Disc brakes ?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 11,125
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From: SE Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Oldtimer
Disc brakes ?
What is your opinion on Disc brake Rotors . Is "Drilled & Slotted" better or should I just go with "Slotted" or even just "Drilled" ? 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: ALL governments are legalized mobsters, so doesn't matter where I live :(
Drilled and slotted are fine, but, if your also switching to a ceramic pad you may find that you lose a "bite" when breaking. It's a trade off, ceramic pads, less noise, less brake dust, or OEM pads, stop great, but dust and squeals.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Aiken, SC
St. Jude Donor '13 thru '26
I was just reading something the other night where drilled rotors could crack easier. There were pics attached with cracks leading from the drilled holes.
I guess it all goes back to how you use your car. For street use it would probably never be a problem.
I guess it all goes back to how you use your car. For street use it would probably never be a problem.
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St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
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I agree - for normal street use drilled and slotted work just fine and look great. I ran a set of Baer Eradispeed drilled/slotted rotors on my '00 for years and did not have any issues. Running a set on my '03 for about a year now and all is well.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
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I'm strictly a weekend driver not a track guy yet. I recently purchased both and am expecting them to arrive shortly. After considering for a few days & getting valuable information from fellow CF members, I opted for both Baer DecelaRotor Brake Rotor slotted & drilled w/the Ceramic pads for the dust factor $600 & change. I'll have an opinion after they get installed and will find this thread and comment on my personal experience.
Thank you & to all you Dads out there, Happy Fathers Day
Thank you & to all you Dads out there, Happy Fathers Day
Racer
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 405
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From: northern ca
St. Jude Donor '14
Drilled and slotted, that's the only visible upgrade on my car and I get comments on how good they look. I can't take credit for it, they were on the car when I got it so I don't know which ones.
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Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 11,125
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From: SE Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Oldtimer
Brakes & ceramic pads ?
I bought a full set of drilled and slotted GM rotors from Gene at GMpartshouse.com on my 2003 AE coupe, and a set of hawk street pads, They were on sale and are great, a little dust but nothing to B*&^% about. But I did the same on my 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix GT and used ceramic pads. They work well, even in the cold winter weather, but you get a slight noise like you are running over a street rumble strip when braking, it's minor and it gets less the more you drive, but the "Break-In procedure" for the Ceramic pads come damn close to warping the rotors. When I need a new set of pads for it I'll go back to the Hawk street pads. With the ceramic pads the break-in is just tooo much like track racing and the rotors get so over-heated they warp. I guess you get what you get if you want ceramic, I'll pass the next time around. Thank you for all of your replies, you folks are fantastic when it comes to technical feedback ! 
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Cleveland OH
St. Jude Donor '11,'13
For a quality inexpensive rotor I would look at the Centric premium plain face rotors, slotted rotors are like a cheese grader to your brake pad material and yes over time on the street the drilled will form minor cracks. Pair the centric rotors with our low dust performance street pad 1521 compound and you will have braking performance like stock if not better with no noise and at least half the dust of your stock pads.
The Carbotech™ 1521™ is our high performance street compound. The 1521™ compound is known for its release and modulation, along with unmatched rotor friendliness. 1521™ is also a very low dusting and low noise compound with an excellent initial bite. This compound's excellent linear torque production provides incredible braking force without ABS intervention. Carbotech™ 1521™ operating range starts out at ambient and goes up to 800°F (426°C+). 1521™ is suitable for ALL street cars, perfect for your tow vehicle or fleet vehicle. Carbotech™ 1521™ is NOT recommended for ANY track use.
The Carbotech™ 1521™ is our high performance street compound. The 1521™ compound is known for its release and modulation, along with unmatched rotor friendliness. 1521™ is also a very low dusting and low noise compound with an excellent initial bite. This compound's excellent linear torque production provides incredible braking force without ABS intervention. Carbotech™ 1521™ operating range starts out at ambient and goes up to 800°F (426°C+). 1521™ is suitable for ALL street cars, perfect for your tow vehicle or fleet vehicle. Carbotech™ 1521™ is NOT recommended for ANY track use.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 4,812
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From: Taylorsville North Carolina
I use the d/s w/ceramic pads for the street. They look the best and still stop better than 95% of the vehicles out there. However, they are only good for about 2 panic stops before they start to fade. My track pads, which cost 4x as much and last 1/100 as long, I run with stock plain rotors.
Unless you are really pushing them on the street, d/s with ceramics will do you fine. They look great and dust least. Good luck with it.
Unless you are really pushing them on the street, d/s with ceramics will do you fine. They look great and dust least. Good luck with it.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,858
Likes: 30
IMO it may also depend on what kinda of look you desire and how much maintaining you may want to do.. If you are a weekend driver and have aftermarket wheels that show everything behind them. I guess you can live with it. I personally desired a more performance cosmetic look without all the black dirt. That being said if it ceramics do not perform well I'll be back to whipping them down after every use. My 0.02 Thank you & best wishes always.
Last edited by PeterB; Jun 14, 2013 at 08:21 PM.