Quality brake rotors?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 276
Likes: 5
From: Aptos, CA
Quality brake rotors?
I might be in the market to purchase new front brake rotors and have been doing my homework.
I understand that what is offered from local stores such as Autozone, NAPA, OReilys, Advanced, etc. are mostly Chinese rotors. They are cheaper and locally available, but this is a Corvette and deserves quality safety gear, right?
Zip, Corvette Central and Ecklers all sell replacement rotors at around $59.99 each. They clearly scout out the competition's prices and price match to get our business, however none of these companies openly make claims of made in USA.
The only place I have found, thus far, that even dares to make a claim of being able to provide made in USA rotors is Muskegon Brake Company.
They sell replacement rotors at $75.95 for the "Made in USA" versions.
What are your thoughts? All I'm looking for is quality rotors that actually do "meet or exceed" factory specs. I also understand that not everything that comes from China is trash, but I want the option to buy American.
I understand that what is offered from local stores such as Autozone, NAPA, OReilys, Advanced, etc. are mostly Chinese rotors. They are cheaper and locally available, but this is a Corvette and deserves quality safety gear, right?
Zip, Corvette Central and Ecklers all sell replacement rotors at around $59.99 each. They clearly scout out the competition's prices and price match to get our business, however none of these companies openly make claims of made in USA.
The only place I have found, thus far, that even dares to make a claim of being able to provide made in USA rotors is Muskegon Brake Company.
They sell replacement rotors at $75.95 for the "Made in USA" versions.
What are your thoughts? All I'm looking for is quality rotors that actually do "meet or exceed" factory specs. I also understand that not everything that comes from China is trash, but I want the option to buy American.
Pro
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 593
Likes: 0
From: London England
It would appear that American made rotors are now a mythical item.
If you want to stay away from Chinese stuff you could buy EBC rotors manufactured in the home of motorsport
http://ebcrotors.com/p-222-ebc-stock...nt-rotors.aspx
To save time I will do the whole thread in one post....
Chinese rotors are made of tissue paper.
Chinese rotors will get up in the night and kill your whole family.
Drilled discs are explosive.
Drilled discs will go off like an IED at the end of your driveway.
All rotors will need 'on-the-hub' machining, done by NASA.
You will have to set up the rotors yourself with shims made of beer cans.
New rotors will never be as good as the 40 year old ones on the car.
Hopefully that covers everything
If you want to stay away from Chinese stuff you could buy EBC rotors manufactured in the home of motorsport
http://ebcrotors.com/p-222-ebc-stock...nt-rotors.aspx
To save time I will do the whole thread in one post....
Chinese rotors are made of tissue paper.
Chinese rotors will get up in the night and kill your whole family.
Drilled discs are explosive.
Drilled discs will go off like an IED at the end of your driveway.
All rotors will need 'on-the-hub' machining, done by NASA.
You will have to set up the rotors yourself with shims made of beer cans.
New rotors will never be as good as the 40 year old ones on the car.
Hopefully that covers everything
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Two more for the list-
The clouds of noxious vapours released from brake pad 'out-gassing' can cause a passing bus full of orphans to pass out and require a hospital visit. The vapour layer is so thick that not only are brakes ineffective, but will cause the car to actually accelerate and go back to the future.
Slots on the rotors, if incorrectly machined, will carve off wafer thing slices of pad material. The brakes will be worn out before you reach the end of the driveway. Holes will do the same thing but at least McDonalds will buy the shavings to use as fries.
The clouds of noxious vapours released from brake pad 'out-gassing' can cause a passing bus full of orphans to pass out and require a hospital visit. The vapour layer is so thick that not only are brakes ineffective, but will cause the car to actually accelerate and go back to the future.
Slots on the rotors, if incorrectly machined, will carve off wafer thing slices of pad material. The brakes will be worn out before you reach the end of the driveway. Holes will do the same thing but at least McDonalds will buy the shavings to use as fries.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,189
Likes: 111
From: Tolland CT
There's an article in this months edition of Corvette Restorer, NCRS publication, which addresses issues with replacing brake rotors.
Interesting article.
Going from memory I think it was a Raybestos rotor they recommended which was guaranteed to have less than 0.002 runout. There were a few grades, I don't recall the specific model number the article refers to.
Maybe someone has a copy of this magazine handy?
Interesting article.
Going from memory I think it was a Raybestos rotor they recommended which was guaranteed to have less than 0.002 runout. There were a few grades, I don't recall the specific model number the article refers to.
Maybe someone has a copy of this magazine handy?
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,349
Likes: 34
From: Porterville Ca
Raybestos makes good rotors, they sell Chinese rotors in their price line, at least in the old days the "Blue" box were made in USA or Canada and were excellet quality. Never had any problems with them. I bought chinese rotors for my wifes car at Oreilys, warped like mad, I got what I paid for. Vette only gets USA parts.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 958
Likes: 88
From: Rexburg Idaho
Two more for the list-
The clouds of noxious vapours released from brake pad 'out-gassing' can cause a passing bus full of orphans to pass out and require a hospital visit. The vapour layer is so thick that not only are brakes ineffective, but will cause the car to actually accelerate and go back to the future.
Slots on the rotors, if incorrectly machined, will carve off wafer thing slices of pad material. The brakes will be worn out before you reach the end of the driveway. Holes will do the same thing but at least McDonalds will buy the shavings to use as fries.
The clouds of noxious vapours released from brake pad 'out-gassing' can cause a passing bus full of orphans to pass out and require a hospital visit. The vapour layer is so thick that not only are brakes ineffective, but will cause the car to actually accelerate and go back to the future.
Slots on the rotors, if incorrectly machined, will carve off wafer thing slices of pad material. The brakes will be worn out before you reach the end of the driveway. Holes will do the same thing but at least McDonalds will buy the shavings to use as fries.
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Pro
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 593
Likes: 0
From: London England
Mike
Turbotrad I live in England but still did at least 5 minutes of web research for you and so far I'm the only one that's posted anything factual
Here's a thought for those who think that disc warping is soley because of Chinese manufacturing.
Have you considered that due to technical advances in brake pad material and brake fluid it is now possible to push the standard rotors (original or Chinese) way past there intended max temperature, previously limited by brake fade?
In my experience the most common cause of rotor warping is high speed street driving combined with intersections and traffic lights, mainly on auto box cars.
People drive like McQueen in Bullitt, get the rotors red hot, then hit some lights and sit there with their foot on the pedal causing a massively localised hot spot while the rest of the rotor cools, then wonder why they warp
.My advice, put it in park or use the parking brake, your brakes will last much longer.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 98
From: Ontario
I think you will find that no rotors are manufactured in the USA any longer. The blanks are produced internationally and machined to desired specs in the USA. The quality of the metallurgy in the blank and of machining is the key. Read a NAPA label carefully for example.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
In my experience the most common cause of rotor warping is high speed street driving combined with intersections and traffic lights, mainly on auto box cars.
People drive like McQueen in Bullitt, get the rotors red hot, then hit some lights and sit there with their foot on the pedal causing a massively localised hot spot while the rest of the rotor cools, then wonder why they warp.
My advice, put it in park or use the parking brake, your brakes will last much longer.
People drive like McQueen in Bullitt, get the rotors red hot, then hit some lights and sit there with their foot on the pedal causing a massively localised hot spot while the rest of the rotor cools, then wonder why they warp
.My advice, put it in park or use the parking brake, your brakes will last much longer.
Stopping short ,neutral and a slow roll works for me.
Pro
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 593
Likes: 0
From: London England
They're made in the UK from decent steel. I've not used them on a Corvette by EBC stuff is widely regarded as an affordable performance option for fast road and budget racing applications here in the UK.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,838
Likes: 10
From: Austin TX
I was disappointed in NAPA's "Ultra Premium" (their best) rotors I just purchased for a 69 Camaro. Paid $95.00 each thinking I'd get quality. One of the races wasn't in cleanly and you wouldn't believe the amount of fine metal particles in the hub area. Took them right back to the NAPA counter and voiced my disappointment.
If I'm not mistaken, AC Delco is still making rotors for our C3's. It's what I'll get next time.
If I'm not mistaken, AC Delco is still making rotors for our C3's. It's what I'll get next time.
