As an integral part of any disc brake system, a high-quality set of brake rotors is a vital facet of vehicle safety. In other words, if your car, truck, or SUV is equipped with disc brakes, then a good set of front or rear brake rotors can play a major role in your vehicle’s stopping and handling performance. But if you’re shopping for the best replacement brake rotors for your ride, there are some things to consider before you buy.
For starters, do you want a set of stock, direct replacement brake rotors for either the front or rear? Or are you looking to upgrade your disc brake system for enhanced brake performance on, say, a track car or a workhorse truck or tow rig?
Either way, you’re in the right place—from solid to slotted, front to rear, Summit Racing has plenty of replacement and upgraded disc brake rotor options to choose from. But first, it’s important to understand the distinction between each disc design so you can pick the best brake rotor for your needs.
Before we go much further though, here’s a little brake system 101. Generally speaking, excessive heat has an adverse effect on brake system performance. So many of the brake rotors on this page are designed to improve the brake system’s ability to dissipate heat.
Solid Brake Rotors
Solid brake rotors are often the choice OE manufacturers because they offer an excellent blend of reliability and performance. A solid brake rotor is simply that—a solid brake rotor face, free of any drilling or slotting.
But remember that thing we said about too much heat in a brake system? Many solid brake rotors are vented too, particularly in front disc brake applications. These vents help the rotor shed heat under hard braking situations—though you probably won’t be able to see these vents from a straight-on look through the wheel, because the venting actually occurs internally. Viewed from the top however, you’ll find a network of air passages sandwiched in between the solid front and back of the rotor face.
If you’re looking for a quality, direct replacement brake rotor for the front or rear of your OE disc brake system, then there’s a good chance a solid brake rotor will fit the bill perfectly.
Drilled or Cross-Drilled Brake Rotors
Cross-drilled rotors (commonly just called “drilled” rotors) emerged from the world of motorsports. Brake engineers on race teams discovered that, under the extreme heat and pressure of a racing environment, built up brake dust and gasses escaping the superheated pad material could actually prevent the pad from contacting the brake rotor under hard braking, lowering the brake system’s efficiency.
The drilled holes in the rotor face not only allow a space for dust and gasses to escape while the pad is pressed against the brake disc, they improve airflow in and out of the rotor—which can lower the overall temperature of the disc and, ultimately the pad, caliper, and brake fluid too. Again, when it comes to the best braking performance, too much heat is a bad thing.
While cross-drilled brake rotors can offer significantly better disc brake cooling and performance, the tradeoff is potentially increased rotor wear and perhaps a shorter pad life. Depending on your car, truck, or SUV, you can find drilled brake rotors for your front and/or rear disc brake setups.
Slotted Brake Rotors
Slotted disc brake rotors offer similar advantages to a drilled rotor by allowing a space for gasses and accumulated brake dust to escape while the brake pad is pressed onto the face of the brake rotor—which again, can improve braking efficiency. The tradeoff versus a cross-drilled rotor is that a slotted rotor won’t be able to shed heat as quickly, which may compromise performance on a hard street-driven vehicle. Yet depending on the application and driving environment, a slotted rotor can boast better longevity than a comparable drilled brake rotor.
Drilled & Slotted Brake Rotors
As a final option, some brake system manufacturers offer performance brake rotors that feature a hybrid disc that’s both drilled and slotted—creating a compromise of the two designs that offers many of the advantages of each setup, while mitigating some of the drawbacks.
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Regardless of the brake rotor design you choose, replacing or upgrading your front and rear brake discs is a smart way to improve your overall brake system performance. And that’s equally true whether you’ve got a trusty daily driver, a high-power track vehicle, or a heavy-duty truck or tow rig.
So find the best disc brake rotors for your ride now, at Summit Racing.
