The present disclosure describes brake rotor preforms and brake pads configured to reduce fracturing and failure of brake rotors by distributing the axial force applied during braking across butt joints between abutting segments of preforms and rotors manufactured therefrom. The preforms comprise a spiral annular structure formed about a longitudinal axis from a plurality of carbon fiber precursor tow segments having a partial annular shape. Each segment is asymmetrical when viewed in the longitudinal axis direction and configured so planes defined by the segment's ends are never coplanar with planes extending radially from the longitudinal axis. The brake pads have a partial annular shape and ends adapted to prevent planes defined by the ends from being coplanar during use with a plane extending radially from a brake rotor longitudinal axis.