TENS!
IHRA division 5 Superstock Champion
Fleet of FoMoCo products including 88 ASC McLaren Mustang #28 The Barry of BarrysGrrl Quote #1: "I never met a magazine mechanic I liked."
Quote #2: "Make sure brain is in gear before engaging mouth!"
Quote #3: "If you can't run with the big dogs, stay on the porch!"
www.moneymakerracing.com
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Dave_C
Gearhead Posts: 968
From: Gadsden, Al
Registered: Aug 99
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posted 03-18-2005 03:08 PM
Just another vote for Strange. I have Strange brakes on my dragster. I rebuilt the calipers at the end of the year last year, but didn't try them out until I made my license passes a couple of weeks ago. Man, they stop that thing now! I was on a somewhat short track. After the stripe I hit the brakes, slowed down and then looked for the return road. Dang, there it is, way down there. I had to give it throttle to get to the forst turnoff. LOL. I ordered my caliper rebuild kits directly from Stange. Excellent customer service. Cost me $9 per side. Took them apart, used very fine emery cloth to clean the bores and pistons. Installed with the new O-rings and some Hawk DR97 drag compound pads. I also like the fact that the Strange rotors are one piece with the hat. It'll cost more when I eventually replace the rotors, but, until then I think they can take more abuse than the bolt on rotors that Wilwood uses. David Cole
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n2oMike
Gearhead Posts: 2419
From: Spencer, WV
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 03-18-2005 04:11 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Moneymaker:
Did you look at your friends car?
Yes, they stick out noticably further than the stock brakes. Enough that different offset wheels are needed to maintain fenderwell clearance. The front wheels look funny on there. ------------------
Mike Burch
66 mustang real street
302 4-speed 289 heads
10.63 @ 129.3
http://www.geocities.com/carbedstangs/cmml_mburch.html
http://www.fortunecity.com/silverstone/healey/367
http://www.mustangworks.com/cgi-bin/moi-display.cgi?220
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Moneymaker
Administrator Posts: 25883
From: Lyons, IL, USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 03-18-2005 04:53 PM
Thanks Mike.
I will get Strange for our Fox cars.------------------
Alex Denysenko
Co-Administrator and Moderator NHRA/IHRA/SRA member and licensed Superstock driver
NHRA and IHRA SS/LA & SS/MA National Record Holder '00,'01,'02,'03,'04 &'05
First SS/MA in the TENS!
IHRA division 5 Superstock Champion
Fleet of FoMoCo products including 88 ASC McLaren Mustang #28 The Barry of BarrysGrrl Quote #1: "I never met a magazine mechanic I liked."
Quote #2: "Make sure brain is in gear before engaging mouth!"
Quote #3: "If you can't run with the big dogs, stay on the porch!"
www.moneymakerracing.com
IP: Logged |
Mark T 7724
Gearhead Posts: 152
From: Palmdale, CA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 03-18-2005 07:32 PM
RJ: Before you order MW Brakes you need to know that we had alot of trouble with them, While the initial installation went well they Ate 2 sets of rotors before We got them right. It seemed to me that the material the rotors are made of is way too soft for the Pads that were supplied, This caused us to go through 1 set of rotors on 2 different cars. After getting another set and seeing the same result on both cars we stopped; ground the rotors and ordered a much softer Wilwood pad. They are working great after that and I'm not sure that MW hasn't fixed this on they're own; but they weren't very helpful on this and kept blaming everything else "But Pads".------------------
1964-1/2 Mustang SS/L 289 4-Speed, 10.537 @ 124.83. West Coast Money Maker Racing Team Member
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r j sledge
Journeyman Posts: 8
From: boerne, texas
Registered: Feb 2004
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posted 03-18-2005 07:43 PM
Thanks Mark I appreciate the info. After I made the post about M/W I remember they still owe me for some contingency from about 10 years ago. So they are off my list of options. Later RJ
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Mark T 7724
Gearhead Posts: 152
From: Palmdale, CA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 03-18-2005 08:37 PM
RJ: I personally would go with Strange Brakes I have them on my fronts in my SS car, Alex, John Calvert and Richie Pauley have them and have "Nothing" but good to say about them and that's good enough for me. I have Wilwood on the rear of my car and they were "Great" for 3 seasons untill I replaced the Pads and they started Eating my rotors after 3 runs, This is how I figured out the MW problem by fixing the Wilwoods. It seems that the manufacturer's other than Strange are wanting to sell you the "PolyMatrix" Pad that is too aggresive for the rotors, Maybe Strange has done more testing in this area and knows what pad to use.
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CometGT1974
Gearhead Posts: 372
From: Asheville, NC USA
Registered: Jan 2002
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posted 03-18-2005 09:03 PM
I have aerospace on every corner on my car and they work just fine. I've never had any problems with them, they did require a bit of modifying to make them work but they seem to do just fine running low 6's in the 1/8th. They stop the car nice and straight. I do not like the polymatrix pad that they supply with there brakes, they are made by Hawk and they seem to be too agressive for the rotor. The have a tendency to squeak also but that is easily fixed.
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Moneymaker
Administrator Posts: 25883
From: Lyons, IL, USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 03-18-2005 10:18 PM
FYI
I installed Strange pads on MM's Wilwood brakes several years ago when I began experiancing some minor groving.------------------
Alex Denysenko
Co-Administrator and Moderator NHRA/IHRA/SRA member and licensed Superstock driver
NHRA and IHRA SS/LA & SS/MA National Record Holder '00,'01,'02,'03,'04 &'05
First SS/MA in the TENS!
IHRA division 5 Superstock Champion
Fleet of FoMoCo products including 88 ASC McLaren Mustang #28 The Barry of BarrysGrrl Quote #1: "I never met a magazine mechanic I liked."
Quote #2: "Make sure brain is in gear before engaging mouth!"
Quote #3: "If you can't run with the big dogs, stay on the porch!"
www.moneymakerracing.com
IP: Logged |
Dave_C
Gearhead Posts: 968
From: Gadsden, Al
Registered: Aug 99
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posted 03-18-2005 10:40 PM
Another FYIWhen I was talking to the Strange tech rep about rebuilding my calipers I mentioned I had a set of the Hawk DR97 pads. He told me that the DR97 compound is the same compound as the Strange "gold" pads. Just a different color. Before these pads I had the green "gator pad" type. Very rough on rotors. David Cole
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