Originally Posted by
QUA77RO
Just thought I'd update you with what I'm doing to deal with the Alcon rotors since many people have been left hanging by the STaSIS debacle.
Been going back and forth with Kevin at Acon Kits for 8+ weeks... Over that time, I tried to order several times.. Each time, there were more questions that required photos of the hardware (field serviceable or non) (I have 2 sets of STaSIS hats, early and late style, but both 12 bolt) photos of the rotors both use the turbolator style race rings...and micrometer measurements of calipers, pistons, bores, etc were taken to make sure that we were getting the right parts. Even after all that, for something as seemingly simple as the anti-rattle clips, (even once the caliper had been identified by Alcon UK) there doesn't seem to be much certainty even though we have the part number.
I pointed out that during all this back and forth, I'd become aware of Steve Petty Motorsports (SPM) marketing a 375mm Alcon rotor with the new style Alcon "S" curve pre-mounted on new hats with new caliper brackets...for $300+ LESS than AK was selling the 370mm rotors and mounting hardware. I also mentioned to him that AK had now changed their website stating a 2-4 week special order time on those parts. I did find an Audi Club discount for $25 off at AK on rotors but that is off the price of a pair. After everything I'd been through with AK, I decided to go ahead and order anyways... After all, I had no luck reaching anyone at SPM by phone and none of the sales people returned my voice-mails. There may be an issue with their phone system as I tried numerous times and some extensions just hung up when dialed... For some reason, when I tried to order and apply the discount at AlconKits, (it makes you login to your account to do that), it would refuse to complete the transaction by not allowing me to login and clearing the cart at the same time. Maybe it was just not meant to be. Sometimes you can't push the universe too far or it starts pushing back...
My poor Audi technician put in much more time taking measurements and getting numerous photos than he should have needed to in order try and resolve this brake issue and I wholeheartedly thank him for his time and continued friendship.
I was ready to bite the bullet on a custom full race setup with another manufacturer...
Then I noticed that one of SPM's employees, Josh, was active daily on the the forums. I called his extension at SPM and left a message. He called me back right away and said he had the 375mm setup in stock and ready to ship. He asked me to place my order over the website, which I did. Josh called me back minutes after I placed the order to clarify some things and told me that the order would be shipped, Express... Can't wait!
Might just be able to get my car out on track for AudiTron this weekend, otherwise, I'll only be riding the passenger seat instructing. We'll see what happens. Things will line up or they won't...I'm not going to cut any corners where safety is involved for myself or others on track with me.
But at least an end of sorts is in sight.
Just wanted to let you know how things are shaking out/shaping up...as well as let you know about my experience with SPM.
Just thought i'd share the other side of the story here and how that 8 weeks came to be.
As most know, obtaining some of this Alcon stuff has been a challenge as of late. Alconkits decided since we (obviously) have an affiliation with Alcon, we could try to fill the gap left for those people who could no longer get parts for their Stasis BBKs. It's been a learning process for us, trying to identify what's been used in various Stasis BBKs. We recreated the two types of hat hardware (actually required that we have a one-off "bobbin" machined- we weren't expecting that.....), identified as many disc applications as we could, pored over the Stasis instructions, asked as many installers, shops + customers, even some Stasis employees, about info. Still there's been some bumps along the way but we've always been forthright in our attempts to source what is needed for the customer. We're not trying to gouge anybody or jerk anybody around.
Aside from the basic components of the brakes, then there's been the challenge of identifying the changes that have occurred in the Stasis kits and their part numbering system. Considering that we have not physically measured most of the Stasis pieces, aside from the hat hardware, we've had to rely on what information we could mine from the web in order to iron-out the specifics and ensure the parts we provide are correct. On top of that challenge, Alcon's ever-evolving product line doesn't make it easy to identify what's needed to fit the Stasis BBKs. But we try our best.
However, that above information is basically irrelevant to Marcel's plight in getting parts. With respect to the anti-rattle clip issue, I admit it took a while to get that information from Alcon and still it wasn't entirely clear to us which clip is correct or what/why there's a different clip for the three different Mono6 calipers (three different part numbers in our system). You'll recall I suggested that, A. you could do without the clip for the time being because all it does is provide light spring pressure on the pad to keep it from rattling in the caliper when the brakes aren't applied. It's not critical to the operation of the brakes. Or B., you could order both clips and see how they compare. They're not terribly expensive at $20-something each. Not cheap by any means, but not kick-in-the-head expensive. I'd even have been willing to eat the cost of the unsuitable pair of clips to make sure I got you what you needed.
After the clip saga, which I own-up to, I waited weeks to get pictures from you to confirm what were the specifics of your rotors. Sorry, but the reason for needing that important information is there is a physical difference between the various Alcon 370x32mm rotors. One is a Turbulator extreme duty 48 vane rotor with an additional 2mm of offset built into the mounting lug area, the others are a common "flat" 48 vane rotor with considerable additional weight. W/out confirmation of your existing rotor type, I could not get the ball rolling on sourcing rotors due to the dimensional difference, as well what hardware they use. I clearly explained that in our email exchanges.
The lead time on the rotors is because we're still held to ordering 3-pair shipments. It's hard to tie up capitol on 2 pairs of these rotors if we don't have someone lined up to buy them. So as we gauge the demand for Stasis replacement disc requests, we build-in that 2-4 week lead time, expecting other orders to come in. Truthfully they've lately been arriving much more quickly than that
With respect to the online ordering difficulties, I personally checked your account for operation on my end (remotely, mind you, not at the hosting site for the website or by doing it as a site admin) and it worked. After you still were not able to get your order into the site for some reason, I called & left a voicemail with my personal contact info so that I could place the order manually for you if you would like to do so. Didn't hear back from you.
Had to assume you'd decided enough was enough. No offense taken on my part, as I can understand the frustration and delay you went through. Nonetheless, I wanted to be clear how it played out to prove we're not complete incompetent boobs on our end at Alconkits, who did nothing to assist with your desire to get replacement parts.
Good luck with the SPM stuff going forward. We'll keep refining our Stasis replacement program to do our best to get customers what they need.
Keep the shiny side of the car up & get some cooling to those brakes.
Effective cooling is absolutely paramount to making your expensive pads and rotors last MUCH MUCH longer, which is in conflict with those of us who would prefer you use up brake parts as fast as possible!
KL
better images soon and of course some discussion about the custom modifications. I'm still not allowed to go into too much detail....yet.... but I'll share what I can
IMG_4591a_mvp by Marcel V. Photography, on Flickr
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