do slotted rotors make much difference

[provan]

hey

im upgrading my brakes in the next few weeks but wondering if its worth it to spend the extra $300 to get a set of new slotted rotors instead of some second hand solid ones

any opinions/ experience with them appreciated

cheers
chris

 

[D3bb4]

slotted will give you better response time when pads are hot by allowing gasses to flow through the slot, and make sure pads are clean. I'd go new over 2nd hand anyways.

 

[milkandoj]

What are you using the car for? Are you racing the car or is it a street car?

When your really heating pads up for extended periods it will be important to expel the gasses between the pad and rotor, the gasses made coz you have the pad so hot.

If its only street driven you probably wont get this so the question is do they give more in initial bite?

For that reason, i cant give a back to back comparison as i also upgraded to different size rotors when i went slotted.

 

[THE411]

Unless you are upgrading the size of the rotor i would not ever put slotted rotors on a vehicle again. I put a set on to a a previous car i had and the braking went backwards and i cooked them on the first good hills run, all 7km of it. And the rotors i had on previously were stock over machined ones and they were so much better and were put back on the car until i got replacements.

When you go for slotted stock size rotors you are actually decreasing the pad contact area due to the slots. For any little gain that you may receive from the slots it is quick extinguished by the lack of pad contact area.

 

[rob323]

Been there, done that, noticed no difference what so ever.
Unless you want the "look" of slotted rotors, you will get better braking performance by using std rotors and spending the money you saved on better pads and brake fluid.

 

[provan]

sorry i should have explained better

ive got a 1989 zr4 nd overheated the brakes the other week

i spend most my time driving in the hills nd brakes are the only thing letting me down atm

the new rotors are going to be 276 and the current ones are 260 something i think
as well as the rotors in putting in twin spot calipers off a vr4

 

[BYBY5L]

do it with slotted if you have warped em before, i warped a set (new) in 2 weeks an went to slotted an they havnt warped yet, been 3 months?? roughly anyway, braided lines will stop the softness of the pedal along with good fluid, sounds like ya drivin ya car properly at least!

 

[Astron Boy]

All mine are slotted, even the RVR.
But I've always up specked my brake pads when I've replaced the rotors, so can't give a definitive, yes 100% better, for all I know, the pad is simply better, and I may be losing 2% benefit due to the slots if I'm not 'driving' it....


But they look cool <_<

 

[SIVART]

its the first time Ive done proper brakes, like sloted rotors,pads,lines and fluid and it does make a large difference, but if your going to do it the most important part is doing the braided lines,

 

[Astron Boy]

where can you get approved brake lines, as I need some made up for my twin pot conversion.

 

[rob323]

sorry i should have explained better

ive got a 1989 zr4 nd overheated the brakes the other week

i spend most my time driving in the hills nd brakes are the only thing letting me down atm

the new rotors are going to be 276 and the current ones are 260 something i think
as well as the rotors in putting in twin spot calipers off a vr4

You are on the right track. The single piston callipers are puss. No, even puss would slow you down better.
Another thing to look at upgrading is the master cylinder. If you have a soft mushy pedal now, it won't be any different with the twin spots. I had to upgrade to a 1" master cylinder (which all twin spot cars have) to get a nicely firm pedal. Even braided brake lines made no difference.
The type of pad you end up using will make more difference than a slotted rotor compared to a standard rotor.

There used to be a Super VR4 (factory twin spot callipers) circuit car up here that just ran standard, non slotted, factory rotors and race pads and they reckoned they never had a problem with the brakes.

 

[turbovr4]

it all depends on your driving type,even driving hard i've never overheated my brakes on the eterna and they are standard new rotors and pads,but ive always used bendix pads and used gears to slow down in extremes.some of my mates would overheat there brakes just from excessive use in the same circumstances.Also I got used to MG brakes,280mm diameter but only 8mm thick with 50mm square pads and a 140mm booster,pretty crap.still manged ok on mt cotton hill climb when in the mg car club.I know some people that even use there ABS to full extent when driving hard and there brakes will fade.but its all up to what you want.

 

[milkandoj]

I had single pots like you, i did the twin pot vr4 upgrade, you will love it. Single pots suck
If its spirited street driving you do and you want something reasonably priced and no custom work, its a great step up.

I did that with a good set of street pads (Ferodo Formulas i chose, im trying the Elig ones from meek automotive next their street pad is mean to be good to.)
You need some pads that are the edge of a street pad and a semi race pad so they have a good heat range.

Maybe save the slotted brakes to get some decent street pads with like these, the Ferodos were about 150, and the Eligs are only 105.

The car hauls up good for the street.
Been on a cruise in the hills when a lot of other cars were cooking their brakes and only me and the Evo 9 weren't. Mind you id be stuffed in a racing situation.
Been on another crusie when somones been a dickhead and the brakes have saved me. (hence why i don't go on cruises much)

 

[provan]

any one here run rda rotors had a gd price on them compared to the dba ones so considering them opinions?

 

[nk]

my standard rotors started cracking after a few heavy street braking experiences on lucas pads. recently upgraded to rda slotted + ebc greenstuff and it's been impressive so far. speak to rianto, who organises sau group buys. i paid $170 inc. local delivery (melb) for 5-stud rotors.. i doubt the 4-stud pattern would cost much more.

 

[BYBY5L]

ive got dba slotted on the gsr now with evo twin pots, and i had rda dimpled an slotted on the gsr before, both are pretty good, only thing i like better is the look of the dba's, lol

 

[VR-4Squid]

I'd recommend Carbotech XP8 pads

 

[JiMi]

i have rda slotted's and some esmi metalicpads on my gvr4.. only been on a couple of months but they seem really good.. although they squeak a bit under light breaking from time to time

 

[265T]

i use good 2nd hand Magna discs drilled for VR4 stud pattern & slotted with Lucas pads for the street - they're fine for "spirited" hills driving, & i use DS3000 pads for track

 

[youda]

Is it possible to get four pots, i have twin pots stock on my vr4 already. Also can you get bigger than 276 rotors with the four stud pattern?