Advantage of drilled vs. normal ROTORS

[LVDell]

Getting ready to replace the rotors on my MB SUV and was wondering what the advantages of "upgrading" to drilled rotors form the normal smooth rotors would be.

Figured the P-Car community would know best how to answer this since all I get on the MB boards is "they look cool" or "drilling is strictly for looks".

Any factual statements would be appreciated. Pads last longer? Rotors last longer? Better stopping power? etc.

Thanks for the input. Cheers, Dell

[steve_wilwerding]

On a street car, you probably wouldn't notice any difference. On the track, drilled rotors stay cooler, but also have a propensity to crack around the holes. They are no panacea.

Assuming the drilled rotors cost more for your MB, I'd stick with the plain rotors.

[Tool Pants]

http://www.shotimes.com/brakes/part2.html

http://www.4wdworld.com.au/tipstricks/disc.htm

[wwest]

Drilled or slotted rotors can be a lifesaver driving in the wet here in the absolutely beautifully green pacific MW.

[LVDell]

Thanks everybody

TP....wow, after reading the first article I decided against the drilled, then after reading the second link I decided for them.....

SO CONFUSED.

[bancu]

I wouldn't drill rotors that didn't come that way from the manufacturer. At the most I'd dimple or slot the _fronts_ only if you're looking for a bit of an 'edge'.

You might want to look at this site http://www.frozenrotors.com and give them a call. I got a set of rear rotors from them for my ML55 a month or so back. It's too early to tell if the cryo treatment is buying me anything but they have a heck of a lot of field reports indicating that it helps.

They (the Frozen Rotors folks) are also straight up on drilling, dimpling and slotting. Any of these 'enhancements' is going to increase pad consumption. I don't know what your experience is but my MLs have needed pads frequently enough without any 'help'.

I would go so far as to say that MLs flat out eat rear brake pads. This is related to traction control and I think the fact that they put really puny (solid E-class if I remember right) rotor and calipers on the rear of even the ML55. Rear pad 'eating' seems to be pretty common with traction controlled vehicles operating in snow/icy climates so it will interesting to see how the Cayenne does with its internally vented rear rotors does.

Edited November 24, 2004 by bancu

[wwest]

Eating brake pads...

Brake pads are cheap, REALLY cheap, considering the life you save may be your own!

I want brake pads that "eat" rotors and vice versa.

[LVDell]

wwest....???

[wwest]

Yes.....???

[LVDell]

Care to eleaborate? Brake pads that eat rotors and vice versa???

[bet]

I think when wwest said "eating" he was referring to the fact that some high performance pads are more "abrasive" than stock factory pads and they "wear" the rotor surface more quickly. The same could be said about slotted rotors...they wear out the pads more quickly than smooth surface rotors.

Edited November 24, 2004 by bet

[wwest]

Better, best, braking, means sacrificing rotor and brake pad surfaces.

I'm extremely leary of anyone offering "lifetime" brake pad warranty, or any "period" warranty at all.

IMMHO, no surface wear, no friction, NO BRAKING!

[yetis]

I say no drilled an here is why.

I believe the question was put to Porsche regarding the Cayenne. Currently, it does not COME with drilled rotors, though you still see many with them as people swap the solids out.

The answer from Porsche was that ultimately, the Cayenne is an OFFROAD vehicle and when going through mud, snow or whatever, it was likely that debris and could more likely get caught in the little drill holes and severely accelerate brake failure. :o

Edited November 29, 2004 by yetis

[penguinking]

why do they only make cross drilled rotors for my '99 996? thats all i can seem to find