Hey Scotty or any moderator, what are some good reasons to get performance rotors instead of regular rotors other than dissipate heat better? Does performance rotors wear pads faster as well?
legitimate justification for fancy rotor: you're doing laps in a race car
Or maybe you're towing 10,000 lbs through mountain passes
Excellent technical primer on the subject:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tQKF9UZIpTc
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=28OFeUYHvsA
It depends on the application really. For the common person with the common beater car it probably doesn't matter, if you own a benz let's say, there are almost no non-slotted rotors to buy and if you do you will have a crappy time but luxury and all that.
Do you know why the heat dissipation is important and why it is mentioned tons in rotor/disk manufacturering? If you are looking or more stopping power then if heat is dissipated faster, then of course you can also stop faster, you can work less about heat fading which is when because of the amount of energy needed to stop a car becomes too much for the rotors to handle therefore causing a sluggishness to the response of the brakes.
Performance rotors are made for racing like and hard driving applications MOST of the time, you wouldn't want to get a knock off brand of those since the braking system is integral for safety. So of course if you press the brake harder to stop then the pads will wear out faster. Cause they are made to stop the car faster, grittier pads + fast heat dissipation rotors can also lead to warping easier if you drive pretty roughly.
But if you want them just cause they say performance, and then proceed to drive the car like a daily beater, well, it doesn't really do anything but you spending more money for not a whole lot more lol. Only reasons to actually buy is if you are going to be interested in motorsport applications or modifying your current vehicle to have more power to the wheels, cause more power to the wheels means more brakes needed.
Well I Drive a 2017 Mazda 6 Sport and was replacing the front rotors but was curious if performance rotors would be better instead of regular ones. They are like a 10 dollar difference.
I would want to have faster braking as well. The performance rotors are around $142.... so not sure if those cheap knockoffs or good ones
If the difference is really that little in price go for it and see how ya like it! Especially if you actually drive the car fast and rough sometimes. When I say knock off I mean noname branded ones. Do be prepared for more noise though as unless you buy the same rotor and pad,there is a higher possibility of squeaking.
Or like a duralast rotor LOL I have never seen a person but those
Are duralast rotors not good? And why do they make more noise ?
Duralast is just kind of known as the all around average rotor, almost like having a fall back incase options 1 or 2 don't work out. From a performance wise standpoint (I mean and not for long the second option one and two come back they are trash pretty much only if you need em for the time being) they are cheap because it is the cheapest to make one.
It will only make noise if there is a compatibility issue with the rotors and pads, if only switching rotors, it is more likely. I don't know the exact science. I do know that if you use the same brand though they are more likely to mesh better so to say. Like a brembo pad with brembo brakes. Where if you use a brembo pad with a duralast rotor it is almost for sure that noise will be had.at the shop at least if the customer only wants to change rotors we actually sand down the pads a little to insure there is smooth contact to avoid the issue somewhat but still tell the customer that it might squeak still.
What are some better brands than duralast for brakes ?
I have personal experience swapping stock solid rotors for drilled/slotted (Powerstop) on my WRX (as you might be able to see on my user image). My thoughts:
- The new brakes are definitely louder with an annoying whirring sound during hard braking (which sometimes persists after braking). However, this seems to be abating with time.
- The new brakes stop slightly better than stock and have a much more natural/linear brake pedal feel (though this may simply be due to them being made of better quality materials than the stock brakes)
- The new brakes make less/zero brake dust (which is certainly just due to the materials)
In other words, I think you will likely get better performance from drilled/slotted brakes than from stock brakes, but much of that is simply because drilled/slotted rotors are usually made from better materials. Unless you absolutely need drilled/slotted rotors, you will probably actually be happier with upgraded solid rotors.
If you have an inferiority complex and need to look cool, go with the drilled and slotted rotors. Otherwise, don't waste your money.
that's a bit of a sweeping, insulting remark isn't it?
It was meant as a joke. Lighten up!
touche
Unless you are a Formula 1 driver, slotted rotors are not worth it. Do yourself a favour and get regular rotors.
Long story, very brief answer here...
I swapped the stock OEM brake rotors & pads to a matched set of drilled/slotted rotors & pads for my previous car. There is no doubt in my mind that the changeover saved my life when I had to STAND on the brakes to avoid T-boning a drunk driver that pulled out of a side street!
The stock set always worked well, but wouldn't stop as quick as the new set did. When you drive the same car for years, you know it's personality & it's limitations. The new set saved my (& his) life that night! Nooooooo doubt!
