Model 3 Performance Glowing Rotors

[Renesh0241]

Hi,
I have a model 3 performance with the factory brake equipment. I was driving spiritedly through a canyon road and I felt my brakes slowly fading, and I got a message saying brake temperature high, braking performance reduced, so I eased off the brakes. I pulled over to check the rotors, and they were glowing orange! Now, even though this surprised me, I know brakes heat up an intense amount as there is another car I have for track use. Although it has carbon ceramic brakes and does not glow.

I immediately drove at speed to cool the brakes for a couple miles and then parked again to check the brake pads. They were all good. My only concern is that the outer ring of the rotor (not the face, on the edge) had some corrosion on it due to the heat. I’ve had this happened on a Civic Type R I used to own.

I just wanted to ask people who do autocross or track events know if this is ok, and if there’s a way to clean. I don’t care about the aesthetics. Just want tips on what to look out for. I know when hot, you shouldn’t apply the parking brake as it can stick to the rotor.

 

[jmaddr]

That happened after you slowed to a stop, got out, and had time for a picture? Holy crap! I could see it getting that red "while" the brakes were actively being applied and you were hauling it down from like 100 to 20, but after a stop it was still glowing? Yo go man...You must have been standing on them. Never seen that before.

 

[Dangerous Fish]

The OE pads and rotors are not great for that sort of treatment. The temperature warning can come up within a couple of laps of a short circuit if it includes a few big stops.The pads and rotors will be glazed now as well, most probably.

If you're going to do this often. I suggest looking at aftermarket track pads and maybe larger rotors.

 

[Msjulie]

We barely got that kind of light show from our track cars, impressive.. granted they were lighter interior-gutted VWs with race pads but still

 

[SD_Engnr]

If you're going to do this often. I suggest looking at aftermarket track pads and maybe larger rotors.

And stick to driving like that on a track...

 

[adrianp89]

I want to see the dashcam footage.

 

[Nocturnal]

Wow. At least throw on track mode next time. I'd also be concerned that you may have boiled your fluid.

 

[J1mbo]

Out of interest, how did you take that picture without putting it in Park?

 

[Renesh0241]

I actually did put in park by accident because I didn’t know they were glowing. I assumed brake fluid was hot. As I soon as I saw. I immediately drove off to cool. I was very hard on the brakes in the canyon. It has some very slow corners. I’ve read others doing full track days experience this same thing.

 

[Renesh0241]

Also don’t like to use track mode on public roads. I don’t want to experience the lift off oversteer others talk about.

 

[Renesh0241]

I’m not going to be doing this often on public roads. I needed to break in the brake pads as I heard there is an initial layer that needs to broken down. I have a track day coming up this weekend, but it’s going to rain and the car I normally track is RWD and it’s not insured for track. So I though I might keep this as my alternate choice if it is going to rain too much.

 

[AlanSubie4Life]

I needed to break in the brake pads

Mission Accomplished!

 

[boriszima]

Nicely done. We also don’t want to see you next wondering why your tires are going bold after 5,000 miles

 

[Renesh0241]

Yea . Of course. I’m easy on my tires but hard on my brakes (I don’t ride them), but I should probably do the opposite. And as for the glaze on the rotors. It cleaned off when I drove a couple miles. So no issues.

 

[wenkan]

Were you driving with full regen mode on? This seems never happen to us even on the track, because regen takes away so much load off the rotors. The only case I hear before of this warning was someone running without track mode on Nurburgring.

 

[Renesh0241]

Yes I had full regen mode on. I knew the rotors would be hot. I stopped and jumped and took a picture with phone in hand within seconds, just for anyone wondering how I was able to get a pic of it.

 

[holmgang]

Yea . Of course. I’m easy on my tires but hard on my brakes (I don’t ride them), but I should probably do the opposite.

Inseparable because tires are what slows the vehicle down. Actually, riding the brakes might be easier on the tires, comparatively speaking

 

[mcbarnet007]

If you remove the oem heat shield the rotor would be able to cool much better. If you do this often, consider some rotor upgrades

Brakes | Mountain Pass Performance

 

[kbecks13]

Holy crap, that's pretty impressive/scary. How does one use THAT much braking in a car with 0.2g of regen lol I mostly use regen on my canyon runs and sometimes a tiny bit of braking for the hairpin turns, but never enough to get brakes very hot. Tell me you have some video?

 

[Renesh0241]

No I don’t have video. My dash cam file was corrupted. I have a 128gb usb drive. But found it can’t handle fat32 when it fills up. The speed slows down and gives me an error message. I actually think I might need to bleed the brakes. I’m having Tesla service check it out. I want to change the fluid to Castrol SRF later. I heard it’s much better.