StopTech, Raybestos and Centric Halt Brake Production as Parent Company First Brands Goes Bankrupt

StopTech is shutting down after 27 years in the high-performance brake business, and it’s taking two other well-known names down with it. OEM replacement brands Raybestos and Centric are also ceasing operations, with all three falling victim to the bankruptcy of their parent company, First Brands Group.

A Bankruptcy Rooted in Fraud Charges

First Brands filed for Chapter 11 after federal fraud indictments were brought against its founders in September 2025, and the company has been carrying more than $6 billion in debt while trying to sell off pieces of its portfolio, which also includes Fram filters, Michelin-branded wiper blades, Reese towing products, and Autolite spark plugs. StopTech, Raybestos, and Centric were all put up for sale during the bankruptcy process, but none of them found a buyer in time to keep operating. First Brands has now announced a full wind-down of all three brake divisions, and manufacturing has already stopped. No new pads, rotors, or calipers are being produced under any of the three names.

What Enthusiasts Are Losing

StopTech carved out its reputation among track-day drivers and performance enthusiasts by offering big-brake kits at a more accessible price than premium rivals like AP Racing and Brembo, making serious stopping power attainable for people who couldn’t justify a full Brembo setup. That said, the brand’s reputation had already taken some hits before this shutdown, after First Brands acquired it in 2020, some customers reported a noticeable drop in product quality, including problems with brake rotors and replacement caliper components.

What Happens to Existing Stock

Online retailers say they’ll keep selling whatever StopTech, Centric, and Raybestos inventory they have left until it runs out. Once that existing stock is gone, though, it’s gone for good, at least under these brand names, since restructuring and bankruptcy proceedings continue to play out with production already halted. For enthusiasts who’ve relied on StopTech for budget-friendly big-brake upgrades, that means buying remaining inventory now is the only way to get a set before the brand disappears from the market entirely.

About the Author

Eve Nowell

Administrator

Eve Nowell writes about cars for Backfire News, and she comes by it honestly—she grew up in a racing family, around engines and pit lanes before she was old enough to drive. That world isn't a beat she picked up; it's just where she's always been. At Backfire News she covers off-roading, classic car culture, motorsports, and the people behind the machines. She writes with the enthusiasm of someone who genuinely loves this stuff, but she's a stickler for getting the details right—the kind of writing that holds up with actual gearheads. She's still early in her career and building her own voice, bringing a fresh take to a world she's known her whole life. Her work runs across racing coverage, truck and off-road culture, collector vehicles, and the wider lifestyle that comes with all of it. When she's not writing, she's usually trackside, out in the garage, or chasing down the next story worth telling.

View All Posts