I bought 4 rotors plus pads from r1concepts on eBay. Total cost less than $200 including shipping. I have been shopping for brakes, and found rotors that cost $200 each. Thats too much for my budget. I plan to install front brakes this weekend, and will write a critique of my initial impressions.

 

You didn't go with crossdrilled or slotted or both?

 

cross drilled and sloted offers more form than function on a street car.

davidv - nice pics. are there any mfg's stampings on them? I would be curious to know if they are off the same production line as some of the more expensive brands.

 

^ yes please tell us how the look and compare to the stock rotors, and why didn't you go for the drilled/slotted ones?

 

Hmm. I personally wouldn't put random brake rotors on my Z.

 

Is it the picture, or are the vains straight? The vains should be curved like a fan blade so when the wheel rotates it pulls air from the center and flowing it to the outside this then cools the rotor.

 

Curved vane venting is not found on all rotors, usually only higher end ones. Many rotors have straight vanes.

 

Good find!

Those are for non-Brembo right?

 

You may want to paint the hub and vane areas of the rotors with a high temp coating since the unprotected unswept areas will begin to show surface rust immediately.

 

Correct.

 

i thought R1 coats ther rotors with E-coating or whatever its called to prevent rust?

 

Not true. Even street cars driven aggresively can benefit from this stuff. Either way, why would you get blanks, and not at least slotted for the same price? I dont' get it...

 

Front brakes installed today. Installation was straight forward except for removing the rotors. It takes some serious banging with a hammer to get them off. I bed the brakes. They are quiet and very similar to the OEM brakes.

Will follow up at 10,000 miles.

Special thanks to Joseph Brinkmeier for garage, tools and patience.

 

Drilled and slotted are not for everyone, and for a street driven vehicle unless you want the agressive look I would not recommend getting either.

Slotted rotors scrape away a small amount of pad surface so that a new fresh pad surface is presented to the rotor, thus given you better braking. But, you will wear your pads out faster with a slotted rotor. The slotted rotors also allow for a more localized cooling and can cause premature failure in extreme cases.

Drilled rotors allow gas built up between the rotor and brake pad to escape, thus eliminating the risk of brake fade due to the pads. Yet, the holes will also scrape away a small amount of pad surface at a localized spot, thus contributing to uneven pad wear, and if the pad is matched to an the application you will not get this "gas". Also, the holes will allow for better cooling in a localized spot thus increasing the chance of rotor failure.

So unless you are using the car for a road track, I would stay away from both as you will replace rotors and pads more offen with slotted and drilled. Again, unless you are going for looks.

In either case, if you are looking for performance from a rotor, it is better to spend your money on curved vains instead of slotted or drilled.

 

^, what about slotted and drilled? twice as bad? about how long you think with just regular street driving, the rotors and pads could last?

 

Plain is the best IMO

Get the right pad and you wont get fade...

 

+1

 

Sorry but no. The box with the pads is generic and mentions no brand name.

 

I think they were asking if there were any stamped markings on the rotors. Usually they are on the outside circumference of the rotor.

 

Fact is --Iv been buying for several yrs now, rotors for various vehicles from F-350s to all Imports from Napa that are made overseas with good results---Price: 30-55.00 each. Give em a shot David and let us know.