brake temps -how hot is too hot?

[lindermant]

I'm planning to install a set of moon disc hubcaps. I've read that these could cause overheating problems (no vents in the cap to allow cooling).

I have an '05 Civic coupe (front disc/rear drum), and using a Fluke mini 62 IR thermometer got the following readings:

85F all four corners (ambient temp after sitting in garage overnight)

after my 37mile commute (30mi highway, 7mi stop-n-go city):

(LF)120F (RF)119F

(LR)112F (RR)112F

I'll monitor the temps over the next few days to establish a baseline, and again when I install the moon discs. But my question is how hot is too hot, at what point should I expect to encounter brake fade and/or rotor damage (warping)?

[krousdb]

I'm no expert but I would expect well over 200F before warpage would be a problem. If Im not mistaken, warpage is caused by extreme tamperature changes in a short period of time. Like spraying cold water on a hot rotor.

I doubt that a gassaver would overheat thier brakes, moon disc hubcaps or not.

[SVOboy]

I wouldn't worry about it unless you do some hardcore 100-0 braking.

By the way, welcome to the site! Feel free to start a thread in the introductions forum and tell us a little bit more about yourself and your civic.

[JanGeo]

My Geo was dragging a pad and heated the rotor and the wheel got hot too but it didn't damage the rotor it cooked the bearing - started rumbling.

[GasSavers_Ryland]

at around 380F metal will turn that pretty blue color, depending on the alloy of steel, and I haven't seen many warped rotors that didn't have signs of blueing, and have seen some pretty straight ones that were blue.
for an 05 civic, I think that has a 5 lug bolt pattern wheel, correct? the new civic hybrids have near disk, vented alloy wheels that are honda's 5 bolt pattern.

[SVOboy]

05 civic was still 4x100.

[lindermant]

Thanks for the replies; I'll follow-up with a post showing the delta in temps after the discs are installed. As kdb surmised, I'm pretty easy on my brakes so it might not be a huge difference; either way it'll be neat to see the numbers.

Ryland, my '05 Civic is the base coupe with 14" 4x100 steelies & hubcaps.

I'll drop an intro thread tonight when I get home from work (really shouldn't be goofing off and posting now, but...

[GasSavers_Ryland]

Originally Posted by lindermant

my '05 Civic is the base coupe with 14" 4x100 steelies & hubcaps.

then Insight wheels will fit perfectly, www.carpart.com is where I search for things like that, when I need to get new tires I think I'll look at some insight rims, around 11 pounds each for near disk alloy wheels, skip the hub caps and steel rims, save weight and be more airodinamic!

[SVOboy]

Or pimp some HX rims,

[philmcneal]

he has the same car as me! just an auto instead of a 5spd

buty his gears are more tuned for efficency than mine grrr and he has other goodies like keyless and an armrest ;(