Rick CarltonYou have a couple of options when it comes to brake rotors.
- Solid rotors that have a slightly larger surface and offer better durability and stopping power.
- Vented brake rotors that provide better cooling and are less likely to warp and fade, particularly when heat cycles spike up and down during a competition.
So, which approach is the better solution to your needs? (By the way, if you are looking for a basic explanation of rotors, this is the article you’re looking for.)
About Solid Rotors
Solid brake rotors are usually machined from a single piece of raw material, like cast iron. Although more exotic materials are available particularly when it involves racing or street performance requirements.
Solid discs usually appear at the rear of the vehicle.
About Vented Rotors
Vented brake rotor designs are thicker CNC-machined cast-iron discs that have a hollow vent or channel between the front and rear rotor surfaces. This allows for enhanced heat dissipation.
Vented discs usually appear at the front. This configuration helps deal with increased heat/gas dissipation involved with enhanced weight levied by front-engine placement, along with the fact that most cars are brake-biased toward the front, usually on the basis of a 60/40 brake-balance ratio.
Performance brake systems are usually all-vented configurations since resistance to heat and gas can make the difference between controlling a hard-braking evolution or ending up in the kitty litter – upside down, hanging from the straps. As you might expect, all-vented configurations are usually more expensive than mixed-disc systems.
In the end, your choice of rotors depends on your vehicle and driving habits. If you’re not sure what you need, contact us and a member of our concierge team will help you out.
John Butler
