Brake pads/rotors recommendations

**pengwuino** · 03-06-2016 07:24 PM

I read a few threads around the forums, and it seems like I would have a good idea of what to replace my brake pads/rotors with if I were racing, but I'm not :(. Yet (just kidding). So, I'm curious as to what everyone's opinions are on brakes for a not terribly cold, not terribly hot climate like Atlanta for a daily driver that is a bit aggressive with his driving!

**Schweini** · 03-06-2016 07:27 PM

Im running Akebonos. They're great imo. Good bite, less grabby than OEM, and virtually no dust.

Ive only ever tried these and OEMs, so I have a pretty biased opinion. However, lots of guys here love theyre Akebonos as well

**vce1232000** · 03-06-2016 07:32 PM

Hawks HPS Rule......

Non slotted or cross drilled rotors. Stock rotors are the best. All other

will vibrate or pulsate the brake pedal

I stop so hard, Im afraid of the person behind me just climb over my car while braking

**Obsidian** · 03-06-2016 08:28 PM

Originally Posted by vce1232000

Hawks HPS Rule......

Stock rotors are the best.

+1

**rennwerkes** · 03-06-2016 08:52 PM

I've used Akebono's on all my cars.
Hard to beat them for street driving.
Very low dust and decent braking.
Any rotor from the major brands are fine.
I've used them all with very good results.
Ate, Zimmerman, and Brembo.
Just make sure you clean the area's that the rotor will rest on.

**LINDW4LL** · 03-06-2016 08:58 PM

OP, any quality rotor brand will be fine. Centric 120, Zimmerman, Brembo, Stoptech, etc...

Originally Posted by vce1232000

Non slotted or cross drilled rotors. Stock rotors are the best. All other will vibrate or pulsate the brake pedal

That simply isn't true.

That said, the only reason to go with slotted or cross-drilled is aesthetics. I happen to prefer them over blanks in that regard.

**rennwerkes** · 03-06-2016 09:23 PM

Originally Posted by LINDW4LL

OP, any quality rotor brand will be fine. Centric 120, Zimmerman, Brembo, Stoptech, etc...

That simply isn't true.

That said, the only reason to go with slotted or cross-drilled is aesthetics. I happen to prefer them over blanks in that regard.

Actually, with slotted or "drilled" rotors it depends on who is the manufacturer.
There's more to the technology than taking a drill press and making holes in the rotor!

If I'm not mistaken even Porsche's rotors would end up with stress cracks.
I think Porsche started to source rotors that had the holes cast into the design of the rotor rather than drilling

**vce1232000** · 03-06-2016 09:24 PM

Originally Posted by LINDW4LL

That simply isn't true.

That said, the only reason to go with slotted or cross-drilled is aesthetics. I happen to prefer them over blanks in that regard.

And the old slotted/cross drilled rotor great debate starts again

....lol

**LINDW4LL** · 03-06-2016 09:44 PM

Originally Posted by vce1232000

And the old slotted/cross drilled rotor great debate starts again

....lol

This isn't a matter of opinion.

Drilled or slotted rotors do not inherently cause vibrations or pulsations. It just is not true. Furthermore, hundreds of vehicles are equipped from the factory with drilled and/or slotted iron rotors. By your logic, every single one would have a pulsating or vibration issue due to the inherent design flaw of drilled/slotted rotors

**dalmation53** · 03-06-2016 11:14 PM

Originally Posted by LINDW4LL

This isn't a matter of opinion.

Drilled or slotted rotors do not inherently cause vibrations or pulsations. It just is not true. Furthermore, hundreds of vehicles are equipped from the factory with drilled and/or slotted iron rotors. By your logic, every single one would have a pulsating or vibration issue due to the inherent design flaw of drilled/slotted rotors

LOL I will agree with you that was dumb what he said indeed..I put on drilled and slotted on all 4 sides and all I really notice is they get cool very fast which means they won't fade as quick as blanks.

**panman142** · 03-06-2016 11:22 PM

Check out EBC Green stuff or Red stuff, nice alternative to Hawk and pretty well priced! Also for rotors grab some S4 rotors with the carrier to run em!

**derrek** · 03-07-2016 12:00 AM

I run carbotech bobcats for my street pads but my old Brembo pads were better (more aggressive). For the track I use carbotech xp10 front and xp8 rear. I wouldn't recommend those for street use though.

As far as drilled and slotted rotors vibrating it's probably due to improper break in leaving an uneven layer of brake pad compound on the rotor. For stress cracks 90% of the time you see cracks in the brake compound on the rotor(nothing to worry about).

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**vce1232000** · 03-07-2016 05:40 AM

Originally Posted by LINDW4LL

This isn't a matter of opinion.

Drilled or slotted rotors do not inherently cause vibrations or pulsations. It just is not true. Furthermore, hundreds of vehicles are equipped from the factory with drilled and/or slotted iron rotors. By your logic, every single one would have a pulsating or vibration issue due to the inherent design flaw of drilled/slotted rotors

Hundreds of car come factory equipped with them

. Really

. From the research Ive done the ones that do come on high end sport cars/luxury and designed holes that are casted when made and not actually drilled afterwards. I had cross drilled and slotted rotors on 2 previous cars before and had same issue's. I

them with stock blanks and problem is gone. These are my own experience with them. If you dont agree thats all well also. Just sharing

**vce1232000** · 03-07-2016 05:49 AM

Originally Posted by dalmation53

LOL I will agree with you that was dumb what he said indeed..I put on drilled and slotted on all 4 sides and all I really notice is they get cool very fast which means they won't fade as quick as blanks.

I will not even respond back to name calling or saying someone is dumb. Thats just very immature imo

**vce1232000** · 03-07-2016 06:03 AM

Originally Posted by derrek

As far as drilled and slotted rotors vibrating it's probably due to improper break in leaving an uneven layer of brake pad compound on the rotor. For stress cracks 90% of the time you see cracks in the brake compound on the rotor(nothing to worry about).

I seen this when I researched when my brake pedal was doing this

. Ive sent out to get resurfaced.

them back on and re-bedded them again. Still same problem. I even

different new pads. Bought some Stop Tech at the time. By the way they are free to someone who can use them

. Dont particular care for them over the Hawk HPS's. Keep in mine they are for the RS4 calipers. To

this problem once in for all Im going to have to buy dealer rotors. As I

a few different B7 RS4's from a friends repair shop with the owners to confirm the possible

. Their brake pedals had absolutely no vibrations at all. The 1 that I did

that had the very slightest vibration-pulsation had cross drilled-slotted rotors. Maybe thats why from the factory B7 RS4 didnt have slotted or drilled

. Dont know for sure. Its just a very hard pill to swallow to purchase $1000.00 dealer rotors

. Knowing that my rotors are still within wear specs

**derrek** · 03-07-2016 09:39 AM