Backcountry Pilot • New Brakes - Airframes AK or Cleveland's?

New Brakes - Airframes AK or Cleveland's?

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New Brakes - Airframes AK or Cleveland's?

So the plane is in annual and I am in need of new brakes. Well on the right side. My mud bog adventure a few weeks back has eaten them up. (the alkali in the mud)

I know Airframes AK is now making there own and curious if anyone has beta on them. The Cleveland's are great and thats what I have now. Cleveland's are a lot more $$ than the Airframes AK. Curious what you know...

Thanks!

AKT
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Re: New Brakes - Airframes AK or Cleveland's?

I recently installed a set. Other than their anodized black finish, you can hardly tell the difference by looking at them next to Cleveland's. I like the black finish, time will tell if it holds up.

They do squeak a little bit for the first minute or so while taxiing, which is annoying, but it might be a problem with my master cylinders...not sure. I broke them in per the instructions, maybe after the pads wear down a bit more it will stop.

Performance wise, well, they stop the plane just the same as Cleveland's as far as I can tell :mrgreen:


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Re: New Brakes - Airframes AK or Cleveland's?

AKT, you'd need to confirm this as it comes from memory, but I think the AAF brakes are just a bit heavier then Clevelands because AAF's are aluminum and Cleveland is magnesium. I think.
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Re: New Brakes - Airframes AK or Cleveland's?

Or maybe it's the wheels I'm thinking of.
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Re: New Brakes - Airframes AK or Cleveland's?

I too am a big fan of that cool hard anodizing on the new Airframes brake assemblies. Curious to see how well this finish holds up to the bush environment, I'm guessing maybe a little better than the white Imron I'm used to.

Also impressed by the apparent build quality on the set I inspected.

If the price difference is significant I wouldn't hesitate to give the Airframes stuff a try.

No Cleveland brake assemblies I've seen have been magnesium, nor any new 6" wheels. Maybe only older Cleveland wheels were mag? I could be totally off.
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Re: New Brakes - Airframes AK or Cleveland's?

I'm currently running them in the harsh off-airport environment of my garage. They're nice, I'm glad I went this route.

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Re: New Brakes - Airframes AK or Cleveland's?

I'm not a fan of the aps brake pads and discs they use. I have found Cleveland pads and discs to FAR outlast any aps lining or disc. Other then that I like the airframes brake calipers and the price is low enough to wear out the pads, install Cleveland pads and still be ahead.
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Re: New Brakes - Airframes AK or Cleveland's?

I think the Clevelands 11/4 axle six bolt wheels are magnesium. Total weight saving of 5 lbs over a set of 11/2 axle 3 bolt wheel/brake. I have started drinking so it may be a lie #-o
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