Drilled/slotted rotors - mainly for looks?

[Craig-o]

It would appear that cross-drilled and/or sloted rotors are all the rage these days. Having taken my car to a few open track days, I'm wondering whether braking can be improved more with different pads (ceramics) or different rotors. I will say that a friend who drives a Mustang Saleen, and a formula Ford competitively was very impressed with the braking on the car - until he got into a friend's 2005 Porsche 997.

So to take it to the next level, do I go to ceramic pads and keep the stock rotors, or is this thing about venting gas during hard brake use more than just someone's theory?

 

[Glenn W.]

I've not gone to slotted and cross drilled on my 'Vette yet, but I sure plan to when I can. I will tell you that I had a highly modified (Maximum Motorsports Road and Track kit) '97 Cobra Mustang that I sold to get this 'Vette.
I had slotted and cross drilled Baer rotors on the 'Stang..........unbeleivable stopping power. The most confidence-inspiring brakes I have ever had....just solid and with no fade....do go with ceramic or some other pad that does not produce dust, as these rotors will dust down your wheels big-time if you don't................

 

[Craig-o]

Thanks, Glenn, for the response. I believe the Porsche 997 (or 911S) has Brembo huge rotors and some pretty beefy calipers (not sure how many pistons). The thing is, he and I are pretty much evenly matched, and I have yet to feel any fade on the stock rotors with the Z06 pads up front (stock pads in the rear, so far).

A friend recommended some Raybestos Quiet Stop ceramic pads, and I think after 65k miles and 3 track days under my belt, I'm going to give them a try. I just can't justify the $800+ for the Baer Eratispeed rotors, and I don't want to go cheap on brakes. But since the stockers seem to perform adequately, I'm tempted to stay with what I have. Just as long as my friend doesn't let me drive the Porsche, maybe ignorance is bliss?

Any other opinions out there?

 

[wishuwerehere82]

I put the GM drilled and slotted rotors and ceramic pads in my 98 this spring. I like them, they stop really well and show almost no signs of wear or brake dust after 1000 miles.
I think they stop a lot better than the stock brakes.

 

[silver98]

Pete,

No brake dust from them? I was thinking of putting on slotted or slotted and dimpled. Seems that I would need to use ceramic pads, true?

What about brake squeel? Something about squeel that makes a car sound like a truck. I hate that.

and not to hijack this thread, but on my son's 97 Saab, he has a squeel, the pads are new enough, any ideas how to eliminatethe noise?

Thanks.

 

[jrose7004]

I've always heard that ceramic pads increase your stopping distance!

 

[RoadReady]

:confused

 

[Ken Anderson]

The GM rotors & pads work, & stop on a dime and give a nickel's change!

 

[wishuwerehere82]

Yeah, what Ken says!

No dust. No squeal. No $hit!

Silver 98, try scuffing up the rotors with 120 grit wetordry at 45 degrees off the direction of rotation, then take it out and really stop hard a few times to imbed the pad material into the rotors, that should stop the squeal.

 

[Glenn W.]

If any of you are thinking about slotted and cross drilled rotors, go look on Ebay at Gripforce's rotors. Zinc coated, sharp looking and only $189 a set!

 

[RoadReady]

Is it necessary to change brake pads with new rotors, or can you use your stockers if they are in good shape?

 

[Glenn W.]

For the very best performance, bed-in some new pads....go to

http://www.zeckhausen.com/bedding_in_brakes.htm

Not only will you have fun doing this...you'll end up with powerful, longer lasting pads and rotors...........

 

['04 Torch Red]

For the very best performance, bed-in some new pads....go to

http://www.zeckhausen.com/bedding_in_brakes.htm

Not only will you have fun doing this...you'll end up with powerful, longer lasting pads and rotors...........

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I agree...after I put the first 500 miles on my '04 Vette, I did the "Bedding" thing...