LOS ANGELES – StopTech, a manufacturer and supplier of brake components and systems for production-based race cars and high performance vehicles on the street and track, has switched from calipers cast by either gravity or high pressure to forged calipers. This switch has been made across the entire aftermarket product line including big brake kits. Most original equipment programs supplied by StopTech have switched or will switch as part of this move.

Centric Parts, parent company of StopTech, said the decision was based on providing maximum brake caliper performance and system reliability. 

“The majority of the industry relies on cast calipers from processes which can create regional density differences during cooling that depletes material internally at a microscopic level,” said Stephen Ruiz, Centric Parts director of engineering. “This characteristic problem, called shrinkage, is both hard to control and detect in castings. It unfavorably affects structural integrity especially in high performance applications. The same holds true for ‘squeeze forging,’ a hybrid high pressure technique that suffers from the same potential shortcomings as casting. StopTech’s experience and research, as part of our ongoing continuous improvement programs, shows that forging is the best technology to use.”   

“StopTech began the changeover to forged brake calipers earlier this year,” said Dan Lelchuk, president of Centric Parts, which includes the StopTech and Power Slot brands. “The vast majority of StopTech brake calipers in distribution and on the shelves, outside of a few OE special orders, are already forged brake calipers.”  

For more information about Centric Parts, visit: www.centricparts.com.