I',m sure the question has gone around on the best brakes to replace factory with, but I'd sure appriectiate any feed back that can be given. I've worked in highline auto service for years and many had drilled rotors not slotted. What I read on the net seems to lean toward slotted only for more brake surface. I've run slotted/drilled on my wifes late Audi A4 and noticed benifits and no problems till car was wrecked. I was considering cross drilled/slotted for the X but live up here in NW Montana and will need to purchase over net to get do to our limited resources up hear. I've alwasy believed brakes are in the same catagory as tires and you get what you pay for, as far a quality. Iv'e found rotors and pads for frt. and rear drilled and slotted for $270.00 and other internet stores charging almost the same for one rotor and not claiming anything different on the discription. Looking to up grade. Need rear now!

 

Well neither the slotted nor the drilled will give you more surface as you mentioned. Both give you LESS...in the grand scheme of things.

However, both will dissipate heat better. Slotted ones give you a new leading edge with every slot. This increases braking feel but can accelerate pad wear. he slots also help to rid the gases that are built up between the pad and rotor surface.

Drilled are great at getting rid of heat. That great for a race car that can get their rotors red hot over the course of a race but a bit over kill on a truck. Now granted our brakes can get hot but I think the design for cooling them is adequate. And even though I do not have any proof to back me up, it just seems to me that the rotor could be weaker with all those holes.

I would suggest slotted if you really need to upgrade your rotors. Keep in mind though that if you ever need to resurface the rotor I THINK it needs special equiment to do it. You just can't resurface one on a regular brake lathe...from what I've been told.

BUT!

I personally think (after upgrading all four rotors to slotted in my 2000) that the real improvement in braking comes from a high-quality pad bedded in properly. The pads Ford uses in their cars and trucks produce too much dust which then gets impacted onto the surface of the rotor giving you that "warped" feel when you brake.

You might wanna just get your rears resurfaced and look into Hawk pads.

 

Monsta,
Do you have any feel for successful methods of cleaning the rotors and going to better pads. I had mine resurfaced not long ago and have had the warped sensation return pretty quick. I don't think I have enough left to resurface again with out replacement.

 

Drilled rotors tend to crack between the holes. Very common actually, bear brakes hada real problem with this in their eradi-speed line. Slotted wont crack on you, but its usually even less surface area to create friction. The reason race cars can run slots or holes is due to teh fact they enlarge the rotors. ANy hole/slot is lost friction, period. Gassing isnt really an issue anymore with todays pads from what ive been hearing.

So i gotta kinda agree with monsta and say just get some good pads (hawk seems to be the preffered brand around here) and have your rotors cut. Oh and yes, you do need special equipment to cut a slotted or drilled rotor.

Heres a couple examples of why i dont trust drilled rotors.