Custom Grade 5 Titanium Brake Rotors

Custom Grade 5 Titanium Brake Rotors

  • Material: AMS 4911 Aerospace Grade Ti-6Al-4V (Cross-rolled & Stress-relieved)
  • Performance: ~42% lighter than stainless steel, significantly reducing unsprung mass
  • Precision: CNC ground flatness ≤0.05mm, Runout ≤0.10mm
  • Surface Options: Nitriding (HV 500+), PVD Coating (Gold/Black/Rainbow), or Ceramic
  • Service: Full OEM support including CAD design, laser etching, and private labeling
  • Applications: Motorsport, High-end MTB, E-Mobility, Go-Karts

Product Overview

The Ultimate Upgrade for Unsprung Mass Reduction

For motorsport engineers and high-performance cycling brands, weight reduction is critical—but where you save weight matters most. Our Custom Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V) Titanium Brake Rotors offer a density of 4.43 g/cm³, approximately 42% lighter than standard 410/420 stainless steel rotors. This significant reduction in unsprung mass directly translates to faster suspension response, improved handling agility, and reduced gyroscopic effects during high-speed cornering.

Whether for a downhill MTB, a Moto3 racing bike, or a lightweight go-kart, these rotors are engineered to withstand extreme mechanical loads, boasting a tensile strength of ≥895 MPa (130 ksi) per ASTM B265 / AMS 4911 standards.

Engineered to Solve “Warping” and “Wear”

Common market concerns regarding titanium rotors—specifically warping under heat and surface galling—are addressed through our specialized manufacturing process:

  1. Anti-Warping Technology: We exclusively use Cross-Rolled Ti-6Al-4V sheets (instead of cheaper unidirectional sheets) followed by a Vacuum Stress Relief Annealing process. This ensures the material possesses isotropic properties, preventing the “potato chip” warping effect often seen in inferior titanium products when exposed to braking temperatures up to 500°C.
  2. Wear Resistance & Anti-Galling: While raw titanium is relatively soft (HV ~320), we offer optional Surface Nitriding or PVD Coatings. These treatments increase the surface hardness to HV 500-800+, creating a ceramic-like hard layer that resists galling and significantly extends rotor life when paired with organic/resin pads.

Key Manufacturing Advantages:

  • Material Certification: All rotors are machined from AMS 4911 aerospace-grade titanium plate, ensuring superior fatigue strength compared to commercial Grade 2 titanium.
  • Precision Grinding: Double-disc grinding ensures parallelism ≤0.02mm and flatness ≤0.05mm for modulation consistency and zero pulsation.
  • Optimized Cooling: Custom waterjet/laser-cut ventilation patterns designed to maximize surface area, compensating for titanium’s lower thermal conductivity.
  • Traceability: Every rotor is laser-etched with a unique batch number, fully traceable to the raw material MTC (Material Test Certificate).

(Caption: Microstructure comparison showing the isotropic grain structure of our cross-rolled titanium sheets, essential for thermal stability.)

Key Technical Specifications

The following specifications represent our standard CNC machining capabilities for Grade 5 titanium rotors. Custom tolerances and sizes are available upon request for OEM projects.

Specification Item Standard / Value Test Method / Note
Material Grade Ti-6Al-4V (Grade 5) Annealed AMS 4911 / ASTM B265
Chemical Composition Ti-Balance, Al: 5.5-6.75%, V: 3.5-4.5% ASTM E2371 (Spectrometry)
Density 4.43 g/cm³ ~42% lighter than Steel (7.8 g/cm³)
Tensile Strength ≥ 895 MPa (130 ksi) ASTM E8
Yield Strength (0.2% Offset) ≥ 828 MPa (120 ksi) ASTM E8
Elongation ≥ 10% ASTM E8
Flatness Tolerance ≤ 0.05 mm Precision Ground Finish
Runout Tolerance ≤ 0.10 mm Dial Indicator (Post-machining)
Parallelism (DTV) ≤ 0.02 mm Prevents brake shudder
Surface Hardness (Raw) ~ HV 320 Vickers Hardness Test
*Surface Hardness (Nitrided) HV 500 – 800 *Optional Surface Treatment
Surface Roughness Ra 0.4 – 0.8 μm Optimized for Pad Bedding
Max Operating Temp ~ 500°C (932°F) Maintains structural integrity

*Note: For high-intensity applications (e.g., racing), we strongly recommend the Nitriding surface treatment to prevent adhesive wear (galling) and ensure compatibility with a wider range of brake pads.

Manufacturing & Quality Assurance

Precision CNC Machining & Grinding

Our facility is equipped with 5-axis CNC centers and specialized double-disc grinding machines. Unlike stamped rotors that require manual straightening, our rotors are machined from solid plate. This process guarantees the preservation of the material’s grain structure and ensures edge quality free from micro-cracks.

Surface Engineering Options

We provide advanced surface treatments tailored to your brand’s needs:

  • Nitriding (Performance): A diffusion process that hardens the surface layer. Result: Charcoal grey finish, superior wear resistance, and anti-galling properties.
  • PVD Coating (Aesthetic & Light Protection): Physical Vapor Deposition adds a thin (2-4μm), hard decorative layer. Available in Gold, Rainbow (Oil Slick), Blue, and Black.
  • Ceramic Coating (Thermal): Specialized thermal barrier coatings available for extreme motorsport applications to protect wheel bearings from heat transfer.

Quality Control Protocol

We operate under an ISO 9001:2015 certified quality management system.

  1. Raw Material Verification: Spectrometer analysis and MTC verification for every sheet of titanium.
  2. In-Process Inspection: Regular checks on thickness variation and hole chamfering.
  3. Final Inspection: 100% inspection for Flatness and Runout using digital dial indicators.
Snipaste 2025 12 09 20 42 59

(Caption: Every rotor undergoes rigorous runout testing to ensure it meets our ≤0.10mm tolerance standard.)

Customization & OEM Services

We specialize in helping aftermarket brands and racing teams bring their brake rotor designs to market.

From CAD to Finished Rotor

  • Design Support: Send us your .DXF, .DWG, or .STEP files. Our engineers will perform a DFM (Design for Manufacturing) review to optimize cutout patterns for weight savings and structural integrity.
  • Prototyping: Rapid prototyping services available with a lead time of just 7-10 days.

Private Label Solutions

Build your brand with our white-label services:

  • Laser Etching: High-resolution laser marking of your Brand Logo, Minimum Thickness (Min.THK), Torque Specifications, and Part Numbers directly on the rotor carrier or surface.
  • Custom Packaging: We offer custom-designed blister packs, foam-lined boxes, or header cards with your branding, ready for retail shelves.

(Caption: Precision laser etching allows for clear branding and specification marking.)

Application & Usage Recommendations

To ensure optimal performance and safety of titanium brake rotors:

  • Brake Pad Compatibility: We strongly recommend using Organic or Resin brake pads. These softer compounds reduce rotor wear and noise. Sintered or semi-metallic pads should ONLY be used if the rotor has undergone Surface Nitriding treatment.
  • Bed-in Procedure: Titanium rotors require a careful bed-in process. Perform a series of moderate stops from speed to heat cycle the rotor and transfer pad material. Avoid dragging the brakes continuously during the first 50km.
  • Hardware: Always use new mounting hardware and ensure mounting surfaces on the hub are perfectly clean to prevent runout issues. We can supply matching Grade 5 Titanium Rotor Bolts upon request.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Will titanium rotors warp under heavy braking?

A: Inferior titanium rotors made from unidirectional sheets can warp. However, our rotors are made from Cross-Rolled AMS 4911 sheets and undergo Vacuum Stress Relief, which makes them structurally stable and resistant to warping even at high operating temperatures.

Q: Do titanium rotors wear out faster than steel?

A: Raw titanium is softer than steel. However, with our optional Nitriding treatment, the surface hardness exceeds that of standard stainless steel rotors, providing excellent longevity and wear resistance.

Q: Can you manufacture floating rotors?

A: Yes, we can manufacture the titanium braking surface for floating rotors or supply full assemblies with Aluminum 7075 carriers and Titanium buttons/bobbins.

Q: What is the MOQ for custom OEM orders? A: Our MOQ is flexible to support growing brands. We start at 10 units for CNC machined custom designs.

Start Your Custom Project

Ready to launch your line of lightweight titanium brake rotors? Contact our engineering team today for a quote and DFM review.

Submit a Quick Quote

Why HonTitan is Trusted by Global Clients

Our titanium products and manufacturing capabilities provide strong value across multiple industries. Here are the key advantages that make HonTitan a reliable partner.

High-Quality Titanium with Reliable Performance

HonTitan makes titanium materials that are very strong for their weight and resist corrosion very well. This makes them stable for use in aerospace, medical, chemical, and marine settings.

Fast Production & On-Time Delivery

We provide fast turnaround for samples and bulk orders. With efficient titanium processing—including cutting, forging, and CNC machining—we ensure precision and speed for every project.

Advanced Titanium Processing Capabilities

From complex CNC machining to welding, forming, and surface finishing, HonTitan can produce custom titanium parts with features such as holes, slots, threads, grooves, and precise geometries.

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