Learning about Performance Rotors

Today there will be no sharing on project cars , we will be discussing about performance rotors for big brake kits.

Do you often see cars on the road with all sorts of different designs on the brake rotors ?

Today we answer your question and discuss about its pros and cons.

Attached with this post is a photo of 9 options that we provide for our customers that are buying any brake systems from us.

So how does it differ from normal rotors ? lets deep dive into it

𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐒𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞

Under normal driving conditions, a premium pair of smooth rotors delivers more than enough stopping power. That's why 99.9% of new cars still have them when they leave the manufacturer. They have the largest surface area compared to drilled or slotted rotors, therefore they're great at functioning as a heat sink, which is exactly what a brake rotor is for. They're also less likely to crack under excessive use than drilled rotors. Smooth rotors maintain optimum structural integrity due to the lack of slots or drill holes, making them suited for moderate track use when paired with performance brake pads and high-boiling point brake fluid.

𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐎𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐬

Slotted rotors feature grooves carved down the face of the rotor where the pad makes contact, as the name implies. This is because, as the temperature of your brake system rises from repeated heavy braking, a film of gas and dust accumulates between the pad and the rotor due to material transfer caused by friction. The rotor's slots provide a way for the trapped gases to escape. More of the brake pad's surface area contacts the rotor, resulting in improved pad bite and more consistent stopping. Also, because the increased surface contact causes a higher coefficient of friction, you'll use less energy to slow your car by the same amount.

𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝

When brake discs become hot after repeated forceful braking in a short period of time. This, along with a faint odor of burnt rubber, may have been observed after an exhilarating drive (usually from the pads).

The heat generated by hard braking causes the brake pads' resin to convert into gas. This gas acts as a barrier between the pad and the disc, lowering brake efficiency. It's also referred to as brake fade.

Because of the increased surface area, drilled discs can cool down faster than regular discs. They also allow for faster gas expulsion, so you won't get brake fade as quickly as you would with traditional discs.

𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐬

Drilled and slotted rotors have the appearance and performance of both cross-drilled and slotted rotors. Drilled and slotted rotors shine on large trucks pulling heavy loads, even though they're not ideal for the abuse they'd get on a racetrack (the drill holes are prone to stress-cracking). The more energy required to bring a vehicle to a safe and dependable stop, the heavier it is. Brakes convert kinetic energy (motion) into thermal energy, and bigger cars' braking systems necessarily generate more heat.

When not pushed past its thermal threshold, a rotor that runs cooler (cross-drilled) combined with one that maintains a clean contact surface between itself and the brake pad (slotted) can provide an extra bit of security and durability. Keep in mind that the goal is to maintain constant stopping power every time you apply the brakes. Brake fade is a terrible sensation if you've ever drove a fully loaded car down a Genting pass. By keeping temperatures down and the rotor face clean, a set of cross-drilled and slotted rotors can provide added piece of mind.