Replacing brake rotors
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 137
Likes: 1
St. Jude Donor '14
Replacing brake rotors
Time for new brakes and to loose the rusty rotor look!
I will be replacing my brake rotors soon and i want to go with slotted and cross drill because I like the look. I have seen photos on this forum of brake rotors that still have a "polished" look after many years of use!
It seems that rotors that are several years old would normally have groves in the rotors that would destroy the "polished" look. Is there a way to avoid the groves?
To maintain this polished look on the rest of the rotor do you have to polish the rust off on a regular basis or coat the rotors with high temp clear?
Many rotors are zinc coated, but I suspect that the zinc coating will not retain the look I want after several years of use.
I am considering Hawk shoes, but is suspect that the type of shoe may be related to the groves.
I am also aware of Cryo treatment. Does this help to retain the polished look I am after?
I will be replacing my brake rotors soon and i want to go with slotted and cross drill because I like the look. I have seen photos on this forum of brake rotors that still have a "polished" look after many years of use!
It seems that rotors that are several years old would normally have groves in the rotors that would destroy the "polished" look. Is there a way to avoid the groves?
To maintain this polished look on the rest of the rotor do you have to polish the rust off on a regular basis or coat the rotors with high temp clear?
Many rotors are zinc coated, but I suspect that the zinc coating will not retain the look I want after several years of use.
I am considering Hawk shoes, but is suspect that the type of shoe may be related to the groves.
I am also aware of Cryo treatment. Does this help to retain the polished look I am after?
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,039
Likes: 2,591
From: Del Boca Vista FL
Time for new brakes and to loose the rusty rotor look!
I will be replacing my brake rotors soon and i want to go with slotted and cross drill because I like the look. I have seen photos on this forum of brake rotors that still have a "polished" look after many years of use!
It seems that rotors that are several years old would normally have groves in the rotors that would destroy the "polished" look. Is there a way to avoid the groves?
To maintain this polished look on the rest of the rotor do you have to polish the rust off on a regular basis or coat the rotors with high temp clear?
Many rotors are zinc coated, but I suspect that the zinc coating will not retain the look I want after several years of use.
I am considering Hawk shoes, but is suspect that the type of shoe may be related to the groves.
I am also aware of Cryo treatment. Does this help to retain the polished look I am after?
I will be replacing my brake rotors soon and i want to go with slotted and cross drill because I like the look. I have seen photos on this forum of brake rotors that still have a "polished" look after many years of use!
It seems that rotors that are several years old would normally have groves in the rotors that would destroy the "polished" look. Is there a way to avoid the groves?
To maintain this polished look on the rest of the rotor do you have to polish the rust off on a regular basis or coat the rotors with high temp clear?
Many rotors are zinc coated, but I suspect that the zinc coating will not retain the look I want after several years of use.
I am considering Hawk shoes, but is suspect that the type of shoe may be related to the groves.
I am also aware of Cryo treatment. Does this help to retain the polished look I am after?
Last edited by BADBIRDCAGE; Jun 28, 2014 at 07:35 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,936
Likes: 13
From: Redding California
Many forum members give the Brakemotive rotors and pads extremely good reports.
Good looking, lasting appearance, and extremely good value.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...ed-rotors.html
.
Good looking, lasting appearance, and extremely good value.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...ed-rotors.html
.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 137
Likes: 1
St. Jude Donor '14
Go to NAPA, buy the performance rotors that are slotted and cross drilled and buy a can of paint. Shoot the hub area and put them on with the advantage one pads. Your problem is solved for under $450.00 for the rotors. I didn't price the pads but they aren't that much and unless you are high speed auto crossing or road racing they will be all you need and easier on your rotors than any dedicated performance pad that will net you ZERO advantage on braking in normal or "spirited" street driving.
DeclaRotors and Hawk pads sounds like an excellent performance choice, but I do not race. I do like the idea of a brake upgrade for safety.
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Evil-Twin has a write up on how to keep your rotors looking like new....I personally get my rotor hats powder coated....its cheap and easy
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 137
Likes: 1
St. Jude Donor '14
Many forum members give the Brakemotive rotors and pads extremely good reports.
Good looking, lasting appearance, and extremely good value.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...ed-rotors.html
.
Good looking, lasting appearance, and extremely good value.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...ed-rotors.html
.
I am concerned about Brakemotives's six month warranty, Baer is three years, but over double the cost. While I really like the look of cross drilled rotors, I do understand they are more likely to crack.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,039
Likes: 2,591
From: Del Boca Vista FL
For a little more, $538 to be exact, I can get Baer DecelaRotors front and rear. I really like the drill / slot pattern and they have a good reputation. Hawk pads are not inexpensive but I am concerned how they may cut groves in the rotors.
DeclaRotors and Hawk pads sounds like an excellent performance choice, but I do not race. I do like the idea of a brake upgrade for safety.
DeclaRotors and Hawk pads sounds like an excellent performance choice, but I do not race. I do like the idea of a brake upgrade for safety.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: Should this thoughtful, valuable contribution meet with no acknowledgement or 'thanks' this post----
I still have a used set of GM Durastop drilled/slotted rotors that I used on my C5 for a couple years before switching to Baer Eradispeeds. If you are going to have the hat sections recoated you may be interested in my low mileage rotors. I'll sell them cheap too...lemme know.
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For a little more, $538 to be exact, I can get Baer DecelaRotors front and rear. I really like the drill / slot pattern and they have a good reputation. Hawk pads are not inexpensive but I am concerned how they may cut groves in the rotors.
DeclaRotors and Hawk pads sounds like an excellent performance choice, but I do not race. I do like the idea of a brake upgrade for safety.
DeclaRotors and Hawk pads sounds like an excellent performance choice, but I do not race. I do like the idea of a brake upgrade for safety.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 16,028
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From: oregon
i'm really trying not to laugh that rotor "polish" matters to some, but
if it does, you want what's called a high carbon rotor. iron isn't made all the same by a long shot and many of the china rotors sold today under the ac delco, raybestos ect labels are low carbon, that means they stay kind of grey and won't even have that gleam a high carbon rotor will. i have the cheap ac delco durastop rotors on my z06 and used them just because i view rotors as throw aways. they don't gleam no matter how hard you brake. low carbon iron. truth be told, next time i'm buying high carbon centrics
centric has a high carbon line that's around 70 dollars a rotor or you can get the same rotor slotted and drilled only it's sold under their stoptech label, the baer rotors that are 200 and something a pair are also high carbon
you also don't want ceramic pads or race pads as both will eat on the rotors. i second that recommendation on the hawk hps, that pad offers good street performance and is soft enough not to grove rotors and offer a polishing effect
there are multiple ways to prevent rust but the 3 best ones are zinc plating, ceramic plating and hard anodize
the cheapest route is to use bbq paint and bake it on in your oven and or do enough hard stops to get your rotors up to 500deg or so
if it does, you want what's called a high carbon rotor. iron isn't made all the same by a long shot and many of the china rotors sold today under the ac delco, raybestos ect labels are low carbon, that means they stay kind of grey and won't even have that gleam a high carbon rotor will. i have the cheap ac delco durastop rotors on my z06 and used them just because i view rotors as throw aways. they don't gleam no matter how hard you brake. low carbon iron. truth be told, next time i'm buying high carbon centrics
centric has a high carbon line that's around 70 dollars a rotor or you can get the same rotor slotted and drilled only it's sold under their stoptech label, the baer rotors that are 200 and something a pair are also high carbon
you also don't want ceramic pads or race pads as both will eat on the rotors. i second that recommendation on the hawk hps, that pad offers good street performance and is soft enough not to grove rotors and offer a polishing effect
there are multiple ways to prevent rust but the 3 best ones are zinc plating, ceramic plating and hard anodize
the cheapest route is to use bbq paint and bake it on in your oven and or do enough hard stops to get your rotors up to 500deg or so
Last edited by racebum; Jun 28, 2014 at 10:41 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 137
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St. Jude Donor '14
It looks like I can find some high carbon ones for even less:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/FRONT-REAR-R...45718b&vxp=mtr
One year warranty, instead of three and I wonder is the quality would compair to the Baer?
Anyone familiar with these?
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 16,028
Likes: 170
From: oregon
Since it looks like the "polish" comes from better quality rotor (high carbon) and perhaps hawk HPS or OEM pads this makes it the best choice for me. The only disadvantage is the slightly higher cost.
It looks like I can find some high carbon ones for even less:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/FRONT-REAR-R...45718b&vxp=mtr
One year warranty, instead of three and I wonder is the quality would compair to the Baer?
Anyone familiar with these?
It looks like I can find some high carbon ones for even less:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/FRONT-REAR-R...45718b&vxp=mtr
One year warranty, instead of three and I wonder is the quality would compair to the Baer?
Anyone familiar with these?
* what is "high carbon?
there are no guidelines, anyone can label anything these days
tire rack has the centric 125 series high carbon rotors which i know are a quality product and able to give you that look you're after, or, if you want slotted that same rotor is called the stoptech sport slotted rotor
the centric 125s aren't bad, $250 for a set of 4, that jumps to 350 a set for the stoptech slotted. summit racing also had good deals on the baers but they are even more
pads i agree, OEM would be good, HPS would be good. a decent semi metallic would be good, just no ceramic and no HP+ or stronger autocross pads
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,774
Likes: 363
From: Midland TX
I installed Decelarotors and Hawk Street pads a few years ago. They looked like new for about 18 months and then turned into rust buckets (FYI - don't ever use wheel cleaner!).
Last January I installed a new set of Decelarotors, but this time switched to Carbotech pads - MUCH BETTER! Quieter and smoother stops ever since.
Last January I installed a new set of Decelarotors, but this time switched to Carbotech pads - MUCH BETTER! Quieter and smoother stops ever since.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 50,281
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From: Cleveland OH
St. Jude Donor '11,'13
except for the Hawk pads. Take a look at a rotor friendly pad like the Carbotech 1521.Carbotech™ Bobcat 1521™ The Carbotech Bobcat 1521™ is our high performance street compound that is our most successful compound. The Bobcat compound is known for its awesome release and modulation, along with unmatched rotor friendliness. Like our AX™ & XP™ line of compounds, Bobcat 1521™ is a Ceramic based friction material offering minimal rotor damage and non-corrosive dust. Bobcat 1521™ offers outstanding performance, even when cold, low dusting and low noise with an excellent initial bite. This compound’s virtually perfect linear torque production provides incredible braking force without ABS intervention. Bobcat 1521™ operating range starts out at ambient and goes up to 900°F. Bobcat 1521™ is suitable for ALL street cars, perfect for your tow vehicle, police cruiser. The Bobcat 1521™ compound has been found to last two-three times longer than OE pads you can purchase at a dealership or national retailer. That’s one of the beauties of Carbotech Ceramic brake compounds. Bobcat 1521™ is NOT recommended for any track use.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 16,028
Likes: 170
From: oregon
except for the Hawk pads. Take a look at a rotor friendly pad like the Carbotech 1521.Carbotech™ Bobcat 1521™ The Carbotech Bobcat 1521™ is our high performance street compound that is our most successful compound. The Bobcat compound is known for its awesome release and modulation, along with unmatched rotor friendliness. Like our AX™ & XP™ line of compounds, Bobcat 1521™ is a Ceramic based friction material offering minimal rotor damage and non-corrosive dust. Bobcat 1521™ offers outstanding performance, even when cold, low dusting and low noise with an excellent initial bite. This compound’s virtually perfect linear torque production provides incredible braking force without ABS intervention. Bobcat 1521™ operating range starts out at ambient and goes up to 900°F. Bobcat 1521™ is suitable for ALL street cars, perfect for your tow vehicle, police cruiser. The Bobcat 1521™ compound has been found to last two-three times longer than OE pads you can purchase at a dealership or national retailer. That’s one of the beauties of Carbotech Ceramic brake compounds. Bobcat 1521™ is NOT recommended for any track use.
when carbotech does this and if the numbers look good maybe i'll try a set, i just don't see the value in the "premium pricing" at carbotech when hawk offers better customer interaction
if you know the guys at carbotech you may ask them this sometime