What rotors/pads/etc Slotted & Cross Drilled rotors are not an upgrade.
Manufactures make them because people buy them. Drilled and slotted rotors with today's pad compounds are for looks and the manufacturers admit it.
Check out the FAQ section on their sites.
Wilwood:
http://www.wilwood.com/Centers/Infor..._answer/07.asp Quote:
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Originally Posted by Wilwood Why are some rotors drilled or slotted?
Rotors are drilled to reduce rotating weight, an issue near and dear to racers searching for ways to minimize unsprung weight. Drilling diminishes a rotor's durability and cooling capacity.
Slots or grooves in rotor faces are partly a carryover from the days of asbestos pads. Asbestos and other organic pads were prone to "glazing" and the slots tended to help "scrape or de-glaze" them. Drilling and slotting rotors has become popular in street applications for their pure aesthetic value. Wilwood has a large selection of drilled and slotted rotors for a wide range of applications. |
Baer
http://www.baer.com/technical/faq/index.php Quote:
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Originally Posted by Baer What are the benefits to cross-drilling, slotting, and zinc-washing my rotors?
In years past, cross-drilling and/or slotting the rotor for racing purposes was beneficial by providing a way to expel the gasses created when the bonding agents employed to manufacture the pads began to break down at extreme temperatures. This condition is often referred to as "green pad fade" or "outgassing". When it does occur, the driver still has a good firm brake pedal, but simply little or no friction. Since this normally happens only at temperatures witnessed in racing, this can be very exciting! However, with today´s race pad technology, “outgassing” is no longer much of a concern. When shopping for races pads, or even ultra high performance road pads, look for the phrases, "dynamic surface treatment", "race ready", and/or, "pre-burnished". When these or similar statements are made by the pad manufacturer, the pad in question will likely have little or no problem with “outgassing”. Ironically more pedestrian pads used on most streetcars will still exhibit “outgassing”, but only when used at temperatures normally only encountered on the racetrack. Although cross-drilling and/or slotting will provide a welcome path to expend any gasses when and if they develop, it is primarily a visual enhancement behind today’s often wide-open wheel designs. Cross-drilling offers the greatest gas relief pathway, but creates potential "stress risers" from which cracks can occur. Baer´s rotors are cast with cross-drilling in mind, from the material specified, to curved vanes, behind which the holes are placed to minimize potential crack migration. Slotted surfaces are what Baer recommends for track only use. Slotted only rotors are offered as an option for any of Baer’s offerings. |
Here is one of many threads on the subject:
i need rotors used or cheap
Sub link from that thread:
Best sponsor prices for set of cross-drilled/slotted rotors?
(also contains links to manufacturer sites)
(scroll down to my post)
Here is the infamous thread:
Replacing rotors... what to get?
(Don't do what absolut said, he was joking.)
Back to the actual topic at hand...
Here are a few points on upgrading f-body brakes: If you are just looking for better-than-stock and stay on a budget: If you want an improvement in braking for a little more money:
(in addition to above)
- C5 rotors and the requisite brackets and other items to make them fit
- More aggressive pads
- Wider/stickier tires (yes tires, they are your physical contact to the ground)
If you want to spend more money:
If you want more info check out the
Brake FAQ and do some searching.
Check out StopTech's White Papers:
http://www.stoptech.com/tech_info/te...e_papers.shtml
(Also listed in the
Brake FAQ)
I forgot to mention shocks above. If your shocks are blown, replace them as well. That will give you better control over the vehicle and can also shorten stopping distances due to better control of the wheels.