Standard, Slotted, Drilled, or both?

[docmcd89]

I drive a 2008 Mazda3i 2.0L manual. I'm getting some Enkei Raijin 18x8 black wheels soon and I think when you have black wheels your brake rotors and calipers suddenly are very noticeable.
I would like to get a proparts kit but I don't know If I should get standard rotors or slotted. I have heard that drilled rotors act as a cheese grater and wear down the brake pads quicker than the others. With my kind of car (slow) and as a daily driver, is it even remotely necessary to go for the slotted rotors or should I stick with the standard ones? Thanks guys!

 

[IshSonP5]

Standard rotors should be fine. If you want it for looks then go with whatever you want. drilled rotors don't eat away at pads or anything like that. They do exactly what slotted rotors do, just a different look to them. They both expel brake dust and built up gasses. So if you want something pretty then go for whatever you fancy.

 

[Filthaypinoy206]

I have slotted

 

[flatlander937]

Pads don't "gas" like they did in the 60s. Slotted and drilled rotors are all for show. If you must only get slotted... drilled rotors are basically lots of little stress risers built into a part that sees extreme temperature swings... it is uncommon for drilled rotors to NOT crack if you actually drive hard.


The only cross drilled rotors that are built correctly are OEM on BMW/Porsche/Mercedes/etc where the rotors are actually cast with the holes in them, not cast as solid rotors and then machined holes as an afterthought. You know you have really crappy cross drilled rotors if the drilled holes aren't even chamfered to even TRY and minimize stress risers.

Slotted rotors are fine if you want them... some say they help to "scrape" the pads clean constantly and so they're less likely to groove the rotors from crap embedding into the pads, pad wear rate may or may not be affected, etc etc.

Here is a pretty good overview of the slotted/drilled argument with quotes from some people at the top of the industry:

http://www.marcusfitzhugh.com/CLK/DIY/brakecdrill.html


Look at an F1 car's rotors... they are solid. There are some other racing bodies that many run slotted rotors, but nobody serious runs drilled rotors.


The ONLY benefit to drilled rotors is weight... and that is sacrificing durability of one of the most important systems on the car. It's not like you'll save even an entire pound by just drilling... so it's quite dumb IMO.