Brake Upgrades for the BMW M5 F90: Floating Steel Rotors & Performance Pads by Triton Motorsports
- Triton Motorsports
- Jul 22, 2025
- 4 min read
The BMW M5 F90 is a powerhouse of engineering—delivering incredible performance from a twin-turbocharged V8 and intelligent AWD system. But with great power comes great responsibility—especially when it comes to stopping. At Triton Motorsports, we specialize in engineering floating steel brake rotors and performance brake pads that transform the braking capabilities of your M5 from capable to confidence-inspiring.
Whether you're a spirited street driver or a weekend track warrior, upgrading your M5's braking system offers one of the most impactful performance enhancements. In this article, we’ll explore the shortcomings of the factory brake setup, the advantages of our true two-piece rotors, and how our pad options deliver the stopping power and feel your M5 truly deserves.
Why the OEM F90 M5 Brake Rotors Fall Short
The factory BMW M5 F90 brake rotors are deceptively marketed as two-piece. In reality, they are what the industry calls quasi two-piece rotors—featuring a steel rotor ring mounted to a stamped steel or cast iron center hat using permanent rivets. While they offer decent weight savings over traditional one-piece rotors, they come with several limitations:
Fixed design: The rotor ring is not truly floating—leading to thermal stress, warping, and uneven pad deposits under aggressive use.
Increased heat transfer: The stamped steel hat transfers heat more readily to the wheel hub and bearings, increasing wear on surrounding components.
No serviceability: You can’t replace just the rotor ring when worn—you're forced to replace the entire unit, increasing long-term cost.
Enter Triton Motorsports: The True Two-Piece Floating Rotor Advantage
At Triton Motorsports, we don’t believe in compromises—especially when it comes to high-performance braking systems. Our floating steel disc brake rotors are engineered as true two-piece systems:
Key Features:
Floating Aluminum Hats (T6-6061 or optional Grade 5 Titanium): Anodized aircraft-grade hats reduce unsprung mass and thermal transfer, and are designed to handle repeated high-load cycles without deformation.
Directional Vane Rotor Rings: High-carbon alloy castings with optimized cooling vane geometry for rapid heat dissipation and fade resistance.
Floating Hardware with Anti-Rattle Shims: Allows axial movement and thermal expansion under braking, preventing stress cracks and rotor warping.
Serviceable Design: Replace the rotor ring independently, preserving the hat assembly for years of continued use.
These rotors are meticulously CNC-machined and tested using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to simulate real-world forces, ensuring exceptional performance under both street and track conditions.
Built for the Street or the Track: Performance Brake Pads That Match the Rotor
Brake rotors are only one side of the equation. The brake pad compound is what defines pedal feel, initial bite, heat tolerance, and noise levels. That’s why Triton Motorsports offers two pad options to match your driving style:
1. Semi-Metallic Performance Pads
Designed for spirited street and occasional track use
Excellent initial bite and friction coefficient at both low and high temperatures
Enhanced thermal stability compared to OEM pads
Moderate dust levels and long-lasting performance
2. Low Dust Ceramic Compound
Ideal for daily driving and luxury-focused performance
Smooth, progressive braking feel
Minimal brake dust—keeps your wheels clean
Quiet operation and rotor-friendly material
Each pad set is backed with thermal barriers for heat insulation and uses noise-reduction shims to prevent squeal.
Precision Fitment for the BMW M5 F90
The F90 M5 uses a staggered high-performance braking setup—requiring exacting specifications for replacement or upgraded parts.
Rotor Dimensions:
Front OEM: 395mm x 36mm
Rear OEM: 380mm x 28mm
Triton Motorsports floating rotors are direct bolt-on replacements and fully compatible with the factory calipers, brake lines, and electronics (including ABS and DSC systems). No modifications are required.
Why Choose Floating Rotors Over Carbon Ceramic on the M5?
While carbon ceramic brakes offer significant weight savings and thermal resistance, they also come with trade-offs:
Cold performance is suboptimal, especially in urban or low-speed driving.
Higher cost of replacement rotors and pads
Less bite feel in early pedal application for street use
That’s why for the M5 F90, many drivers prefer our floating steel rotor kits—they maintain excellent braking characteristics from cold to hot, are track-worthy, and offer cost-effective serviceability.
That said, for those seeking the ultimate in weight reduction and thermal resistance, we do offer iron-to-carbon ceramic conversion kits for select platforms—including custom development upon request.
The Engineering Behind It: Finite Element Analysis (FEA)
Every Triton Motorsports rotor design is validated through Finite Element Analysis (FEA)—a simulation process that models the stress distribution and thermal behavior of the rotor under aggressive use.
This ensures:
Even heat distribution across the rotor face
Structural integrity under repeated thermal cycles
Prevention of stress cracking or distortion
In short, you're not just buying a replacement rotor—you're investing in motorsport-proven engineering.
Benefits of Upgrading Your F90 M5 Brakes with Triton Motorsports
✅ True 2-Piece Floating Design
✅ Reduced Unsprung Weight
✅ Improved Pedal Feel & Modulation
✅ Longer Rotor and Pad Life
✅ Track-Ready Thermal Stability
✅ Multiple Pad Compound Options
✅ Serviceable Rotor Rings = Long-Term Savings
Customer-Proven. Engineer-Tested. Track-Validated.
From the Nürburgring to the backroads of California, Triton Motorsports brake systems are trusted by drivers who demand the best. Whether you're launching from a stoplight or braking from 150 MPH into Turn 1, you deserve the confidence of a brake setup designed without compromise.
Future-Proof Your M5
Performance isn’t just about speed—it's about control, reliability, and consistency. Upgrading your F90 M5 with Triton Motorsports floating rotors and matched performance brake pads ensures your car can stop as well as it goes.
Have questions about which compound is right for your setup? Need a custom rotor spec for a big brake kit or race prep? Contact us—we’re here to help.
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