Usually when you are shopping for a vehicle, one of your biggest concerns is how well it goes, but what about how well it stops. Brakes are usually something that you forget about until there is something wrong with them. Depending on the vehicle you drive, you will typically have disc brakes on the front, and drum or disc brakes on the rear. If you have a higher end or performance vehicle, you will most likely have four-wheel disc brakes. CarPartKings offers the best selection of Premium Discounted Rotors .
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So how do Disc Brakes work?
The major components of a disc brake system are the disc itself, also known as a rotor, calipers and brake pads. When you depress the brake, you increase the pressure on the brake fluid in the lines that control the calipers, which causes them to tighten around the rotor. Over time, both the brake pads and the rotors wear down due to the friction and heat they experience every time you stop. If you let your brake pads wear down too much, they can actually damage the rotors and cause you to experience longer braking distances and vibration you can feel in the front end of your vehicle. The type of rotor you choose depends on your budget, driving habits and the type of vehicle you drive. Typically, you will only replace your rotors when they are worn, but in the case of some vehicles, upgrading the brake rotors can offer better braking performance, especially in sports or high-performance cars. There is a variety of rotors to choose from that range from simply replacing the original rotors to those designed for better performance at higher speeds. Here is more information about the different types of brake rotors so you choose which ones are the best for your car, truck, SUV or minivan.
Standard Replacement Rotors
Standard Replacement Rotors
The standard brake rotor found on most cars, trucks, SUVs and minivans is a solid disc made of a material referred to as grey iron. Grey iron is cast iron with other components added to increase its ability to stand up to high temperatures without warping or shattering. This is especially important when it comes to vehicle brakes due to the large amount of heat that is created when making frequent stops or coming to a stop from a high rate of speed. They range in price based on the type of vehicle you have but are usually the least expensive choice when you need to replace worn brake rotors. This type of rotor is manufactured to be nearly identical to the ones that your vehicle came with when it rolled off the assembly line.
Cross-Drilled Rotors
Cross Drilled Rotors
For those that live in warmer climates or do a lot of highway driving, cross-drilled rotors are a great choice to replace or update the standard rotors on your vehicle. The numerous holes drilled in the rotor allow for a greater dissipation of heat, which keeps your rotors cooler and less likely to warp. The decrease in heat is also easier on your brake pads helping them work better and last longer. While you make think adding holes would decrease the strength of a rotor, their ability to dissipate heat more efficiently actually makes them more stable than your standard brake rotor. While looks do not have anything to do with performance, upgrading to cross-drilled brakes can also offer a sportier look to your vehicle if your rotors and calipers are visible through your wheels.
Slotted Rotors
Slotted Rotors
Slotted rotors feature drilled diagonal slots that direct dirt, water and debris away from the surface of the rotor and your brake pads. If you live in an abnormally wet climate or in an area with more unpaved roads than blacktop, this is the ideal choice for you. The slots are positioned to keep dirt, mud, water and debris on the road where it belongs and away from your brake pads and the rest of the surface of the rotor. They also help your brakes last longer by decreasing the surface area of the rotor while still increasing stopping power.
Cross-Drilled and Slotted Rotors
Cross Drilled and Slotted Rotors
The next step up is cross-drilled and slotted rotors. They provide all the advantages of cross-drilled brakes with the addition of drilled slots for even better performance. The slots reduce the amount of friction on your brake pads as they decrease the overall surface area of the rotor. They also provide a self-cleaning function that directs dirt, waters and debris toward the road and away from the rotor itself. The holes help dissipate heat, making your brake pads work better and lessening the chance of your rotor warping under aggressive braking or high heat conditions. Cross-drilled and slotted brake rotors are in the performance category due to their ability to handle nearly every type of braking situation effectively.
Composite Rotors
Composite refers to the blend of materials the brake rotors are manufactured from and are sometimes called carbon ceramic brake rotors. Standard brake rotors are made from grey iron, which is a cast iron with additional compounds added to increase heat resistance and improve strength. Composite brakes are made from a mixture of carbon and silicon heated to temperatures up to 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit, which turns this resin into “ceramic”, which is nearly as hard as a diamond. Typically, these type of rotors are reserved for exotic and extremely high-performance vehicles, but are nearly indestructible. These type of rotors can be expensive, but so is fixing an exotic car if you cannot stop in time.
We hope this information has helped you to become a more educated consumer and give you everything you need to determine the right rotors for your car, truck, SUV or minivan that make your driving experience more enjoyable and above all, much safer.
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