Soul Performance Products is proud to be a premiere distributor of Girodisc performance rotors. Founded in 2003 and currently in a 17,000 square foot facility in Bellingham, WA, Girodisc manufacturers bolt-in two piece rotor solutions designed to increase braking performance and also do it at a great price.
Girodisc designs and engineers the replacement discs after documenting and studying the OE brake system and specifically the disc design. After analyzing the data and determining how best to maximize the benefit of the new disc, the design process is carried out using 3D CAD-CAE (Computer aided drafting, Computer aided engineering). Prototypes are constructed and tested with a vehicle. When the Girodisc team is satisfied that the disc will meet the goals established for the vehicle, it is produced in limited quantities and released for sale. Putting lessons learned and the latest technologies together to develop the highest performance braking systems for your project, racing car, or road car is the mission of Girodisc.
Girodisc is guided under the direction of company Principal Martin Meade, who spent five years as an Engineer with Porsche Engineering Services, where he played a role in developing current Porsche technology. Martin began his engineering career working in Aerospace, developing tools and components for special projects. Before working with Porsche, Martin learned a great deal about vehicle design and technologies by working with several vehicle design and development firms. Martin has enlisted help from key sources such as a former Road Testing engineer and Design Engineer for Brembo North America in the High Performance division, Eric Dahl. With lessons learned at Brembo, and experience in prototype and racing car design, Eric has developed a broad spectrum of engineering capabilities in the world of high performance automobiles, and specifically the technologies for developing braking systems.
Below we have newly release upgraded rotors for the Z51 Package C8 Corvette. During C8 exhaust development we shipped them the factory rotors to develop their replacements – and here they are!
The central hat section of the rotor is made from strictly U.S. sourced 6061-T6 aircraft specification aluminum. The disc is made from their own proprietary cast iron, poured in the USA and machined from start to finish in house at Girodisc. Two-piece designs often offer the benefit weight savings.
The rotor utilizes a curved vane design, developed in racing to act as a centrifugal pump to force cooling air through the disc effectively increasing cooling capabilities. Factory rotors will often have roughly cast straight veins that extend straight from the center of the rotor outward, roughly cast and not as efficient. Directional rotors like Girodisc are designated for either driver or passenger side to allow for maximum performance from the curved vanes and slots on the rotor surface.
For the Corvette C8, each front rotor is 2 pounds lighter while each rear rotor is 4 pounds lighter. The semi floating design reduces heat transfer from the braking system to the wheel hub which is beneficial for bearing life.
The rotor and hat have a floating mount system, which utilizes 12 high strength alloy steel drive pins, manufactured by Girodisc in the USA to their own specifications and cadmium plated for a long lasting corrosion resistance. These pins take the load from braking actions while maintaining the axial and radial float between the hat and disc. The pins are secured by class 12.9 cap screws with hardened washers. In order to keep the rotors from making noise when cold, the pins are mounted with anti-noise spring washers on the rotor side which allow the rotor to grow with heat expansion but eliminate the rattle and noise associated with floating rotors. This float also allows the rotor to self center between the pads. Some rotors will include caliper spacers for proper fitment with factory calipers.
Girodisc also offers several kits designed to replace factory carbon ceramic rotors on applicable cars at a fraction of the price for track use. Carbon ceramic rotors have great performance but at an extreme cost and not every owner wishes to burn them up on the race track where a normal iron rotor would suffice. The secondary purpose is to reduce unsprung and overall vehicle weight. This is accomplished by using two-piece disc construction. Thirdly, Girodisc rotors are a full floating design giving the driver better pedal feel and modulation. This gives more confidence and leads to lower lap times.
We’re always happy to discuss your performance needs – from braking to suspension and everything in between. Give us a call any time at 855-486-1400 or email us at sales@soulpp.com to chat with one of our Performance Specialists to enhance your driving pleasure on the street and lap tips on the track.
Questions? Comments? Let us know!
– Mike Spock / Marketing Manager