So I just had to put new rear rotors and pads on my 4runner and went with a Powerstop kit on Amazon that was quick to deliver. The rotors are drilled and slotted, meaning they are considered "performance" rotors that supposedly dissipate heat better than normal, flat-surfaced rotors. I studied heat transfer back in Zachry, and I'm skeptical that little bit of variation makes any difference in braking performance.

Has anyone had serious experience comparing performance rotors with standard? Or is this just creative marketing of an engineering principle?

For a DD, brake pad selection is more critical IMO. However, I've never ran drilled & slotted rotors, only slotted or normal. To me, slotted rotors weren't worth the additional cost.

In a hard brake situation, my tires usually lose traction before my brake system becomes ineffective

Drilled Cast Iron rotors have a tendency to crack under severe racetrack use because of the stress riser the drilled holes cause.

Slots also have an increased stress riser, but less so than the drilled holes. The slots offer an evacuation path for the hot gasses generated during severe racetrack use so that the pads do not have to compress these gasses before reaching the rotor surface. The slots also offer a little more initial bite on the pads. IMSA GTD cars and NASCAR Cup cars use slotted rotors.

For street use, both drilled and slotted rotors are just an appearance and marketing gimmick that will wear your pads faster.

I put some on an older mustang gt and they did jack squat. They stopped a bi better when warm vs stock.

They did vibrate the pedal … almost a grinding sound.

I swapped to an akebono pads and stock rotors combo.

Just put powerstop drilled and slotted rotors on my 2018 f150. Haven't noticed a difference, but didn't really expect to notice much difference as far as braking on my daily drive to work.

FTW

mefoghorn said:

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So I just had to put new rear rotors and pads on my 4runner and went with a Powerstop kit on Amazon that was quick to deliver. The rotors are drilled and slotted, meaning they are considered "performance" rotors that supposedly dissipate heat better than normal, flat-surfaced rotors. I studied heat transfer back in Zachry, and I'm skeptical that little bit of variation makes any difference in braking performance.

Has anyone had serious experience comparing performance rotors with standard? Or is this just creative marketing of an engineering principle?

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For future knowledge, Rock Auto has great options at good prices and usually delivers in 1-2 days. If I need parts and can wait, that's my go-to.

Rexter said:

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I daily my vehicle about 60K a year. Tons of stops every day. Solid rotors last me about 25K before they warp. I started using the Powerstop d&s rotors, and I got 48K before they developed a slight warp. Replaced those with R1 d&s rotors and got 30K no issues before I sold the car.

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60k is.....a lot.

25k on a rotor is a pretty short life span. Must be driving pretty hard with a lot of hard braking.

My last 3 cars combined may be 80k!

txyaloo said:

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I've had cracking issues on slab rotors that had the holes drilled after casting. It's been pretty rare to have cracks on a quality rotor with the holes cast during production.

My Porsche and BMW both have OE factory drilled rotors with tens of thousands of miles with no cracking issues.

Drilled rotors definitely look better on a performance car than vented slabs.

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Porsche rotors are cast with holes, not drilled. I don't know about BMW.

gggmann said:

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txyaloo said:

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I've had cracking issues on slab rotors that had the holes drilled after casting. It's been pretty rare to have cracks on a quality rotor with the holes cast during production.

My Porsche and BMW both have OE factory drilled rotors with tens of thousands of miles with no cracking issues.

Drilled rotors definitely look better on a performance car than vented slabs.

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Porsche rotors are cast with holes, not drilled. I don't know about BMW.

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Which was my point. Rotors with holes cast don't crack. Rotors with holes drilled after casting generally do.

The M's brakes are cast with the holes.

1agswitchin4lanes said:

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Complete Idiot said:

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Rexter said:

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I daily my vehicle about 60K a year. Tons of stops every day. Solid rotors last me about 25K before they warp. I started using the Powerstop d&s rotors, and I got 48K before they developed a slight warp. Replaced those with R1 d&s rotors and got 30K no issues before I sold the car.

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60k is.....a lot.

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Step yo game up.

72K in 2023.
65K last year.

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Divide that across you 17 vehicles though…

mm98 said:

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1agswitchin4lanes said:

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Complete Idiot said:

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Rexter said:

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I daily my vehicle about 60K a year. Tons of stops every day. Solid rotors last me about 25K before they warp. I started using the Powerstop d&s rotors, and I got 48K before they developed a slight warp. Replaced those with R1 d&s rotors and got 30K no issues before I sold the car.

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60k is.....a lot.

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Step yo game up.

72K in 2023.
65K last year.

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Divide that across you 17 vehicles though…

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*****. did I miss it when he put the others up for sale?

1agswitchin4lanes said:

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Complete Idiot said:

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Rexter said:

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I daily my vehicle about 60K a year. Tons of stops every day. Solid rotors last me about 25K before they warp. I started using the Powerstop d&s rotors, and I got 48K before they developed a slight warp. Replaced those with R1 d&s rotors and got 30K no issues before I sold the car.

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60k is.....a lot.

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Step yo game up.

72K in 2023.
65K last year.

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LOL. My 2016 BOOST has 75k on it.