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Brakes and Rim issues continue

R

RNB

Well Known Member
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My plane had an AOG event where I lost brakes twice and missed OSH.
A wheel pant was totaled, based upon advice here I ordered Sky Designs Aero replacements, they had to be made and are now here.
I'd ordered Matco wheel and brake assemblies a while ago, they also had to be made. I was told they would ship August 27th, they have not. I called and they are now waiting on something else, I think brake calipers. Tuesday I might learn more. The lady I spoke with said I could cancel my order.

It looks like Berringer has long lead times and I'm not even sure how easily they can be retrofitted, most seem like they are complete kits for planes being built at a much higher price.

Grove I am not sure about.

Does anyone likely have in stock brakes and wheels if required that will offer me better stopping power AND larger brakes with better heat dissipation?

Or should I just wait this out? I'd really. like to get this all put back together and fly high and faster again.

I've got the Viton Rings and high temp fluid. It just doesn't seem right to go through the effort putting on wheel pants and gear leg fairings until I have the new wheels and brakes on.
 
RNB said:
My plane had an AOG event where I lost brakes twice and missed OSH.
A wheel pant was totaled, based upon advice here I ordered Sky Designs Aero replacements, they had to be made and are now here.
I'd ordered Matco wheel and brake assemblies a while ago, they also had to be made. I was told they would ship August 27th, they have not. I called and they are now waiting on something else, I think brake calipers. Tuesday I might learn more. The lady I spoke with said I could cancel my order.

It looks like Berringer has long lead times and I'm not even sure how easily they can be retrofitted, most seem like they are complete kits for planes being built at a much higher price.

Grove I am not sure about.

Does anyone likely have in stock brakes and wheels if required that will offer me better stopping power AND larger brakes with better heat dissipation?

Or should I just wait this out? I'd really. like to get this all put back together and fly high and faster again.

I've got the Viton Rings and high temp fluid. It just doesn't seem right to go through the effort putting on wheel pants and gear leg fairings until I have the new wheels and brakes on.
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I have the Matcos and they work great as well as being significantly less expensive than the pretty ones. I know it's not what you want to hear but I'd wait a bit longer to see if your matco order comes through.
 
If you go Beringer, be prepared to rework your wheel pants.

My Matco brake pads failed (cracked) with less than 100 hours on them. These were factory installed linings. Another builder here in Georgia had the same failure in even less hours.

I used to be a Matco fan, but between their bearing substitutions (cheap Chinese bearings when they advertised Timkens) and now these lining failures - not so sure I can recommend them any longer.
 
N10KE said:
If you go Beringer, be prepared to rework your wheel pants.

My Matco brake pads failed (cracked) with less than 100 hours on them. These were factory installed linings. Another builder here in Georgia had the same failure in even less hours.

I used to be a Matco fan, but between their bearing substitutions (cheap Chinese bearings when they advertised Timkens) and now these lining failures - not so sure I can recommend them any longer.
Click to expand...
Try the APS brand brake linings (APS66-10500). They seem to last longer than the Matco ones.
 
N10KE said:
If you go Beringer, be prepared to rework your wheel pants.

My Matco brake pads failed (cracked) with less than 100 hours on them. These were factory installed linings. Another builder here in Georgia had the same failure in even less hours.

I used to be a Matco fan, but between their bearing substitutions (cheap Chinese bearings when they advertised Timkens) and now these lining failures - not so sure I can recommend them any longer.
Click to expand...
Over 300 hours on my matco brakes; no issues.
 
RNB said:
My plane had an AOG event where I lost brakes twice and missed OSH.
A wheel pant was totaled, based upon advice here I ordered Sky Designs Aero replacements, they had to be made and are now here.
I'd ordered Matco wheel and brake assemblies a while ago, they also had to be made. I was told they would ship August 27th, they have not. I called and they are now waiting on something else, I think brake calipers. Tuesday I might learn more. The lady I spoke with said I could cancel my order.

It looks like Berringer has long lead times and I'm not even sure how easily they can be retrofitted, most seem like they are complete kits for planes being built at a much higher price.

Grove I am not sure about.

Does anyone likely have in stock brakes and wheels if required that will offer me better stopping power AND larger brakes with better heat dissipation?

Or should I just wait this out? I'd really. like to get this all put back together and fly high and faster again.

I've got the Viton Rings and high temp fluid. It just doesn't seem right to go through the effort putting on wheel pants and gear leg fairings until I have the new wheels and brakes on.
Click to expand...
You might look at "Black steel" brake pads and discs from McFarland Products, I thought they were superior to anything else i tried.

About

FAA-PMA parts for Cessna, Piper, Grumman, and Beechcraft aircraft. Products include cables, engine controls, steering rods, seat rails, engine controls, rudder pedals and many more airframe parts.
www.mcfarlaneaviation.com www.mcfarlaneaviation.com

Keith Rhea
 
RNB said:
My plane had an AOG event where I lost brakes twice and missed OSH.
A wheel pant was totaled,…,,

Does anyone likely have in stock brakes and wheels if required that will offer me better stopping power AND larger brakes with better heat dissipation?
Click to expand...
Got to ask the question as to why your brakes are failing…. Than you kind of answered it later in the post.
These brakes aren’t designed to stop on a dime like car braking systems. They are not designed to dissipate heat very well (no matter the brand). We don’t help the matter by cowling them in tight wheel pants.
Let the plane decelerate itself on landing.
Don’t ride the brakes on taxi.
Slow down.
Train yourself to keep your toes off the brakes until you need to initiate a turn.

Hope your future has less brake issues!
 
Walt said:
Can't tell ya how often I see folks taxing around at high power and obviously riding the brakes...
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Like me back in KELLI GIRL’s early days with single-puck Matco brakes. I changed to the double-puck Groves and haven’t looked back. Had to perform minor surgery on my wheel fairings, but I love my Groves.
AND I got much better at NOT riding the brakes.
 
I know Beringer brakes and pads not cheap, but they wear very well right down to the witness grooves no issues:

Screenshot 2025-08-30 191620.png
 
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I have the Grove main wheels and brakes which were stock kit components when I received my kit back in the day. Anyway I’ve never had any issues with either.
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Same here, stock set up, 800 plus hours, no issues and landing on a lot of short runways.
Can't tell ya how often I see folks taxing around at high power and obviously riding the brakes...
Click to expand...
I can't say that this is your issue but just because you have upgraded brakes doesn't mean you can ignore all we learned about braking on airplanes.
Land a s slow as you can at the beginning of the runway and roll out, tapping the breaks when needed and release between hard breaks to keep them from overheating.
 
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