Thread: Rust Free Rotors

Mornin Bill, I have been shoppin on Ebay for a rotors/ceramic pads combo. A few things I have seen are the quality of steel used in the rotors and the coating used. Don't mean to get too technical on specs but I want the best I can get at the best price for everday driving. I don't need racing quality rotors. How much money would be too much for all four with pads in your opinion? Also, some of the rotors I've looked at are drilled and slotted for cooler braking temps. I read that the grooves can actually chop at the pads if not used in high speed driving. Is that true?

PREMIUM-SERIES FACTORY REPLACEMENT Brake Rotors [2 FRONT + 2 REAR] | eBay

These are what I'm looking at. If you go to Ebay and type in R1Concepts in your rotor search you will get their store listings. At the top of the listing select "price/shipping highest to lowest" and you will see their "Premium Series" line up which consists of the G3500 iron grade and zinc coated for all four front and back for $300 and up depending on slotted or drilled or both. They have slotted only and drilled only also. If you google "which is better drilled or slotted rotors" or something similar and you can find many discussions in forums like this one about the pros and cons of the like. The one thing that stood out to me is the "drilled" rotors. Basically means less brake surface area, less braking, and comprimises the integrity of the rotor. High potential for cracking and actual splitting just like a crash symbol with a small crack, eventually it just spreads and destroys the symbol. Of course the better the quality means less chances of that happening. I'm not going to risk it. They do look cool but eh, why chance it. Slotted has other potential problems as well but I will save you having to read a long story and let you check into it if you want.

I'm not trying to sound like a goon or anything, but why not just get plain rotors and paint them when they're new? Keep the paint off the friction surface and paint down between the veins. I've done this for +20 years with success using primer and a can of flat black Rustoleum. I always do it this way and the best example I have is my wife's Suburban. I put new brakes on it when we bought it at 90,000 miles or so and she ran it about 100,000 miles or so before I replaced them (I didn't type that wrong and it has almost 230,000 on it today). It got driven every day for 10-11 years, no matter the weather. I don't recall ever touching them up when I had the wheels off and they were still painted black when I replaced them a couple years ago.

I can't speak on the drilled/slotted features, though, I'm just commenting on not wanting them to rust.

That was a great thought actually. I was thinking with the G3500 grade iron rotors and at that $ and quality they come with "E-Coat" or zinc coating anyway. Thanks though, smart idea.