Standard Rotors vs Slotted
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Tuned
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 374
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From: Georgia
Standard Rotors vs Slotted
OK heres the deal, I had my tires balanced today and while doing so they noted that my rotors were to thin to machine and i needed them replaced along with the pads of course. It's a 97 F250 4x4 LD 7 Lug. They quoted close to $500 to replace all of it and flush the brake system. No way, I'll do it. My question is, what are the benefits of slotted rotors vs your conventional smooth surface. I know the stay cooler and im assuming stop better. I have a 3" lift running 35's so would I benefit from the slotted? Either way I'll see improvement from whats on there now. Thoughts?
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 11,496
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From: Kansas
I have slotted on mine and they made a huge difference. They don't warp and you can really dig into them. I have the ART rotors on my truck and I installed slotted on my Crown Vic. I have not had a problem with warped rotors since. Even if you can't afford the ARTs, at least try the slotted.
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Tuned
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Georgia
i found a set on ebay for $90 a pair, and another place called r1concepts has slotted rotors and pad packages for $150. I'm going to go ahead and do the front for now the rear is fine. Shouldn't hurt anything if i do the front only? I have to act quick i have about 10% of my pads left
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From: northern michigan
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Post Fiend
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Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,517
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From: SE Wyoming
rotorpros.com are excellent I got a set of slotted a few year back for something like $110. My originals had close to 200K miles and were warping and the slotted gave me better stopping than the truck ever had, and that was without even changing the pads.
Postmaster
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,241
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From: Broken Arrow, OK
I know I'm in the minority here, but I think slotted is a waste unless you just really like the look. Anything you machine into the rotor face provides an excellent place for cracks to start and they eventually will, although slotted are nowhere near as bad as drilled. I roadrace my truck with plain rotors on the front and it has more braking power than I can use. I do have slotted in the rear, but only because that was the only thing available on short notice. I put slotted on my wife's Camaro because she liked the look and I am fairly disappointed in them. Slotted also promote faster pad wear.
There might be a slight improvement in hot performance if you use your brakes hard enough to get pad fade from outgassing that can't get off the face of the pad, but that is rare with modern pads.
I have a theory that most people notice greatly improved performance with slotted rotors because they replaced old glazed rotors and worn out pads with all new parts and attribute the improvement to the slotted rotors instead of all the new parts.
There might be a slight improvement in hot performance if you use your brakes hard enough to get pad fade from outgassing that can't get off the face of the pad, but that is rare with modern pads.
I have a theory that most people notice greatly improved performance with slotted rotors because they replaced old glazed rotors and worn out pads with all new parts and attribute the improvement to the slotted rotors instead of all the new parts.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 1,899
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From: Cullman Alabama
I've never had any trouble with std disk's.
I toured the U.S. in my 88 F-250 Diesel, towing an 5er and had a few of those panic stops from high rates of speed.
The Brakes never locked up. I was always suspicious about that too.
But the did stop fast. No ABS that I know of either.
I had to change the rotors after two High speed panic stops almost in a row. The Rotors were blue in the center and showed some cracking out toward the edges. That's a lotta weight to stop from 65 Mph.
I put on the good NAPA Pads and new rotors.
Whatever you do, dont throw the old rotors away. They make great Boat anchors for your smaller lake boats. If one get's stuck and you lose it, so what?
I toured the U.S. in my 88 F-250 Diesel, towing an 5er and had a few of those panic stops from high rates of speed.
The Brakes never locked up. I was always suspicious about that too.
But the did stop fast. No ABS that I know of either.
I had to change the rotors after two High speed panic stops almost in a row. The Rotors were blue in the center and showed some cracking out toward the edges. That's a lotta weight to stop from 65 Mph.
I put on the good NAPA Pads and new rotors.
Whatever you do, dont throw the old rotors away. They make great Boat anchors for your smaller lake boats. If one get's stuck and you lose it, so what?