I'm trying to figure out what would be the best for my car. It weighs 3200 pounds and I have 13 inch rotors up front and 11 inch rotors in back.

Slotted I know releases the gasses and "Cleans" the pads

Cross Drilled I know keeps the rotor at cooler temps allowing better stopping power and less brake fade

Slotted and Crossed drilled combine both but it also removes so much material from the rotors that they have more of a chance of warping sooner.


First off, I've heard Rotora, stoptech or Brembo are all good brands. But I'm wondering, I'm road racing and I'm trying to figure out which brand and what rotor would work best. Currently I've been using Auto Specialties Cross drilled and Zinc plated rotors and they've been in use for the past 3 years and I have no warpped them and can daily drive on them, but I've been getting too much brake fade as of late and I need something else.

What would you guys recommend?

 

i run "drilled" brebo's. got um for free, and they haven't cracked yet. Im waiting


save money and buy the "auto" zone rotors or whatever is cheap.. Its a wear item don't worry to much about it.


(there are some HT sponsors that have brembo blanks for around 30 bucks each)

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by KooK &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Cross Drilled I know keeps the rotor at cooler temps allowing better stopping power and less brake fade</TD></TR></TABLE>

Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong. Wrong. Just, wrong.

'Blank' rotors are the best bang for the buck. Not good for show car points I suppose but they are the cheapest and there's no brake rotor that will increase stopping power. If you want to stop faster, get better tires and good pads/fluid. Thats it. For good pads, call carbotech.

 

If I'm wrong, then why do road race cars have cross drilled rotors?

 

if youre having brake fade issues, youre looking at the wrong part. depending on the type of fade, you need to focus on pads or fluid, not rotors.

and besides, rotors are crossdrilled/cast for saving weight, nothing more.

 

You know what I hate most about this sport? Theres so much misinformation going around and so many people that think they're right, I have no clue who to believe. If I had the money to setup equipment and do my own studies, I would love to.

But this is just freaking stupid. I'm so lost anymore.

 

Cross drilled and slotted=bling

From Tire Rack's site:

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Slotted, drilled or dimpled rotors offered as OEM replacements should not be considered appropriate for high-speed track use.

While grooved, drilled and slotted rotors offer an enhanced appearance and add some resistance to the boundary layer of gasses that can build up between the pad and rotor, they are not designed to withstand the extreme temperatures that are produced on the racetrack. If they are used on the track, it is very important that the rotors be carefully inspected and should not be driven on if even minor signs of deterioration are seen. Note, too, that if these products are used on the track they are not warrantable.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by KooK &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If I'm wrong, then why do road race cars have cross drilled rotors?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Which road race cars? Stop listening to the misinformation.

Endurance racers usually have slotted rotors that helps keep the 'glaze' off the pads for extended use, but pad life is shortened by this.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by KooK &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You know what I hate most about this sport? Theres so much misinformation going around and so many people that think they're right.</TD></TR></TABLE>

That's because this sport is not just a sport, it's also a hobby for show. All golf clubs are designed to hit a golf ball. People don't just walk around the neighborhood carrying nonfunctional golf clubs to look like they know how to play golf. Sadly, road racing is different in that everyone is buying the parts and there's no way to know if they are functional or just cool looking.

On this issue, just take our word for it...you'll be happy with blank rotors for competition, street, and HPDE use. If you REALLY want to know why, I'm sure someone will post a link to everyone's favorite cross-drilled rotor post

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by KooK &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You know what I hate most about this sport? Theres so much misinformation going around and so many people that think they're right</TD></TR></TABLE>

This can be helped by just hanging out at the track and talking with people. You can see for yourself what they are running and for what purposes/class/reason.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by KooK &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
But this is just freaking stupid. I'm so lost anymore.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Heh, heh.... you're frustrated with the variety of opinions already? Wait till you start asking driving technique and suspension set up questions!

Rj's right. I tried a set of drilled rotors years ago and warped them with street driving. Haven't warped a solid rotor on the track in 14 years.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Track rat &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Heh, heh.... you're frustrated with the variety of opinions already? Wait till you start asking driving technique and suspension set up questions!

Rj's right. I tried a set of drilled rotors years ago and warped them with street driving. Haven't warped a solid rotor on the track in 14 years.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by XR4racer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

</TD></TR></TABLE>

robert is alive?!?!?!?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by KooK &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If I'm wrong, then why do road race cars have cross drilled rotors?</TD></TR></TABLE>


i'm a road racer and i dont' have them?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Track rat &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Haven't warped a solid rotor on the track in 14 years.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah but how often are you cracking them?

 

heh heh.. Alive, but not kickin.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by KooK &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If I'm wrong, then why do road race cars have cross drilled rotors?</TD></TR></TABLE>Porsche is the only race car that i know of that regularly uses (drilled rotors) they are not drilled they are cast holes .
if you have not cracked your rotors in 3 years you are not braking to the capisity
of the braking system ,500 miles is alot of miles on a set of rotors. the brakes have to get hot to work well , if they get too hot then you have to cool them.
what kind of car is it?, how fast are you going? how much speed do you have to bleed off ?

 

Porsche's rotors are not cast-in.

There is no longevity benefit over their current process, and a significant cost increase, straight from the horse's mouth (SHW)

 

What are you doing with the car? auto-x. road race, street performance?

what car is this?

 

Someone please post a link to the "Great X-drilled Rotor Thread". AKA "When racers attack".

True story: Took a phone call the other day from a guy with a Lexus. The conversation started out: "Hi, I have a Lexus and I'm looking for some GOOD brakes. I want some cross drilled rotors".

That was a Loooooong phone conversation....

Edit: Sadly, it appears altimas.net has deleted that fine thread...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MaddMatt &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Edit: Sadly, it appears altimas.net has deleted that fine thread...</TD></TR></TABLE>

Can you blame them? They got werked...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MaddMatt &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
That was a Loooooong phone conversation.....</TD></TR></TABLE>

Sometimes it is just better not to go down that road and sell the guy the high profit margin bling bling rotor.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Can you blame them? They got werked...</TD></TR></TABLE>
Own3d

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">sell the guy the high profit margin bling bling rotor</TD></TR></TABLE>
Yeah, but he kept saying stuff like "Those won't warp on me, right"

I do have a concious, you know....

 

Don't forget the "which slot orientation is the best? The ones that go against forward rotation or the ones that go with forward rotation?"

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MaddMatt &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I do have a concious, you know....
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Should have sold him the gogo rallymaster rotors.... goddamn I'm still laughing about that invoice.