So today I put a great set of tires and new chrome wheels on my 98 black vert with 41k on it. I have an engineering background with specific knowledge of casting processes and especially grey iron cast rotors. From a performance standpoint I could argue that the drilled holes really do more harm than good as they create an opportunity for cracking. However the drilled and slotted rOtors with the red calipers appeals to me because it looks really cool. My car has no brake issues nor does it vibrate when braking. I use it to cruise and to enjoy the world with the top down.
I have seen rotors and pads on eBay for just under $200 for all four. I love a bargin but wonder about the quality. Are there alternatives from our vendor supporters that compete with these? I don't want to spend $5000 for a complete upgrade as my driving style doesn't warrant it. Any suggestions? thanks forum brothers.

 

Get a set of Bare declarotors. I went with cheapo power stop or something like that. There are stress cracks around the drilled holes. They work fine and look cool. But the Baers will be a higher quality. You could step up to the eradispeeds and drop some weight too, but looking at some more money

 

Drilled rotors look cool but reduce the amount of contact area for the pads thus reducing braking. Probably not a big deal for street driving.

Consider the total weight of rotors. calipers, wheels and tires. Less unsprung weight improves suspension performance somewhat.

 

plus get a quality street pad like the Carbotech 1521 pad a non corrosive low dust pad that performs.

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.

F $141 R $121

 

So you know drilled rotors are most likely BAD for a street car but you like how they look-REALLY Ever hear the old adage "if it AIN'T BROKE"?? Paint the hats on what you have, you probably have better rotors already.

 

If you go cheap you get what you pay for. Believe me, I know from experience and am kicking myself in the *** for not putting out a little more money for quality rotors. Baer makes some of the best; take a look at theirs. You could also opt for slotted only rotors, which don't have the same problems drilled/slotted rotors do with cracking.

 

I talked with Dick Gulstrand at a Vet show a few years ago about the brakes on a c5. He said they they run the stock wheel cylinders and rotors when racing. He didn't see much or any difference other than looks with after market rotors. I got elyptical slotted rotors to keep the pads fresher but I didn't want drilled. For a street car though, It probably won't make any difference. If you like the bling then just buy a quality rotor. Rod

 

Thank you all for responses. I know you are right. I have no issues now. I just like the way the drilled and slotted look. I will paint the hats black and the calipers red.

 

my rotors are 12 years old and have 90,000 miles on them.. they have a "sinusoidal-curved chamfer" which promotes cooling and minimizes stress. cheap drilled rotors have internal stress because they just punch out the holes and create hotspots when they get hot,, the expansion and contraction causes cracks.. My rotors have no cracks..my rotors cost 1200 dollars.. you get what you pay for.
Baer Eradispeed +2 rotors. Cheap drilled rotors warp and crack...Good quality drilled rotors will last a long time, if you don't use ceramic pads and you don't use them to track the car... if you are looking for bling.. these are the way to go...

 

I completely agree with Evil-Twin. For a street driven car, a quality set of drilled/slotted rotors will be absolutely fine and will probably last the life of the car without cracking. You'd have to beat the hell out of them to crack them. I have drilled and slotted rotors on my C5 and my DD Mustang. I drive both my cars quite agressively. I have not noticed any decrease in braking performance nor are there any cracks.

PS: As a bonus, nothing beats the bling factor of a clean set of drilled rotors (Evil-Twins car proves that)

 

I totally agree with Evil Twin, you get what you pay for! Don’t expect a cheap set of rotors to last when you get them from Flea Bay, most likely they are made overseas and will crack and warp within the first 90days. Don’t ask me how I know this. I purchased a set of GM performance rotors from Gene, had them plated and still look good. BTW ET, great looking setup.

 

I had Baer drilled and slotted rotors, using them for High Performance Drivers Education (HPDE) resulted in cracks originating from all the drilled holes. I did heat cycle the rotors as directed by the manufacturer, but nevertheless, they cracked. Rotor performance was good in any case. My recommendation is if you like the looks of the drilled and slotted rotors, and are not going to use them as I did on a race track, then go for it. Otherwise, I now have just slotted rotors, and they work just as well with no crack issues.
Enjoy

 

I agree with the general knowledge that flat or slotted is better for actual performance. Still don't understand why drilled looks so cool. I too am victim to it even though I know they aren't the best idea. Like I said, mine have stress cracks. But they still perform well and look good. For a street driven car, you really can do whatever you want. I'd say for a track car or even weekend warrior, get slotted if you must have a better looking rotor. If you don't care about looks, stay stock. They apparently work fine according to seasoned racers.

 

You want to pay for bling and hype - then have at it. I defy anyone to give an objective performance increase of slotted or drilled rotors as being better than stock solid ones as far as braking distance or fade goes. They may look cool but they don't perform any better, so if you like the look, pay through the nose for them. Many better other things to spend money on, but bling is worth it to some people. Just MHO.

 

To the OP and to you Doc... if someone comes in your office and wants a boob job, why would you discourage that desire? Why would you tell someone looking for good quality Rotors, that they will have to pay through the nose?????? Paying through the nose is a very negative and derogatory, That might be your outlook on quality.. but the OP wants bling rotors and the experiences people here know that good quality rotors cost more money, and if that is called paying through the nose in your opinion.. then I'm guessing that your way out of your element and over your head, here in this forum when offering an opinion on car stuff..

The OP wants Bling.. but doesn't want to make a bad choice based on price... Some of us here, actually know something about how these cars can amp up an owner, even after 15 years. The OP wants bling.. and could not care about an increase in performance.. if he goes with the larger sized rotors like I have, he also increases the performance and reduces the unsprung weight. Hype???? Doc you should stick to surgery, and leave automotive engineering to the experts.
To the OP.. I always say; "I can not afford to buy anything too cheap ".
I would be like shopping for the cheapest vascular surgeon.

When you pay for quality products or service, chances are you are doing yourself a favor buy avoiding " cheap "
If you can find a better set of rotors, that will give you 12 years of service and 100,000 miles, then go for it...

If you notice, most of the guys with really nice cars, have the Baer Eradispeed +2 rotors for the look and for the performance enhancement in quality of the Cast alloy, thicker width, cooling vane design, and over all diameter increase, which reduces the moment arm. Baer takes advantage of every clearance angle and dimension to increase stopping performance.

One last thought on quality and paying through the nose... What would be your choice, when shopping for a Brain surgeon? The guy who gets 5 grand for the procedure, or the guy who gets commands 50 grand for the procedure and has more work than he can handle? . I know all the good surgeons at my hospital have a 3 month backlog just to see them...the inexperienced, can see you tomorrow.

There are many people who come to this forum, that do not have a clue about quality and performance.. they open their thread by saying where can I get cheap brake pads, where can I get cheap wheels or tires. without any concern for their performance or quality. Many People are bitten by the Cheap bug. At some point in time they will find that " Cheap " could cost them dearly.

 

Damn! Even Ferrari got it wrong! My God, drilled discs on Ferraris! What is this world coming to?

 

ET - Do you just like to argue or be demeaning? You want bling? Like I said, then go have it. Did you buy your brakes from a plastic surgeon? You want to buy the best brake bling for $1200, that's totally up to you. You want to answer my question and educate me and the rest of us on here with all your great knowledge, then just answer my original question that I've asked on here a couple of times. I want someone to produce at least one reliable objective test proving that slotted and/or drilled rotors give improved performance with shorter stopping distances or less brake fade compared to solid rotors. And yeah, the unsprung weight savings is real, what, a couple of ounces from less metal in the rotor? Unless the rotor is a larger diameter and the calipers and pads are further out, there can't be any improvement in the braking force, provided the calipers can exert more pressure on the rotors, but the drilled and slotted part is not offering any advantage except bling. Prove it to me I'm wrong.

 

Here's just one of many articles or threads supporting my view that aside from appearance (bling) solid rotors are better than slotted or drilled in terms of function. FUNCTION - not appearance.
http://honda-tech.com/suspension-bra...otted-2382409/

 

But the OP for this thread asked specifically about "bling," not performance....

 

OK, those rotors certainly are blingy and I will admit that. So then get the best blingy ones you can find. I just don't like it when it gets posted that drilled/slotted rotors are better than solids. It's not true. Except for the blingy part.
And ET, if you wait three months to see that really expensive neurosurgeon, either by the time you see him it's too late, or it wasn't that important anyway. And if you really think the price of the service you receive is based on the cost or the amount of delay, you are totally deceived. There are so many other factors that go into making a good quality product including medical care other than the price, but you can pay the added cost of hype if you want and wait three months to get it delivered.