anyone have drilled or slotted rotors on their c5? i have been reading that drilled cause stress cracks and drilled and slotted have reduced surface area which decreases stopping power. lastly i have read that just slotted are the better choice. any thoughts?

 

Here we go again.....Try the "search this thread" feature in the menu bar above. Type "drilled rotors" or "slotted rotors", and then prepare to read! Short answer, yes and no...

 

The Dodge Viper ACR, which set a record at the "Ring" in Germany, runs slotted only rotors. The Cadillac CTS-V comes from the factory with slotted-only rotors. It is the fastest 4-door sedan that I can think of.

I run Powerslot Cryos because:

a) They will be the last rotors I will ever need to buy.
b) They are cadmium-plated (far more durable and resistant to corrosion than zinc).
c) I can use the excellent OEM brake pads and NOT have to worry about the infamous pulsating brake pedal syndrome, which is caused by pad deposits on the rotors.

 

I just installed Drilled Rotors (from Canada). After researching Drilled/Slotted, I picked GM's version for the Z06, Drilled only for street. My conclusion, Drilled will assist in out gasing of pads (new pad material don't outgas as much as the old pads) and aid in cooling rotor on spirited rides (NOT STREET RACING). Keeping the brake dust down. Drilled/Slotted will make way to much brake dust, something I'm tired of cleaning my C6 Z06 Chrome wheels on my C5. GM, Porsches, Ferrari and Mercedes all use Drilled for street application. So I'm going to take advise from those engineers, they get paid to do the research, so why not use it. You will get thousands of feedback on this. Do Drilled rotors crack, not on street cars driven normal condition, on track when pushed very hard, maybe and sometimes yes. You will see photos of cracked rotors. I've had drilled rotors on my 280ZX, driven normal for years and never cracked. They look good on a sports car. So get them, you will love the look and be happy with the performance. I'd add photos of my vette but I'm unable to add photos to this forum..(???)..Good luck, enjoy the ride....
PS : you can email me for photos of drilled rotors on a C5 with C6 Z06 rims...jesse.asis@comcast.net thks

 

After almost ten years , this debate is finally becoming very very comical. 99 % of the people here drive their car within the speed limits 99 % of the time... Ive been driving high performance cars for 50 years and have never had a brake issue.. Never... I use drilled and slotted rotors and never saw a crack or any heat discoloration or rotor distortion.. Never. My rotods look better now than when threy were new and that was 7 years ago and over 65,000 miles ago.

 

I agree with ET, I have drilled and slotted cryo treated zinc plated rotors on my street C5. No problems. Drilled is probably just for looks. Slotted do keep brake pads even and help reduce pad transfer which causes pulsating brakes.

I would only use solid rotors on a track car, however.

BTW, I use HAWK HPS pads, very happy with them. I tried GM Ceramic pads and they warped my rotors and stopped poorly. No more ceramics for me!

 

I just put Powerslot Rotors and Performance friction Pads on my 04Z and like the results. My buddy has the Bear Slotted/Drilled on his C5 and look/perform well.. Drilled will be mostly for looks from my experience and what others have also commented on. Im a well reasurched kinda nerd, ive also heard/read from multiple sources that with Drilled rotors you actually lose stopping power due to the loss of braking surface.. Not to mention the Drilled holes tend to plug up with pad material. (make sense to me, Less surface area=less stopping power) this is why i opted for just slotted... I have seen many CHEAP drilled rotors crack BAD, so if you get drilled don't get cheap.



S

 

I had GM drilled and slotted front rotors - had them cad plated when I bought them new. I drive my 98 C5 - it now has over 138,000 miles and I bought it used several years ago with ~ 30,000 miles. Baer drilled slotted on back (bought used when put on front drilled/slotted). I was using ceramic pads due to previous pads (EBS green pads) creating a lot of dust. Didn't like how the front rotors are showing cracks around the drilled holes, and stress signs from the ceramic pads (probably have 70,000+ miles on them). I also began experiencing pedal shimmy again (last was before turning The GM drilled/slotted front rotors the first time ~ 35,000 miles ago). The rear rotors still seem fine (Baer vs. GM or just less stress on rears ?). Rather than turning the front rotors again (seemed to have just enough meat to allow one more turning), and buying new pads, I simply put on a set of C6 front rotors (solid), calipers and brake pads for now (had them available for a potential upgrade to my LS1 C3).

My shimmy pedal went away. Braking is great. Honestly, the drilled and slotted were done for asthetics. Next time I buy rotors, I will go with slotted only (or possibly try the baer fronts). The car does look a bit funky right now with baer drilled/slotted on rear with red painted calipers and solid rotors on front w/stock gray C6 calipers......