All Right STOP..brakes
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 255
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From: Chattanooga, TN
Good point, Moose. You do lose surface area when there are holes and slots in the rotors. Presumably, you're supposed to be gaining some cooling but that might be debatable. Any sanctioned comparison tests floating around out there?
Come to think of it, I think I can explain why my Explorer stopped so much better with those slotted rotors than it did with the original rotors, and it has to do with surface area. The originals were made of really trashy metal, and had rusted/corroded so badly that 1/3 of the braking surface no longer contacted the pads.
I have to note that I lived in Northeast Ohio at the time, and the road salt they used up there in the winter was devastating to metal. The rotors failed before the pads wore out.
Come to think of it, I think I can explain why my Explorer stopped so much better with those slotted rotors than it did with the original rotors, and it has to do with surface area. The originals were made of really trashy metal, and had rusted/corroded so badly that 1/3 of the braking surface no longer contacted the pads.
I have to note that I lived in Northeast Ohio at the time, and the road salt they used up there in the winter was devastating to metal. The rotors failed before the pads wore out.
Record Breaker
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,262
Likes: 1
From: Ontario Canada
Fellas, cross-drilling is for looks only, and reduces the amount of friction surface (you know, because they are holes) and therefore braking power. Slots are pretty much in the same category. That is a race car on my trailer so I have some experience in this area. Don't waste your money reducing your braking power.
Ceramic pads are excellent and don't cost much more. Your 98 had significantly smaller brakes than the 3rd gens. I've towed a lot with my 2002 QC 1500 and my new 2500 and the stock brakes are more than up to the task. I've had two panic stops with my 5000 lb trailer rig plus loaded truck and was able to stop in a hurry straight-and-true both times just using stock rotors and decent pads.
Key is to make sure your trailer brakes are working, in good repair, and properly adjusted, and your controller is properly adjusted. You should never have to use the manual control on your trailer brake controller in ordinary towing.
Ceramic pads are excellent and don't cost much more. Your 98 had significantly smaller brakes than the 3rd gens. I've towed a lot with my 2002 QC 1500 and my new 2500 and the stock brakes are more than up to the task. I've had two panic stops with my 5000 lb trailer rig plus loaded truck and was able to stop in a hurry straight-and-true both times just using stock rotors and decent pads.
Key is to make sure your trailer brakes are working, in good repair, and properly adjusted, and your controller is properly adjusted. You should never have to use the manual control on your trailer brake controller in ordinary towing.
Drilling or slotting discs aids the disc in several ways:
The edges of the slots or holes continuously clean and refresh the pad surface as well as providing increased brake "bite". Additionally, they prevent gasses from collecting between the pad and disc interface.
The disc is lightened, thereby decreasing its rotational inertia.
Improved ventilation increases the disc's ability to shed heat, resulting in cooler operating temperatures
also mercedes, bmw audi etc use them as oem, i do not believe they are just for looks. I also own a track car (weekend warrior) and i can tell you after switching to slotted and drilled my braking performance has improved
I also noticed a huge difference after putting them on my truck, no more warping after 20k
thats just my .02 take it or leave it
i do agree a good set of trailer brakes/well maintained system is a must
Last edited by Marx; Aug 5, 2010 at 09:24 AM.
Thread Starter
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Veteran
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 448
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From: Columbia, IL
That's not the first time I've heard that about drilled and slotted. Also I've heard they can be easy to bust.
I think Ceramic Pad will be my first step and see how it goes from there.