by Cordia Rippin
Published 3 years ago
Updated 2 years ago
Given the choice between drill holes and slots, the drill holes will give you better braking power over slots for normal city/highway driving. This is why high end BMW, Porsche, Corvette, and Mercedes rotors are drilled, not slotted. However, for track racing (high speed stops), slotted rotors are the better choice.
What is the benefit of cross drilled rotors?
The drilled holes in your disc brake rotor allow the moisture and brake dust to escape. This keeps your brake rotors dry, helping you achieve consistent braking performance even in wet weather conditions.Mar 25, 2021
Why are drilled and slotted rotors better?
When compared to standard rotors, the drilled and slotted rotors tend to offer enhanced gripping experience, and it is more responsive and has an efficient performance when it comes to the braking system. The holes help in boosting friction efficiency between the pad and disc significantly.Aug 24, 2020
Do cross drilled and slotted rotors last longer?
As a result, if you're seeing a lot of track time, slotted brake rotors are better than drilled or solid ones. These benefits still translate over to the street. However, those slots mean your brake pads won't last as long. Ultimately, upgrading your brake rotors depends on how you drive.Sep 22, 2020
What is the advantage of slotted rotors?
Slotted rotor grooves offer two distinct benefits under heavy braking: brake fade, from high-temperature brake pad outgassing, can be significantly reduced, allowing gases to escape through the slots; and the grooves shave off thin layers of brake pad material, reducing glazing and improving braking consistency.Dec 3, 2019
Are cross drilled rotors worth it?
Given the choice between drill holes and slots, the drill holes will give you better braking power over slots for normal city/highway driving. This is why high end BMW, Porsche, Corvette, and Mercedes rotors are drilled, not slotted. However, for track racing (high speed stops), slotted rotors are the better choice.
Are drilled and slotted rotors worth it for daily driving?
DRILLED rotors are better for your daily driving because they are less prone to warping or getting high spots and they are usually easier on brake pads, but they do not perform as well under extreme braking as Slotted.Mar 31, 2011
Which rotors are the best?
Our Expert's Top 5 Brake Rotors
Editor's Picks
Brand
Rating
Best Overall
Bosch QuietCast Premium Disc Brake Rotor
4.6
Best Budget Buy
ACDelco Silver Front Disc Brake Rotor
4.7
Best Cast Iron
Brembo UV Coated Front Disc Brake Rotor
5.0
Best Drilled
Power Stop Front Evolution Drilled & Slotted Rotor Pair
You have a couple of options when it comes to brake rotors. Solid rotors that have a slightly larger surface and offer better durability and stopping power. Vented brake rotors that provide better cooling and are less likely to warp and fade, particularly when heat cycles spike up and down during a competition.Jun 21, 2019
Do slotted rotors make more dust?
Slotted rotors also aid in the expulsion of built up brake dust, significantly more so than a drilled rotor. Additionally, slotted rotors are stronger and less prone to cracking compared to drilled rotors as the structural integrity of the slotted rotors is not compromised during the machining process.Jul 1, 2015
Are slotted rotors noisy?
They are definitely a little noisier than the smooth stock discs, which is obvious due to the surface being less even. However it is still rather discreet and I can't see how anyone would be bothered by this. My new Performance Friction BBK however (slotted discs) has a turbine-like sound when I brake.
What is a drilled rotor?
Drilled rotors are based on the solid rotor style and have a pattern of strategically placed holes drilled into the contact surface to achieve improved cooling, gas and dust expulsion, and overall performance. When your brake pads contact the rotor surface, heat is generated and a pocket of hot air is formed between the surfaces as a result.
Do slotted rotors crack?
Additionally, slotted rotors are stronger and less prone to cracking compared to drilled rotors as the structural integrity of the slotted rotors is not compromised during the machining process. People have pointed out that slotted rotors tend to eat pads faster than solid or drilled rotors. The vanes have sharp edges that bite ...
The Physics Behind Stopping
Physics doesn’t discriminate between starting and stopping but instead considers them both changes in kinetic energy. Thus, an object at a constant speed reacts the same as an object that is sitting still. That being said, the Standard Kinetic Friction Equation applies to stopping just as much as starting movement.
How They Improve Performance
Big brake systems were not designed to stop your car sooner, but rather, stop it more efficiently and consistently. The larger calipers, vented discs, and exotic-compound pads increase heat capacity and heat dissipation.
What is a vented brake disc?
One of the initial solutions was to go with vented discs. Vented brake discs have a cavity between the front and rear braking surface, which allows cool air to pass between them during braking. Having that extra airflow helps mitigate the heat and drive it away from the rotor itself.
Do cars have disc brakes?
Disc brake rotors are found on the majority of modern cars. Some come with only front discs while others feature all four. Even though using friction pads on cast-iron discs is a technology invented all the way back in 1929, it took the automotive industry a long time to realize that this method of braking is simply superior. We’ve only seen the wide use of brake discs on cars since several decades ago.
What happens when brake pads heat up?
When the pads heat up under hard braking, they’ll release just enough gas that gets stuck between the pad itself and the rotor.
What is brake fade?
Brake fade is a phenomenon where you lose braking power either suddenly or overtime. This happens when the braking system is under high stress for prolonged periods of time. Solid rotors, although great for economical commuting, don’t really do well in terms of heat and brake fade mitigation.
What is the function of a brake rotor?
Heat damaged brake rotor. It’s important to recall that a major function of the rotor is to transfer heat out of the brake system. The laws of Physics tell us that energy can be moved and converted to other forms of energy but never destroyed.
Who is Brent Vandervort?
For over 14 years, Brent Vandervort, owner of Fatman Fabrications, has written a technical column for the Goodguy's Gazette, the monthly publication of the Goodguys Rod & Custom Association. Brent’s Good Tips column has helped literally thousands of hot rodders in the garage and out on the road. In fact, Vandervort recently published a book titled: “Building Hot Rods: 30 Years of Advice from Fatman Fabrication's Brent VanDervort.” When he’s not building chassis, Brent is either writing, flying an airplane or driving something old and cool!
Who owns Fatman Fabrications?
Brent Vandervort. For over 14 years, Brent Vandervort, owner of Fatman Fabrications, has written a technical column for the Goodguy's Gazette, the monthly publication of the Goodguys Rod & Custom Association. Brent’s Good Tips column has helped literally thousands of hot rodders in the garage and out on the road.
Do drilled rotors work?
Drilled and slotted rotors do work particularly well for tow vehicles, trucks, and other cars that carry heavy loads.
Do slotted brake rotors have a longer life?
Slotted brake rotors are not without their disadvantages: They tend to have a shorter life compared with other types of brake rotors, and may shorten the life of brake pads as well. When you are coming to a stop from a high speed, you can feel a rumble from the rotors. They will still perform safely; you may just find the noise unpleasant.
What is a blank rotor?
Blank or Smooth – As the name suggests, blank or smooth brake rotors have a smooth or plain surface, with no holes or markings in the metal. Because the names of the different brake rotors styles accurately describe what each of the styles look like, you can easily tell what kind of brake rotor you have on your car at even if you are new ...
Do new cars have blank rotors?
Far and away, most new cars come with blank rotors installed both for maximum effectiveness across driving conditions and for cost effectiveness. If you do not drive aggressively, have a luxury car, or seek a brake rotor that is quiet above all, smooth rotors can be the right choice for you.
What are the different types of brake rotors?
Brake rotors come in many different types. Before you can purchase a fresh set of brake rotors, you must understand each of these different types, what sets them apart, and what are the pros and cons of every style. The four kinds of brake rotors are: 1 Drilled Only – Drilled brake rotors are easy to recognize because they have a series of holes drilled into the metal. 2 Slotted Only – Slotted rotors have slots, which look like lines in the metal. 3 Drilled & Slotted – Drilled and slotted brake rotors combine the drill marking and slot marking. 4 Blank or Smooth – As the name suggests, blank or smooth brake rotors have a smooth or plain surface, with no holes or markings in the metal.
1 hours ago
Oct 04, 2012 · We highly recommend slotted rotors such as StopTech. Some people argue that the drilled rotors are more for show, and the slotted rotors are more for race and performance. Slotted rotors are also better designed for wet conditions as they move water away from the rotor more efficiently for superior wet braking. Less Brake Fade and Longer Life?
33 hours ago
Most vehicles on the road today are sold with solid, blank rotors installed from the factory. At most, the rotors are vented to allow for better heat dissipation. In high performance vehicles like the E63 AMG, BMW M4, and others, the stock front brakes are either cross drilled, slotted, or both. Often, people will upgrade their stock solid brake rotors to these variants to gain some of the …
12 hours ago
Given the choice between drill holes and slots, the drill holes will give you better braking power over slots for normal city/highway driving. This is why high end BMW, Porsche, Corvette, and Mercedes rotors are drilled, not slotted. However, for track racing (high speed stops), slotted rotors are the better choice.
9 hours ago
Apr 26, 2016 · No, you are best off with blank rotors (no slots, no holes) just like stock. Slotted rotors are more aggressive on the pads. Drilled rotors are plain dangerous unless they are a good quality (read expensive) that were cast with holes in place not drilled after the casting. generally, cheap drilled rotors are for looks only.
28 hours ago
Oct 07, 2013 · Slotted rotors are generally more reliable than their cross-drilled counterparts. One of the biggest benefits to using a slotted rotor is that the slots help pull brake dust away from the pads. By reducing the debris between your pads and rotors, you allow more of the pad’s surface area to come in contact with the rotor, which means better grip, and better stops.
7 hours ago
Oct 07, 2020 · There are drilled and slotted rotors available that promise to boost your car’s braking power. The question is, which of these is the better choice? In order to answer that question, we’ll have to dive deep into the inner workings of modern braking systems. Don’t worry, though. By the end of this guide, you’ll have all the information ...
1 hours ago
Mar 22, 2017 · It is the experience based opinion of every single brake expert I have consulted that the loss of rotor mass due to drilling and slotting creates more brake loss than any possible gains due to degassing or faster cooling of the surface area. There is no better authority on hot rod brakes than Ralph Lisena at ECI.
