Article on using cheap rotors for track duty

[PDenbigh]

Good, concise article on using cheap brake rotors for track duty:

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.ogracing.com/blog/2014/10/ask-brake-nerd-part-1-everyone-says-buy-cheap-rotors-listen/">http://www.ogracing.com/blog/2014/10/as ... rs-listen/</a><!-- m -->

TL/DR: Cheap ones from china are impregnated with oil with makes proper material transfer nearly impossible, metal is low quality, and they aren't balanced well. Also, author claimes that size-for-size, iron rotors out stop carbon ones. Interesting.

Thoughts?

I have two piece rotors on my car, but I still opt for the lower cost rotors that are covered in oil. And I always fight pad transfer problems. This article makes me consider getting good rotors next time.

Peter

[D_Eclipse9916]

Good, concise article on using cheap brake rotors for track duty:

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.ogracing.com/blog/2014/10/ask-brake-nerd-part-1-everyone-says-buy-cheap-rotors-listen/">http://www.ogracing.com/blog/2014/10/as ... rs-listen/</a><!-- m -->

TL/DR: Cheap ones from china are impregnated with oil with makes proper material transfer nearly impossible, metal is low quality, and they aren't balanced well. Also, author claimes that size-for-size, iron rotors out stop carbon ones. Interesting.

Thoughts?

I have two piece rotors on my car, but I still opt for the lower cost rotors that are covered in oil. And I always fight pad transfer problems. This article makes me consider getting good rotors next time.

Peter

Bought 2-piece PFC balling rotors...I didnt pay retail but retail is ~$700 for 2 rotors. Didn't notice a damn difference between that and my regular $29 rockauto blanks... If the PFCs didn't make a difference, "brembo and brembo-likes" certainly aren't going to be any better.

What pads are you using? I just recently tried Pagid Yellow RS29 that are sworn by PCA Racers after having used PFC08s for the past 4 years and loving them. Suggested by PCA racers should have been the first sign I shouldn't use them.

This was the outcome of my "experimentation" just 2 weekends in. Won't be running Pagid agains.

[BLINGMW]

Interesting. The balancing difference makes sense. And so does the oil. But the oil is going to bake out, so I wonder, how long does that take?

...And I always fight pad transfer problems.

How do you know when this is happening? And does it eventually stop (when the rotor runs out of oil)? It would seem to me at 1000 deg, waaaaaay beyond the flashpoint of whatever oil was used, it would all be gone pretty fast.

[Jake]

I've only ever run RockAuto or Advance Auto cheapies, and the car always stops very well... I definitely notice stopping ability changing based on the pads I run, but I can't say I've had complaints about rotors.

[PDenbigh]

Interesting. The balancing difference makes sense. And so does the oil. But the oil is going to bake out, so I wonder, how long does that take?

...And I always fight pad transfer problems.

How do you know when this is happening? And does it eventually stop (when the rotor runs out of oil)? It would seem to me at 1000 deg, waaaaaay beyond the flashpoint of whatever oil was used, it would all be gone pretty fast.

Vibrate like heck for a while, then eventually calms down from an earthquake to minor rumble. I can visually see inconsistent coloration and feel inconsistent surfaces on the rotors.

I think part of what they are concerned about with the oil is that it contaminates the pad too.

[PDenbigh]

Bought 2-piece PFC balling rotors...I didnt pay retail but retail is ~$700 for 2 rotors. Didn't notice a damn difference between that and my regular $29 rockauto blanks... If the PFCs didn't make a difference, "brembo and brembo-likes" certainly aren't going to be any better.

What pads are you using? I just recently tried Pagid Yellow RS29 that are sworn by PCA Racers after having used PFC08s for the past 4 years and loving them. Suggested by PCA racers should have been the first sign I shouldn't use them.

This was the outcome of my "experimentation" just 2 weekends in. Won't be running Pagid agains.

Good data points!

I'm using carbotech XP-10s or 12s on some US Brake rotors.

Wow on the Pagids!

[ViPER1313]

I really think that this might matter brand to brand and who is making the off brand blanks, the tolerances the manufacturer allows, etc.

When I compared a set of OEM rotors for my Talon vs the Advanced Auto blanks, the OEMs had significantly thicker disk walls (compared with longer cooling vanes on the blanks) and weighed a good 5 to 10 lbs more. When I tracked the OEMs, I experienced significantly less fade and no warping, where as the 2 previous sets of off brand rotors warped pretty significantly after a single HPDE weekend.

To each his own, use what works for you :dunno: