252 Products
APEC BLACK Car Parts
APEC Black is APEC Automotive's premium braking range identity, not a separate general parts manufacturer. The products represented here stay tightly focused on braking: brake pad sets, discs and calipers. Official APEC material positions Black alongside its wider braking offer and describes range-specific features for heat management, noise control, disc construction and caliper finishing. Those details vary by component, so the exact part specification remains more useful than the range name alone.
Selection starts with a confirmed application and braking system. Check registration or VIN-derived vehicle data, build date, axle, disc diameter and thickness, hub height, centring diameter, bolt pattern, caliper type and any electronic parking-brake requirements. Performance or optional brake packages can change components within one model year. Compare the APEC reference and dimensions with reliable application data; a similar disc or pad outline is not evidence of compatibility.
Brake pads and discs normally require axle-level assessment. Measure disc thickness against the vehicle manufacturer's limit, inspect both faces, and check the mating pads, caliper slides, piston boots and hoses. Disc descriptions in this collection include slotted, perforated, vented and two-piece designs, but retain the configuration specified for the application rather than choosing surface treatment cosmetically. Calipers also need the correct side, piston and carrier arrangement, hose and bleed-port positions, and parking-brake mechanism.
Braking work is safety-critical. Use the vehicle repair procedure, correct torque values and new single-use fasteners where directed. Keep friction faces free of grease, bleed with the specified fluid and sequence, restore the pedal before movement, and bed components according to their instructions. The MOT manual treats badly worn, contaminated, insecure or incorrectly fitted braking parts seriously, yet an MOT threshold is not a maintenance target. Investigate pulling, judder, leakage, heat, warning lamps or a changing pedal immediately, and select the relevant APEC Black listing below only after the full specification agrees.
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APEC Black as a premium APEC braking range
APEC Black is the name of a defined braking range from APEC Automotive. It should not be read as an unrelated manufacturer or as a label for every APEC product. The catalogue represented on this page contains 323 APEC Black references: 126 brake pad sets, 107 brake discs and 90 brake calipers. Actual availability here therefore centres exclusively on those three component families.
APEC's official Black pages describe range-level work on friction materials, heat behaviour, noise and vibration, disc designs and coloured caliper finishes. These characteristics do not make parts interchangeable. Every braking system is a dimensional and functional assembly, and the correct reference must match the vehicle variant, axle, brake option and associated hardware.
Understand the three APEC Black product families
| Family | Represented range | Primary matching data | Associated inspection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brake pad sets | 126 references | Axle, pad outline, thickness, caliper system, wear lead and directional arrangement | Disc faces and thickness, caliper movement, boots, hose and hardware |
| Brake discs | 107 references | Diameter, nominal thickness, height, centre bore, holes, bolt circle and disc construction | Hub face, run-out, wheel bearing, pads and minimum-thickness information |
| Brake calipers | 90 references | Axle and side, piston, carrier, hose and bleed locations, parking-brake mechanism and colour | Fluid condition, pipe and hose, disc and pad, mounting points and electronic functions |
The catalogue does not provide embedded vehicle-fitment records for these references, although it does provide detailed product dimensions on sampled discs. Use current application data for the APEC part number and the vehicle's complete identity. If the original braking components can be safely identified, their dimensions and system markings provide an additional check rather than a substitute for application data.
Brake pad selection and range technology
A pad set must fit the caliper and operate in the intended direction. Confirm front or rear axle, braking-system manufacturer, pad dimensions, wear-sensor arrangement, retaining springs and any chamfer or shim orientation. Some vehicles use more than one caliper system during the same production period. A registration lookup can narrow the search, but VIN, build date or direct component identification may still be necessary.
APEC says Black pads use Advanced Friction Technology, SilentGuard shims, heat-management measures and High-Pressure Treatment scorching. Its official product page also identifies Stop Ready Coating on the friction surface. These are features of the stated Black pad range, not instructions to omit bedding or post-fit checks. Follow the leaflet supplied with the exact set and the vehicle procedure.
Directional pads must be installed on the specified side and orientation. Look for arrows, letters or diagrams rather than assuming the chamfer faces forwards. Transfer only clips or wear sensors the instructions require, and replace hardware where specified. Friction surfaces contaminated by fluid, oil, copper-based compound or dirty hands cannot be made trustworthy merely by wiping the visible face.
Disc construction and dimensional matching
| Disc detail | What to compare | Why a mismatch matters |
|---|---|---|
| Outside diameter | Application data and measured original | Controls swept area and clearance within the caliper |
| Nominal thickness | New-disc specification, not the worn disc alone | Affects caliper capacity, heat mass and pad alignment |
| Overall height | Mounting face to disc face geometry | Incorrect offset misaligns disc and caliper |
| Centring diameter | Hub spigot and listed bore | Loose or obstructed centring can create installation error |
| Hole arrangement | Number, pitch circle and any locating screw | Similar outer dimensions can hide an incompatible hub pattern |
| Construction | Solid, internally vented, slotted, perforated or two-piece as specified | Design is application-led and may be handed or orientation-sensitive |
Sampled APEC Black disc records include perforated and vented, slotted and internally vented, and two-piece vented descriptions. Official APEC information specifically presents Black two-piece and duo-cast discs for selected applications and discusses reduced unsprung mass. Do not generalise that construction to every DSK reference. Read each product's type and dimensions independently.
Before installing a disc, clean the hub mating surface without removing sound metal. Check for corrosion high spots, damage, bearing play and run-out by the method in the repair information. Degrease only with an appropriate residue-free product, keep coating or oil away from pads, and tighten the disc location screw only to its specified value. Final wheel-bolt torque and tightening sequence influence disc seating.
Choosing and installing calipers
Caliper references can differ by left or right side, front or rear axle, piston diameter, carrier inclusion, hose thread, bleed-nipple position and parking-brake actuation. A coloured finish is a visible characteristic after compatibility has been established, not the matching method. The bleed nipple must finish above the hydraulic inlet so trapped air can be expelled; a unit that bolts on upside down is not correctly fitted.
APEC states that its calipers undergo end-of-line testing and that Black calipers use corrosion-resistant finishes. Treat that as range evidence, while inspecting the delivered unit for transit damage and checking the exact contents. Some replacement caliper transactions also involve a returnable old core, but purchase terms and what must be returned belong to the individual listing rather than a universal technical rule.
| Caliper checkpoint | Before fitting | After fitting |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | Confirm axle, side, system and part reference | Check hose path and bleed-nipple orientation |
| Movement | Inspect piston boot, sliders and carrier arrangement | Verify free release without binding or contact |
| Hydraulics | Identify correct fluid, hose fitting and sealing method | Bleed fully and inspect every opened connection for leakage |
| Parking brake | Confirm cable lever or electronic actuator compatibility | Carry out adjustment, calibration or service-mode exit as specified |
| Fasteners | Obtain required new bolts and locking parts | Torque in the stated sequence and mark only where workshop practice requires |
Installation sequence and bedding
Braking repairs need competent diagnosis, suitable support equipment and the vehicle manufacturer's procedure. Isolate electronic parking brakes using the prescribed service mode. Never suspend a caliper by its flexible hose. Clamp hoses only where the procedure allows and with a tool intended for that hose construction; an internally damaged hose can act as a one-way restriction even when its exterior looks acceptable.
Renew pads as an axle set. Disc replacement is also normally paired across an axle so both sides share condition and geometry. Clean and lubricate only the locations named by the brake-component instructions, using a compatible compound sparingly. Friction faces, wheel-bolt seats and many rubber components must remain uncontaminated. Pump the pedal until it is firm before selecting a gear or releasing the vehicle.
Follow the supplied bedding process and avoid repeated heavy stops unless the procedure explicitly requires them. Initial coating does not eliminate the need to establish even contact between pad and disc. After a cautious road test in a safe setting, compare temperatures without touching hot parts, listen for contact, confirm release and recheck fluid level and leaks.
Diagnosis: do not treat symptoms as a parts list
Judder can arise from disc thickness variation, hub run-out, corrosion between mating faces, bearing play, wheel tightening or suspension movement. Noise may involve pads, shims, hardware, surface condition or caliper operation. Pulling can come from a seized caliper, restricted hose, contamination, tyre or alignment problem. Diagnose the system before deciding that premium friction parts alone will correct it.
Blueing, cracking, local hot spots or one pad wearing much faster than its partner indicate heat or movement problems requiring investigation. A new disc fitted to a binding caliper will inherit the fault. Likewise, a new caliper connected to a deteriorated hose or contaminated hydraulic system may not restore balanced release.
Inspection, maintenance and MOT context
Look through the wheel where practical for remaining friction material, disc condition and leakage, but do not rely on a partial view when symptoms exist. During service, compare inner and outer pad thickness, measure discs at several points away from the wear lip, inspect piston and slider boots, and verify that retaining hardware is secure. The vehicle manufacturer's discard dimensions guide maintenance decisions.
The current DVSA MOT inspection manual classifies a pad worn to its wear indicator as a major defect and a pad below 1.5mm as dangerous. It also lists contamination, missing or incorrectly mounted pads, significantly worn or fractured discs, and damaged, leaking or insecure brake actuators. These are test criteria, not recommended replacement intervals; safe maintenance can require action well before an MOT limit is reached.
Errors to avoid with APEC Black braking parts
- Treating APEC Black as a separate all-parts manufacturer rather than an APEC braking range.
- Selecting by vehicle model name while ignoring build date and optional brake package.
- Comparing only disc diameter and overlooking thickness, height, bore and hole arrangement.
- Fitting directional pads without checking markings and shim or chamfer orientation.
- Choosing a caliper by colour before side, piston, carrier and parking-brake details.
- Installing new friction parts while leaving a sticking slider or restricted hose unresolved.
- Applying lubricant to pad or disc working faces, or using excessive compound near boots.
- Moving the vehicle before restoring a firm pedal and checking every opened joint.
APEC Black questions and answers
Q: Is APEC Black a separate brake manufacturer?
A: It is APEC Automotive's named premium braking range, covering selected pads, discs and calipers in this collection.
Q: Which APEC Black products are offered here?
A: The represented catalogue contains 126 pad sets, 107 brake discs and 90 calipers.
Q: Does the Black label confirm that a part fits my car?
A: No. Confirm the exact reference against vehicle variant, axle, brake system, production data and dimensions.
Q: Are all APEC Black discs two-piece?
A: No. Catalogue examples include several constructions; the individual DSK record states the design supplied for its application.
Q: Should slotted or perforated discs be chosen for appearance?
A: Retain the construction validated for the application, including any handed orientation, rather than changing design cosmetically.
Q: Must brake pads be changed on both sides?
A: Pads are renewed as a complete axle set so both brakes receive matching new friction material.
Q: Can old pads be fitted to new discs?
A: Reusing worn pads risks poor contact and transferring surface defects; follow the disc and vehicle repair instructions.
Q: What identifies the correct replacement caliper?
A: Side, axle, caliper system, piston and carrier details, hydraulic ports and parking-brake mechanism all contribute.
Q: Why must the bleed nipple be uppermost?
A: Air rises inside the caliper, so the bleed point needs the specified upper position for effective bleeding.
Q: Does Stop Ready Coating remove bedding requirements?
A: No. Observe the instructions supplied with the pad set and complete controlled post-installation checks.
Q: Is the MOT 1.5mm pad threshold a service target?
A: No. It is a dangerous-defect threshold in the test manual, while maintenance decisions should occur earlier as condition requires.
Q: What should I do if one brake runs hotter?
A: Stop using the vehicle until caliper movement, hose flow, pad installation, bearing and hydraulic condition are properly assessed.