dba Brake Rotors

[Stinger GT SS]

For those who have fitted the DBA T3 4000 brake rotors, how are you liking them? Are they holding up? Hopefully without disc warping?

Has anyone also used the Hawk HPS 5.0 pads? How are you liking those?

I've been (largely fruitlessly) searching for rotors and pads to upgrade from the crap OEM pieces that warped after a few thousand miles. DBA looks like the best to be at this point.

All experiences and opinions with this setup are gratefully appreciated.

Thank you!

I’ve been running dba T3 4000 series rotors & pads (XP on front & SP on rear) since January 2020 & no issues, highly recommend the upgrade.

 

[AusStinger]

Another one for DBA T3 4000's. Started with DBA XP pads and they were amazing for overall performance but VERY dusty so I swapped to a set of Power Stop Extreme pads. Highly recommend this combo. Can't comment on the Hawk HPS 5.0 pads but the last set of Hawk pads I tried only really worked once they got heat into them so I found them not great for street use.

 

[NYBIOMED]

For $129.54 you would be crazy not to try EBC YellowStuff

 

[StingertimeNC]

For those who have fitted the DBA T3 4000 brake rotors, how are you liking them? Are they holding up? Hopefully without disc warping?

Has anyone also used the Hawk HPS 5.0 pads? How are you liking those?

I've been (largely fruitlessly) searching for rotors and pads to upgrade from the crap OEM pieces that warped after a few thousand miles. DBA looks like the best to be at this point.

All experiences and opinions with this setup are gratefully appreciated.

Thank you!

I have this exact set-up on the car now. haven't had them at the track yet, but I'll be going later this year. Love the look of the rotors.

I used the Hawk HPS 5.0's with the stock rotors originally, and they were fine, even had that setup at the track for a couple of days. I certainly used a significant portion of the pads, maybe 1/2, but they held up fine, no issues with pad deposits, etc, smooth and steady. In search of even better braking, I switched to G-Loc R10 pads, still with stock rotors, for my next track visit. I tried my best to bed them in before going, but I couldn't get significant heat into them on the street. Ultimately I ended up not really getting a nice layer of material on to the rotors, then getting to the track and heating them up too quickly. That resulted in uneven deposits, and brake vibration for the second day. After the fact, I read up on G-Loc's directions for bedding and essentially it would have taken most of the first 30 minute session on the track to do it correctly. Live and learn.

So, got home and ordered the DBA rotors and hawk HPS 5.0 pads. I've installed them and was able to bed them in nicely. Excited to get this setup to the track and see how they do. I love it though. One thing though, driving around town, when coming to a stop, with light brake pressure, I always get a little chirp from the pads. If the brakes are hot, this doesn't happen, but just driving gently, they always make this little noise. It's not an extended squeak or anything, and if you stop with firm pressure it doesn't happen. Just that moment that your about to stop, and you release a bit of pressure and it just kind of chirps.

No big deal in my opinion and I would recommend this set-up.

Side note, I purchased everything from KNS Brakes, out of Cary, NC. Great little family business, and the same person answers the phone every time you call. They sell tons of different pads too. Highly recommend them.

 

[Stinger GT SS]

Another one for DBA T3 4000's. Started with DBA XP pads and they were amazing for overall performance but VERY dusty so I swapped to a set of Power Stop Extreme pads. Highly recommend this combo. Can't comment on the Hawk HPS 5.0 pads but the last set of Hawk pads I tried only really worked once they got heat into them so I found them not great for street use.

Did you have XP front & rear.
Are Power Stop extreme at the same level as XP & where did you buy the Power Stop pads.

 

[AusStinger]

Did you have XP front & rear.
Are Power Stop extreme at the same level as XP & where did you buy the Power Stop pads.

Yes, XP front and rear and the braking was AMAZING when it was required, but slightly too high of a friction coefficient for normal use ( oh, and the dust issue ). Also, my pads clunked when applying the brakes after going from forward to reverse ( and visa versa ).

The Power Stop are not quite as aggressive as the XP's but WAY better than the OEM Brembo's and a LOT cleaner than both the OEM's and XP's ( being carbon ceramic ). Got mine through Amazon; (F) P/N: Z26-6012 - (R) P/N: Z26-2144

 

[Stinger GT SS]

Yes, XP front and rear and the braking was AMAZING when it was required, but slightly too high of a friction coefficient for normal use ( oh, and the dust issue ). Also, my pads clunked when applying the brakes after going from forward to reverse ( and visa versa ).

The Power Stop are not quite as aggressive as the XP's but WAY better than the OEM Brembo's and a LOT cleaner than both the OEM's and XP's ( being carbon ceramic ). Got mine through Amazon; (F) P/N: Z26-6012 - (R) P/N: Z26-2144

Ok, I’m running XP front & SP rear & yes braking is amazing, I love the balance between the two, I’ve had no clunking or any noises at all. I don’t think the dust is that bad, more on front than rear but I accept that as part of owning a car with performance brakes, I use a wheel brush once a week & it soon gets rid of it.

 

[AusStinger]

For $129.54 you would be crazy not to try EBC YellowStuff

That must be in the USA (?)
Here in Aus they are a lot more expensive AFAIK.

So you have EBC full floating discs up front? How are they ?

 

[NYBIOMED]

That must be in the USA (?)
Here in Aus they are a lot more expensive AFAIK.

So you have EBC full floating discs up front? How are they ?

I wish I could tell you how the floating EBC rotors are, ive had everything bought for months. First the powdercoaters 6 week delay, then seals on national backorder for another 6 weeks, now a delay with putting the calipers back together, so mechanic can install...frustrating as hell, but I'm hoping to do a writeup with a few pics in the next couple weeks. I have a 2022 GT-Line, so no Brembos, until very soon, I hope...

EBC Yellow Stuff Front Brake Pads

EBC Brakes Yellowstuff pads are high friction coefficient spirited street pads, track capable on import, European sport, and fast imports. For trucks and SUV vehicles Yellowstuff pads are great for towing/hauling as well as off-road use.

torkmotorsports.net

Best price around, might even be a mistake, but its been like that for months, tho they did jack up the price on the rears a week after they fulfilled my order- fronts still $50 cheaper than anywhere else.

 

[AusStinger]

What made you want to go for the full floaters ?
You planning on tracking the car ?

Those yellowstuffs are a good price for the fronts but the backs are a bit expensive.

 

[NYBIOMED]

What made you want to go for the full floaters ?
You planning on tracking the car ?

Those yellowstuffs are a good price for the fronts but the backs are a bit expensive.

I was considering it at first, now...not so much, but the Brembos was really the only thing I wanted from the higher trim models. For the day to day driving I do for work, the 2.5T is fine. Actually I'm kinda regretting the upgrade BC its been an expensive headache, maybe that opinion will change once the project is actually complete.

#fingerscrossed

 

[AnalogMan]

Thank you very much everyone! I appreciate everyone's comments and experiences. @StingertimeNC, thanks for the suggestion of KNS.

I ordered a set of DBA T3 4000 rotors and Hawk HPS 5.0 pads from KNS Brakes. Looking forward to correcting the only real design flaw I've found with the Stinger (of course added an AOS can too).

 

[StingertimeNC]

Sweet!!! You will be very happy. Hope you don’t have to wait long.

 

[Stinger GT SS]

Thank you very much everyone! I appreciate everyone's comments and experiences. @StingertimeNC, thanks for the suggestion of KNS.

I ordered a set of DBA T3 4000 rotors and Hawk HPS 5.0 pads from KNS Brakes. Looking forward to correcting the only real design flaw I've found with the Stinger (of course added an AOS can too).

You won’t be disappointed

 

[AnalogMan]

Sweet!!! You will be very happy. Hope you don’t have to wait long.

They're supposed to be shipped out on Friday. You were right, KNS was straightforward and a delight to deal with. Thanks again for the suggestion!

I still can't believe there hasn't been a class action lawsuit against Kia for the brake problems. So many car class action suits have been filed, and gotten settlements, for much smaller issues. Brakes aren't a 'convenience' item like a rear-view camera or an A/C condenser. It's the most important safety component. To have such a design flaw in any car is unacceptable.

I'll fit the DBA's and will be thrilled, but Kia needs to make good on this to its buyers.

 

[AusStinger]

After you get the disc and pads upgrade done, you'll forget all about that OEM bad brake dream.

 

[AnalogMan]

After you get the disc and pads upgrade done, you'll forget all about that OEM bad brake dream.

LOL, you're absolutely right!!!!

 

[Hiryuu]

Would replacing stock pads with an aftermarket resolve the issues? (for a brand new Stinger)

 

[Stinger GT SS]

Would replacing stock pads with an aftermarket resolve the issues? (for a brand new Stinger)

Yes, a quality set of properly bedded in aftermarket pads will resolve the issues.

 

[AnalogMan]

Would replacing stock pads with an aftermarket resolve the issues? (for a brand new Stinger)

I am FAR from an expert on this topic. Many of the people here know much more than I do. I can only relate from my own experiences, from which I doubt that pads alone would resolve the issue - unless the pads completely themselves can cause significant rotor warpage.

As is discussed in other threads, in my case the pulsation/vibration started around 5,000 miles. At 9,000 miles, the rotors were so out of round that they needed to be ground down by 1.6 mm - not a trivial amount.

I don't know if the factory pads alone could cause so much degradation of the discs, but my gut says no, that the rotors themselves are poorly designed and/or manufactured.

YMMV.