brake temps -how hot is too hot?
 

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)?

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.

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. :)

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.

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.

05 civic was still 4x100.

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... :D

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!

Or pimp some HX rims, :)

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 ;(