Nissan 370Z Forum - View Single Post - Advantages to slotted or drilled rotors? I don't think so.

Acepro · 07-29-2009, 02:40 PM

Hi, first post on this forum. I have an 09 Nissan 370z Touring with the Sport package. I have no complaints about the brake package, I think the 14' rotors and 4 piston calipers are more than adequate for even the heaviest street use. From what I've read though, I wouldn't use them for the track without at least swapping out the stock pads for a set of track pads.

I recently had to swap out all four rotors for my 2003 G35 and did quite a bit of research and consultation because initially I was going to just buy Powerslot slotted rotors. There's a lot of misconceptions out there about how slotted rotors deglaze your pads, about how they have better initial bite and how they vent gases and thereby prevent your pads from hydroplaning from your rotors. I think it's all ********. Even worse than slotted are cross-drilled brake rotors. Although a lot of performance car manufacturers use them, it's mostly in response to a perceived consumer demand. Cross drilling does not improve ventilation because the internal vanes are already responsible for radiating heat and because cross drilling reduces the mass available to act as a heat sink and thereby increases the overall temperature of the rotor. Not to mention the fact that cross drilling creates stress points where uneven expansion and contraction can cause hairline fractures. The entire rationale behind slotted and cross drilled brakes is to vent gases produced as a byproduct of the pads compressing the rotors. Not cooling or reducing unsprung weight or deglazing the pad.

First, modern brake pads, to include ceramics, composites, semi-metallics and metallics are formulated to produce very little or no gases. Same with the issue of glazing. This fact in and of itself destroys the justification for slotted/cross drilled rotors.

Second, if you want to improve braking performance, look to replacing your pads, brake lines, brake fluid and tires. I think these changes will have a much greater impact on producing consistently strong braking that investing in slotted or cross drilled rotors.

Any thoughts on this? By the way I ended up getting Kiriu OEM rotors and Hawk HPS pads for my G35. I think the same principles apply to my 370z and I'll be replacing my stock Akebono pads with Hawks depending on how they do on my G35.

07-29-2009, 02:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
Acepro Base Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: New York Posts: 5 Drives: 09 370Z TOUR SPT AT Rep Power: 16	Advantages to slotted or drilled rotors? I don't think so. Hi, first post on this forum. I have an 09 Nissan 370z Touring with the Sport package. I have no complaints about the brake package, I think the 14' rotors and 4 piston calipers are more than adequate for even the heaviest street use. From what I've read though, I wouldn't use them for the track without at least swapping out the stock pads for a set of track pads. I recently had to swap out all four rotors for my 2003 G35 and did quite a bit of research and consultation because initially I was going to just buy Powerslot slotted rotors. There's a lot of misconceptions out there about how slotted rotors deglaze your pads, about how they have better initial bite and how they vent gases and thereby prevent your pads from hydroplaning from your rotors. I think it's all ********. Even worse than slotted are cross-drilled brake rotors. Although a lot of performance car manufacturers use them, it's mostly in response to a perceived consumer demand. Cross drilling does not improve ventilation because the internal vanes are already responsible for radiating heat and because cross drilling reduces the mass available to act as a heat sink and thereby increases the overall temperature of the rotor. Not to mention the fact that cross drilling creates stress points where uneven expansion and contraction can cause hairline fractures. The entire rationale behind slotted and cross drilled brakes is to vent gases produced as a byproduct of the pads compressing the rotors. Not cooling or reducing unsprung weight or deglazing the pad. First, modern brake pads, to include ceramics, composites, semi-metallics and metallics are formulated to produce very little or no gases. Same with the issue of glazing. This fact in and of itself destroys the justification for slotted/cross drilled rotors. Second, if you want to improve braking performance, look to replacing your pads, brake lines, brake fluid and tires. I think these changes will have a much greater impact on producing consistently strong braking that investing in slotted or cross drilled rotors. Any thoughts on this? By the way I ended up getting Kiriu OEM rotors and Hawk HPS pads for my G35. I think the same principles apply to my 370z and I'll be replacing my stock Akebono pads with Hawks depending on how they do on my G35.