Its getting to be time for new front brakes on the truck and I was wondering what you guys thought of slotted brake rotors? I've already got Dodge factory pads sitting on the bench, but I was holding off on the rotors until I got some opinions. Do they really disapate the heat better, or is it just a gimmick (sp)? I'd be willing to spend the extra $$ if I know it would be worth it in the long run. I guess my only other option would be dealer rotors. I don't trust "off the shelf" rotors after my last experience with my old gasser 3/4 ton Dodge. If you do indeed recomend slotted rotors, where would be the best place to buy from? Any sponsers/vendors out there selling them? Thanks for your opinions!

MIke

 

I don't think the gassing out issue is a very big one, I believe by having slotted rotors they can't be turned anymore and it also helps promote cracking under stress. If I were to spend extra money on rotors I'd probably try cyrogenic treatment, I've never tried it before but it is supposed to help make high heat and high wear parts wear slower. I'd rather put on more sets of pads (most places warranty them) than have to deal with that hub assembly to replace a rotor at my cost.

Gassing out can happen if you are going down a big mountain with a load, while going to fast but the problem is going to fast. By the rotors not gassing out it'd only cause them to get hoter and still do the same or worse damage to the bearings, calipers, and such.

 

My sons truck has the slotted EGR rotors. Seem to work OK.

 

Does your son's truck outgas as bad as this guy's does ?
Click Here

~Rob

 

I have slotted and cross drilled rotors on my truck. Honestly, haven't really felt a difference. But they can be turned.

 

Just read an article where a big time racing team did some extensive testing on "cryo'd" brake rotors. They ran a set of standard rotors for a specific # of laps, pitted the car and changed over to the cryo'd set, proceeded to run the same # of laps on them. Then took both sets of rotors to a metalergy lab for analysis of the iron on a molecular level. Tests showed no evidence of the cryo'd rotors holding up any better than the non-cryoed rotors.
I'm not saying that cryogeniclly treated metals don't have benifets, maybe just not as brake rotors.
The race team I guess was very pleased with the results of the test, it meant that they were going to save a lot of money on brake rotors

As far as slotted rotors, unless your diving a race car... don't was your money

 

Slotted rotors are good, cross-drilled is not recommended on trucks because they crack from the holes. Usally helps brake effort and stopping to put on carbon metallic pads, they stop great, longer rotor & pad life, low dusting

 

Slotted and drilled rotors have their place on sports cars but aren't normally needed on a truck. I've tried them and have noticed no difference.

 

By having a harder pad it will last longer by wearing less (less dust) but it will take its toll on the rotor though too.

Thanks Mike, I was quite skeptical about the cyro treatment results there.

 

I run slotted rotors on our work F350 4x4 diesel. Makes a difference towing and braking is more imediate but not grabby

 

Did you upgrade brake pads at the same time? I'd suspect that'd be pads more than rotors.

 

slotted/drilled rotors are harder and harder to find these days for trucks.must be a reason??

 

Have slotted rotors with kevlar pads and SS lines with Motul fluid from EGR. Big difference in brake function. Don't know if it's rotors or pads that help the most.

 

I got some EBC from tirerack.com, dimpled and sloted. Best thing since sliced bread. I use the cheap napa pads with them, works great.

 

I also have drilled/slotted rotors and didn't really see any difference. Also got the "high perfomance" pads from Napa.