1985-1998 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
Tiss, tiss. The misinformed and easily swayed. I am not an expert but I do race cars and I have done a lot of research and have practical knowledge on this subject.
First, outgasing used to be a problem with older pad technology but the latest OEM pads don't out-gas, period. So we don't have to worry about this unless you buy the cheapest organic pads on the market. Don't believe anything about out-gasing advantages.
Cross-drilled rotors were designed for outgasing and cooling in race cars but the problem with them is that most will crack under hard use and as the rotor thins with wear. I have had mine crack. Yes Porsche makes them but theirs are cast in, not drilled and their rotors are like 13" dia. and thus operate cooler and made of steel, not cast iron. Yes they do wear out pads faster and there is LESS surface area to brake on. They may brake a bit better with the same pad compared to a normal rotor but that is because they bite into the pad and wear them out. They will CRACK.
Slotted rotor DO NOT improve cooling but they do de-glaze the pads. As the pads are heated up under high pressure they form a glaze which decreases pad friction. The slots clean and scrape the pads to keep them..uh..fresh. They do wear your pads a bit more as well but not as bad as cross drilled. I would recommend them if you want to spend the extra money. They also improve intitial braking in heavy rain. The 9-3 Viggen has these.
Cad plating is just to keep the internal and non wear surfaces free from rust. They are dunked and thus the whole rotor is plated. Not very expensive so what the hell, will not help performance what so ever.
Pads are the single most biggest improvement you can make. The pad material does all the work. Dustless performance pads don't exist. Metalic pads such as AXXIS Metal Master will dust less than carbon/kevlar type. Have you ever noticed the black front rims on BMWs? Thats cause BMWs brake very well from the factory. You will have to live with it and keep cleaning them.
If you want your rotors to last longer and warp less, get them cryo treated or buy them already cryoed. Not cheap. It is not a surface treatment but it treats the entire metal right through buy freezing to insane cold in a controled environment. It stress reliefs and changes the metal particles structure.
For real good pads try Carbotech Engineering, Super Street F coumpound or if your really keen, their Panthers which is for racing but street friendly and easy on rotors (on my Talon). I have no knowledge of EBC but Axxis are pretty good and good for the money, KVRs are ok, not great. Portofield are good but expensive and quality is suspect (you don't know what you are getting). Carbotech has a sight at carbotecheng.com and they can make any pad for any car including the rear pads. They also offer cryo rotors and pads. The owner is a brake expert and supplies pads so some of the best race teams in the world including Audi and BMW factory American Lemans cars.
I hope this clears the air.
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