I am going to replace all fours with new pads, rotors, and upgrade to stainless lines. I'm going to autocross next year. But I don't really need drilled rotors. I do want good stuff, so will stay away from Autozone and such..China made stuff

1. Are the slotted only rotors better than drilled?
2. Who makes good solid (non drilled) OE style rotors?
3. What kind of pad material is best?
4. Are Delco drilled/ slotted rotors and ceramic pads good stuff?
5. Suggestions for good quality stainless steel brake lines?

 

1. Somewhat. Slotted rotors don't crack as easily.

2. The cheap kind. Buy cheap rotors and replace them when they crack/wear out, a $50 rotor works just as good as a $150 rotor. You don't need name brand Brembo rotors or anything cryo treated. The pads play a much more important role in how the car stops than what kind of rotor you have.

3. I'm not sure how serious you want to be at auto-x, but I would step up to a 'real' pad, not some part store crap, such as Hawk HPS or Hawk HP+. The HP+ really stop the car well, but they are noisy and dust a lot. Not the best for looks, but they work really well. The HPS has less noise/less dust, but also less stopping power. Carbotech also makes some good pads, but I haven't tried them.

4. Drilled rotors are for show only. Slots too. They don't add any measureable performance. Drilled rotors crack REALLY easily when you use them hard (ie road course use). Slots fill up with brake pad material. Get blanks. Preferrably cheap ones. If you want to look good, get drilled/slotted, if you want to go fast, preferrably while spending less money, get blanks.

5. Not sure.

 

Please don't buy the really cheap rotors. I've seen them fall apart at the track .Brakes aren't anything to cheap out on. Trust me on this. I hope a few will chime in.

 

I'm about to do the same thing on my 96, so I'll chime in.

This is what I'm doing based on research I've done, on price, performance, dust/noise, all for spirited street driving. For auto X you may want to step up on the pads.

1. Yes.

2. Dunno. I'm going to go with Powerslots all around, seem to be very good, and no negitive reviews, not of C4 guys running them.

3. I'm going HAWK HPS on my setup. If you're gonna auto X a decent amount, I'd go HP+

4. I've heard good things about the pads, but I dunno about them for autox, nor have I heard anything about the rotors.

5. Good question! When we did long track with our imports we always used Goodridge, they probably make lines for the C4.

hope it helps a little

 

What is wrong with cheap rotors? I have run the cheapest rotors on my LS1 Firebird, and I guarantee it is harder on brakes than a C4 (12 in brakes, 310 rwhp, 3800 lbs with me in it, GS-CS R compounds). I spread my calipers, melted boots off, melted pads, and the only problem I had out of the rotors were some heat cracks, that eventually spread to the edge, ruining them. But, that is a consequence of hot brakes and no ducts rather than bad rotors.

Someone, anyone, please tell me what slots do for you, other than A) reducing the friction area, decreasing the amount of stopping force the brakes can generate, B) reducing the mass of the rotor, decreasing the amount of engery (heat) the rotor can hold, making it easier to over heat, C) making the rotor more expensive, and D)filling up with pad material.

I run cheap blanks, at the track no less. I know lots of people who do. For auto-x, it doesn't really matter what rotors you have, as you aren't going to get them very hot. Spending good money on PowerSlots, or any rotor that costs more than $60, is throwing it away.

Dont be cheap on brakes, just spend the money on good brake pads and good fluid, not rotors.

edit: here are some pics of my Firebird rotors:




These had 4 track weekends, or 32 twenty min sessions, plus 5 auto-x's. I want to see some expensive rotor that last longer than this (the CHEAPEST rotor I could find). I would have kept running them until this crack happeend.

You guys can pay $100+ per rotor, I've save the money and spend it on tires, entry fees, or go fast parts.

 

Um... there cheap and they fail. I've seen it. I wouldn't have posted my comment otherwise. I've see two accidents resulting from cheap *** rotors at the track . He mentioned autocross which is very hard on brakes compared to just a street car.

Edit:
The powerslot rotors are not cheap. I'm talking Ebay rotors

 

I purchased a set of front 13' rotors from Hawk. They are slotted but not drilled. Also purchased a set of front Hawk HPS pads. Great stopping power and a real step up from stock.