Anyone ever use ATE PremiumOne slotted rotors?

Aharami

Lifer
Aug 31, 2001
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you'll get a lot more brake dust and pads will wear out much faster with slotted/drilled rotors. They look cool, but I didn't notice any improvement in dry braking. I did notice a slight improvement in wet braking. But I got tired of all the caked on brake dust, and have since switched back to normal rotors
 

Meghan54

Lifer
Oct 18, 2009
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Well aware of the dust problem.....the change in pads from a ceramic based pad to a carbon.semi-metallic pad will in and of itself create a dust problem.

I'm just looking to reduce fade. Picking up a new boat next week that will have around a 4000# tow weight and looking to give my brake system every advantage it can get....hence looking at those rotors. Already going to replace the rotors when the pads are put on....just wondering if the ATE's are worth the minor increase in price over OEM style rotors.
 

Howard

Lifer
Oct 14, 1999
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You could always throw on a big brake kit if you're really worried about fade.
 

Meghan54

Lifer
Oct 18, 2009
11,684
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Yeah, that thought had crossed my mind, too. Any suggestions on some "good" stuff that's DOT 3? Have considered the EBT replacement fluid.....

Gotta stick with a DOT 3 fluid, unfortunately. Manufacturer specifically states DOT 3 only....seems the seals in my ABS system don't play nice with the borate esters in DOT 4 fluids, and I really don't have a hankering to put up with the downsides to the silicone based DOT 5 fluids. Have toyed with the idea of a DOT 5.1, but again, am hesitant to move away from a DOT 3 because of the aforementioned manufacturer restriction.
 

Meghan54

Lifer
Oct 18, 2009
11,684
5,228
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You could always throw on a big brake kit if you're really worried about fade.


I tossed that idea around, too, but it seems like a huge expense on a vehicle that is approaching 240K miles already. I'm just looking to boost the braking a tad.....all my boat/covered utility trailers have their own braking systems, so it's not like the truck is having to provide all the braking for the truck and trailer.


I was only wondering about the rotors and if they'd be a good choice to provide a tad more bite since I've located a new pair for less than $5/rotor more than a set of Centrics or Wagners are running.
 

Meghan54

Lifer
Oct 18, 2009
11,684
5,228
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Interesting idea, Howard. Too bad nothing from there is appropriate to my use....but I wouldn't turn down any of the cars they do have parts for, outside the Cortina.

Wonder if it really works, though, or is that more like the "turbo fan" for putting inline in your intake tubing.
 

Howard

Lifer
Oct 14, 1999
47,982
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Interesting idea, Howard. Too bad nothing from there is appropriate to my use....but I wouldn't turn down any of the cars they do have parts for, outside the Cortina.

Wonder if it really works, though, or is that more like the "turbo fan" for putting inline in your intake tubing.
In theory it does work. It would actually work better in combination with the insulating titanium backing shims so that more heat goes into the aluminum and less into the fluid.

Come to think of it, zirconia would be a better choice since it's about 4x less conductive than titanium.

http://hardbrakes.com/
 

LTC8K6

Lifer
Mar 10, 2004
28,520
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Yeah, that thought had crossed my mind, too. Any suggestions on some "good" stuff that's DOT 3? Have considered the EBT replacement fluid.....

Gotta stick with a DOT 3 fluid, unfortunately. Manufacturer specifically states DOT 3 only....seems the seals in my ABS system don't play nice with the borate esters in DOT 4 fluids, and I really don't have a hankering to put up with the downsides to the silicone based DOT 5 fluids. Have toyed with the idea of a DOT 5.1, but again, am hesitant to move away from a DOT 3 because of the aforementioned manufacturer restriction.

Dot 3 and 4 are interchangeable as far as I know.

Pennzoil makes a super heavy duty DOT 3 fluid and Amsoil does as well.
 
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speedy2

Golden Member
Nov 30, 2008
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For a street car none of that is going to make a big difference. Good set of pads and high quality smooth rotors. Also making sure the trailer brakes are up to the challenge too. Other than that, you're throwing money at almost zero gain.

Also, tires on both the TB and trailer are important too. Proper inflation, condition, etc.
 

fbrdphreak

Lifer
Apr 17, 2004
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I would not pay exorbitant prices for slotted/drilled or any other super-premium rotor. Get a good, OE quality "blank" rotor and call it a day.

"Upgraded" stock size rotors offer little to no practical improvement in performance. You're better off going with a "plain" rotor that isn't a cheap Chinese POS and avoid the higher end stuff.

To that end, have you look at what OEM rotors would run? http://www.gmpartshouse.com is a good source for GM OEM parts

Advance Auto likely carries a decent rotor and they always have nice coupons going for their online store, with free in-store pickup: http://www.logicbuy.com/deals/advance-auto-parts/18325.aspx
 

Meghan54

Lifer
Oct 18, 2009
11,684
5,228
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I would not pay exorbitant prices for slotted/drilled or any other super-premium rotor. Get a good, OE quality "blank" rotor and call it a day.

"Upgraded" stock size rotors offer little to no practical improvement in performance. You're better off going with a "plain" rotor that isn't a cheap Chinese POS and avoid the higher end stuff.

To that end, have you look at what OEM rotors would run? http://www.gmpartshouse.com is a good source for GM OEM parts

Advance Auto likely carries a decent rotor and they always have nice coupons going for their online store, with free in-store pickup: http://www.logicbuy.com/deals/advance-auto-parts/18325.aspx



Yeah, kinda what I was afraid of. The ATE rotors are $43/ea shipped, so they were rather tempting.

As far as Advance Auto goes, they stock two rotors for the Blazer....their own Wearever brand (which I've not had the best luck with) and Wagners. From Advance, I'd take the Wagners. (I replaced the rear rotors a few months ago
with AC Delco's.)

I do have three coupons stocked up....a $50 off $100, and two $20 off $50, in addition to those you listed.
 
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Viperoni

Lifer
Jan 4, 2000
11,084
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I've had them on one of my cars, on the rear, they did the job.
Overall I've noticed that slotted rotors tend to get water/snow off themselves quicker than flat rotors. That being said, it's not a huge difference, and I'd only be willing to pay $20-$30 a piece more per rotor for slotted ones.
 

Howard

Lifer
Oct 14, 1999
47,982
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I've always wondered: Isn't the slot (or two) in the brake pad just as effective as one slot on the brake disc?
 

Viperoni

Lifer
Jan 4, 2000
11,084
1
71
I've always wondered: Isn't the slot (or two) in the brake pad just as effective as one slot on the brake disc?

The slots in the pad would only help evacuate water, the slots in the rotor help clean the pad surface (prevents glazing), and because there are not only more of them but they also hit the part of the pad angularily before the slot, they'd evacuate water better too.
 

brblx

Diamond Member
Mar 23, 2009
5,499
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For a street car none of that is going to make a big difference. Good set of pads and high quality smooth rotors. Also making sure the trailer brakes are up to the challenge too. Other than that, you're throwing money at almost zero gain.

possible loss of braking power due to decreased surface area to make contact with the pad, actually...it just helps with cooling and, iirc, venting of 'gases' that build up (always read that, never understood it).
 

Apex

Diamond Member
Oct 11, 1999
6,511
1
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www.gotapex.com
possible loss of braking power due to decreased surface area to make contact with the pad, actually...it just helps with cooling and, iirc, venting of 'gases' that build up (always read that, never understood it).

Modern brake pads don't really outgas, or at least not to any appreciable amount.
 

Howard

Lifer
Oct 14, 1999
47,982
11
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possible loss of braking power due to decreased surface area to make contact with the pad, actually...it just helps with cooling and, iirc, venting of 'gases' that build up (always read that, never understood it).
Hard to say when he didn't quote any specific post... The surface area is not what limits the (cold) friction, but the hydraulic setup, the stiffness of the caliper, the kinetic friction coefficient of the pad, etc.
 

mwmorph

Diamond Member
Dec 27, 2004
8,877
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Hard to say when he didn't quote any specific post... The surface area is not what limits the (cold) friction, but the hydraulic setup, the stiffness of the caliper, the kinetic friction coefficient of the pad, etc.

He's going at highway speeds or lower persumably, so besides the initial takeup, it's going to be limited by tire traction. Braking is almost always going to be limited by the tires except at very high speeds considering just how powerful even a family sedan's brakes are nowadays.
 

WhoBeDaPlaya

Diamond Member
Sep 15, 2000
7,415
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Since my LS needed new pads + rotors (not right now, but soon), I switched to RotorPro slotted+drilled rotors, PosiQuiet semi-met pads and Stoptech SS lines for $300 total. Gotta love group buys :)

Wet braking is noticeably better and the brakes feel firmer. However, there is definitely a bit more brake dust.
 

Howard

Lifer
Oct 14, 1999
47,982
11
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Since my LS needed new pads + rotors (not right now, but soon), I switched to RotorPro slotted+drilled rotors, PosiQuiet semi-met pads and Stoptech SS lines for $300 total. Gotta love group buys :)

Wet braking is noticeably better and the brakes feel firmer. However, there is definitely a bit more brake dust.
I switched to ceramics just to avoid the brake dust. Hope I don't regret not splurging for the Akebono ProACTs (got the Raybestos AT instead).
 

Howard

Lifer
Oct 14, 1999
47,982
11
81
the slots in the rotor help clean the pad surface (prevents glazing)
Two reasons why I think this might not actually happen:

1) To remove glazing, the slots need to take off appreciable amounts of material - some posts I found indicate that 120 grit sandpaper is recommended to remove glazed material. However, if this was the case, the slots would be doing this ALL THE TIME and the pads would last only a short while before being worn out. Since pad life is not excessively shortened by the use of slotted rotors, I would think that the slots do little, if any, "cutting" of the pad.

2) A glazed pad, in practice, is pretty much ruined until repaired/replaced, no?
 

mwmorph

Diamond Member
Dec 27, 2004
8,877
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Two reasons why I think this might not actually happen:

1) To remove glazing, the slots need to take off appreciable amounts of material - some posts I found indicate that 120 grit sandpaper is recommended to remove glazed material. However, if this was the case, the slots would be doing this ALL THE TIME and the pads would last only a short while before being worn out. Since pad life is not excessively shortened by the use of slotted rotors, I would think that the slots do little, if any, "cutting" of the pad.

2) A glazed pad, in practice, is pretty much ruined until repaired/replaced, no?

Glazed pads are ruined. Glazed pads are caused by excessive heat separating the pad material mixture and then, when cooled, the materials cool in a crystalline structure. This is much more common during the beginning of pad life, when someone ignores the bedding in phase and stresses pads under a hard work cycle.

The only recommendation I give for glazed pads is replace them. Yes, the temps may have only glazed part of the pads, but the glazing could be uneven and it could go much deeper. You can sand the surface, but your pads would not be the same because the rest of the material also reached at least nearly critical temperatures.

Slotted rotors will not prevent glazing unless whoever meant that the slightly lower temps might prevent onset, but even then it's a minimal effect. Slotted and drilled rotors heat up more quickly and the also cool more quickly. Less materials = less heat capacity and in the end you're still trying to dissipate the same amount of energy (except for the minimal difference in unsprung mass of a drilled or slotted rotor v.s. a solid blank, all other things being equal).

For road use, I highly recommend getting some "Brembo Blanks" aka Brembo OEM rotors. Strong, thick, quality metal that provides an excellent friction surface for stopping. For race use, obviously, pair up a good, quality blank rotor and the correct temperature pads. Slotted rotors are for looks only, total cooling surface area and airflow is not increased much at all and using the wrong brake pads (IE super high performance pads for street use and vice versa) will actually decrease braking ability since the friction material coefficent of friction is dependent on temperature and if you're not in the sweet spot, your bite quality and general responsiveness actually gets worse. With the advent of new pad materials in the last 20 years, drilling and slotting rotors have become something that is not only unneeded, it is now decreasing performance just for show.

This of course only applies to street cars with iron rotors and Dot 3/4 fluid. F1 for example heavily favors solid rotor surfaces (As with as does LMP1 cars and NASCAR). The GT class cars favor rotors with 6 dimples in them.

For the original discussion
Solid surface>>>>>>Slotted>>Drilled

I'll try to find the quote where Ferrari said the put drilled or slotted rotors on their street cars and run blank rotors on F1 cars because customers preferred the looks of those rotors, not because it improves performance. It was in a C&D or R&T sometime.
 
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