458 rear disc replacement

[simon clark]

Hi All, I managed to damage one of my rear discs on my 458 which is most frustrating but the car has done nearly 30k miles so I'm considering options to replace all 4.

I'm wondering whether anyone has come across Surface Transforms as an option - I use to have them on a Porsche GT3 and they were exceptional and have the benefit of being able to be refaced.

I would also be interested if anyone knows of a potential supplier for a part worn disc (other than ebay).. which would be the most cost effective option but maybe not the easiest to source.

Thoughts and opinions welcome!

Cheers for now,
Simon

Edited by simon clark on Sunday 26th February 20:35

[Gibbo205]

I have a pair of used rear ceramics from my 458, 25,000 miles on them and I’d say 1/2-2/3 worn but absolutely fine for road use with probably another 10-20k miles in them.

I removed as I converted to steels and also have a brand new set of ceramics for the car should I ever sell it.

Moderator edit: no advertising please

[Rari]

Gibbo - how do you find the steels v ceramics? I had to replace all 4 ceramics on my 458 last year and nearly went for steels. Cost is horrendous for ceramics.

[Gibbo205]

Rari said:

Gibbo - how do you find the steels v ceramics? I had to replace all 4 ceramics on my 458 last year and nearly went for steels. Cost is horrendous for ceramics.

The steels are better, simple as that!

Road: Steels will put you through windscreen on the first gentle press of pedal, whereas ceramics don't do much. They need heat to work, pedal feel is better and easier to modulate. Dusty though, ceramics stay clean.
Track: I'd say steels are still marginally better, more confident inspiring and more consistent, but the ceramics are OK when hot.

The Speciale and 488 got a major brake upgrade over 458 Italia as it has always been a weakness.


I got my steels cheap, £2500 with pads, but steel prices are pretty high now so they are not as much a bargain as once was, but will suit track work better, always best to try and a get a deal or an ebay discount for Girodisc option.

For resale you always want ceramics I suspect not many potential owners would ever consider a 458 fitted with steels as its a modification and potential Ferrari buyers hate modifications.

[Mark Stevens]

I’m planning to do a lot more track days with my 458 so this is interesting to read.

What tyres do you run on track Gibbo? I’m currently running p zero’s & I’m really not impressed with them so looking to change to something more suitable.

[Gibbo205]

Mark Stevens said:

I’m planning to do a lot more track days with my 458 so this is interesting to read.

What tyres do you run on track Gibbo? I’m currently running p zero’s & I’m really not impressed with them so looking to change to something more suitable.

I had the Ferrari fit Pzero, it really is a terrible tyre, in the cold/wet it has no grip, in dry and hot it is OK.
I am now on PS4S the regular versions so no K, NO or any other stamp markings, just plain regular, they are an absolute night and day difference, wet grip is nearly as good as Pzero dry grip and dry grip is also improved, in colder months the PS4S is vastly superior and safer.

On track a tyre like Cup 2 or AR1 would give a further improvement again.

But ditch the Ferrari Pzero's as they are woeful.

[Rari]

Thanks Gibbo, good to know. Which discs did you go for?
My car is on Michelins which are very good.

[simon clark]

Thanks to Gibbo I now have the discs sorted and I've slotted in some Pagid RSL pads and wasn't going to run pad wear sensors so have bridged the sensor that's worn through and expected the low pad warning light to extinguish on the next ignition - it hasn't and I've now done a few miles in the car so I wondered whether it's a dealer reset?

[cgt2]

simon clark said:

Thanks to Gibbo I now have the discs sorted and I've slotted in some Pagid RSL pads and wasn't going to run pad wear sensors so have bridged the sensor that's worn through and expected the low pad warning light to extinguish on the next ignition - it hasn't and I've now done a few miles in the car so I wondered whether it's a dealer reset?

Autofficina managed to reset mine.

[Order66]

Just caught this thread. Interesting to read about the steels on the 458. I'm very disappointed with the ceramics - possibly the worst brakes I've had on a performance car - so poor I've considered selling the 458 because of them, so seriously considering swapping to steels and this is making me consider it again.

Is it a straight swap of pads/discs and no other parts?

I also have switched from the pzeros to unmarked PS4S and the difference is night and day as mentioned above.

[simon clark]

I think I'm going to bite the bullet and pay for Surface Transforms to be honest as I'm really enjoying the car.

Absolutely agree on the Pirelli's to MPS4S point - transformed the cars handling, way more grip but still progressive. I just made sure I matched the load indexes of the "OE" fitment tyres - feels great.

I'm intrigued regarding the pad warning sensors as I'm confident I've bridged the sensors (that had broken) but now wonder whether it works on a closed loop, rather than open - it is Italian afterall!

[Gibbo205]

Order66 said:

Just caught this thread. Interesting to read about the steels on the 458. I'm very disappointed with the ceramics - possibly the worst brakes I've had on a performance car - so poor I've considered selling the 458 because of them, so seriously considering swapping to steels and this is making me consider it again.

Is it a straight swap of pads/discs and no other parts?

I also have switched from the pzeros to unmarked PS4S and the difference is night and day as mentioned above.

Straight swap!
Dependent on the brand of steels the front pads might be different so check with disc manufacturer as steels such as Girodisc use a smaller front pad as the swept surface is less so think it’s a pad R35 GTR and some Mercs use.

I went to steels from ceramics and was a dramatic improvement very much like the move from Pzero to PS4S.

The steels have instant bite but also better modulation and improved outright braking performance on road and track, more confident inspiring.

Downsides are dust and extra weight but can’t say the extra weight really had any impact at most the ride is a fraction / marginal firmer but very hard to tell.

The benefits far outweighs negatives as the ceramics on the 458 are really poor compared to ceramics on say 488, Porsches and McLaren, the steels solve this as I’m sure a set of Surface Transforms would as well.

[Order66]

Gibbo205 said:

Straight swap!
Dependent on the brand of steels the front pads might be different so check with disc manufacturer as steels such as Girodisc use a smaller front pad as the swept surface is less so think it’s a pad R35 GTR and some Mercs use.

I went to steels from ceramics and was a dramatic improvement very much like the move from Pzero to PS4S.

The steels have instant bite but also better modulation and improved outright braking performance on road and track, more confident inspiring.

Downsides are dust and extra weight but can’t say the extra weight really had any impact at most the ride is a fraction / marginal firmer but very hard to tell.

The benefits far outweighs negatives as the ceramics on the 458 are really poor compared to ceramics on say 488, Porsches and McLaren, the steels solve this as I’m sure a set of Surface Transforms would as well.

This is good news. Not concerned about the extra weight as I'm a firm believer that if you're not Hamitlon/Vettel/Verstappen they you probably can't genuinely tell the difference (I say this as a seasoned racer). The number of people on PH or the internet who claim they can feel the difference of a couple of kg on a 1.5tonne car always amazes me.

The 458 is an utterly fantastic car. Just this week I took it for an MoT and in the mile drive I was getting photographed, waved etc - it is THE all-time ferrari, and if I can fix it's one flaw (it's mona-lisa brakes) then I will keep it forever!

[Gibbo205]

Order66 said:

This is good news. Not concerned about the extra weight as I'm a firm believer that if you're not Hamitlon/Vettel/Verstappen they you probably can't genuinely tell the difference (I say this as a seasoned racer). The number of people on PH or the internet who claim they can feel the difference of a couple of kg on a 1.5tonne car always amazes me.

The 458 is an utterly fantastic car. Just this week I took it for an MoT and in the mile drive I was getting photographed, waved etc - it is THE all-time ferrari, and if I can fix it's one flaw (it's mona-lisa brakes) then I will keep it forever!

Get it done I enjoy driving my mine so much more on the steels.

I did Silverstone on ceramics and when really hot they work OK. So when I moved to steels I was surprised how much better the steels were on track as well, never faded and when really hit still far superior to ceramics giving more confidence to brake later.

On road the steels are night and day better as far far superior without needing to be hot.