I'm in the market for new brake rotors.

I've seen the vented brake rotors (slotted and x-drilled) and would like some feedback if anybody has used these rotors.
I've heard that the vented rotors are hype.

Also, how do the autozone type of rotors hold up?
Is it better to use stock rotors?

I know with my sports car, the best brake set-up is actually the stock brake rotors, calipers, and upgraded brake pads (better compound like Hawk). The vented rotors for my sports car don't really do much except vent out some heat, but the brake performance isn't much better than stock. The theory that more surface area is better for braking power. Some people have used 911 Porsche brake rotors and calipers and transferred them to my model of car (RX-7) with great results and smaller pockets.

J

 

I am running the NWOR cross-drilled rotors. I installed them in conjunction with stainless steel lines and the difference is like night and day. My stopping distance is greatly reduced, brake fade is almost a thing of the past and they shed water much faster than the stock rotors.

Were I building out another rig, the vented rotors and stainless lines would be high on my list of priorities.

 

Rob,

Have you had any problems with the cross-drilled rotors warping or cracking. Have you REALLY heated them up? How did they react?

 

I bought my set from www.raceconcepts.net They've held up really well.

 

NWOR wasn't sure if they had rotors for my year of Runner (99 Limited).

I'll keep checking around.

So, how about those autozone rotors???

J

 

I believe Gadget says to use OEM rotors and Perfomance Friction pads.

Also, if you do go with cross drilled, be sure to get CAST rotors.

Mike

 

i've hat a set of Brembo's (sp?) cross-drilled installed for over 2 years using toyota brake pads. one word... great! i was having warping problems, going thru 2 sets of stock rotors. no problems at all since then. one issue is getting mud in the holes... i don't do much mudding so it's not something i worry about. i've taken my truck from reno/lake tahoe, NV to the bay area several times pulling a trailer w/ 2 jetski's. if you've made that trip before, then you know that that trip will put major heat on your rotors. again, no probs at all

i can't say for sure whether stopping power has improved or not, but i've not really felt any difference either way.

Deo

 

None. In fact, they are holding up better than the stock rotors. I am REALLY hard on brakes. Since it's an automatic, I don't have the luxury of engine braking on steep down hills, so the brakes do the lions share of the work. I have had them hot enough that they sizzled at contact with water.

 

Thanks for the reference, Danny.

I just ordered a pair of front rotors from raceconcepts.net.
A good deal ($160 shipped for both rotors).

We'll see how well they hold out!

J

 

Man, i wish you guys had talked about this a couple of months ago. I replaced my rotors with OEM ones because i was not sure how the slotted ones would hold up. I am very dissapointed with my OEM ones due to the fact that they warped almost immediately. They aren't warped bad, but any is bad to me. I really considered those slotted ones in hope that it would reduce brake fade and increase the life of the rotors. Have any of y'all gotten them wet after they were heated up? Any problems? I always try to be careful with mine, but i guess they just suck. They do stop quick though.

 

A good article on brakes.
http://www.stoptech.com/whitepapers/...otors_myth.htm

I'm glad to hear that a couple of guys are using x-drilled rotors with no problems.
I'm still a bit pessimistic, but I guess I'm up for experimenting.

A lot fo the sports cars guys are recommending Brembo blanks over slotted or x-drilled. A few of the guys I know have cracked x-drilled rotors on their 3rd time on the track. The benefit of x-drilled rotors is weight reduction, like my motorcycle.
Modern day brake pads have materials that are less gassy.

btw, Brembo doesn't sell rotors for trucks that are x-drilled and slotted.

So, hopefully I can catch the my order and see if I can change it to blanks before they ship tomorrow.

J