Brakes Question

[RichD978]

I bought the brembo blanks off that site Thai recommended. But I was wondering if I have to get blanks for the front? What would the pros and cons be if I got something else like brembo slotted, brembo cross drilled, or brembo slotted and cross drilled? Would it be okay to have mismatching rotors?

Also is there any way I can paint them black? I really want to get them zinc plated so it wont rust so easily though, how would I go about doing that? Is that a possible DIY ?

[Jon11582]

Yes you can mismatch from back to front, but not left to right (Hell us 4 bangers have the ultimate mismatch - discs in front and drums in the back)

The front does 90% of the braking on a regular basis.

Note that brembo doesnt make drilled AND slotted. Some people take slotted brembos and drill them themselves.

Drilled = looks good, but makes the rotor weaker and more prone to cracking under heavy use. Shouldnt affect breaking power much at all. (People have fought that its better or worse, I think its about the same)

Slotted = shaves your pad every time you stop for a clean braking surface, but eats your pads up in the process.

Blanks = least prone to cracking, cheapest, and lets your pads last. I think braking performance-wise, thier all about on par.

Blanks are the most logical choice, being the safest and cheapest, but we don't buy all our parts based on logic.

[BradOwens]

i have brembo blanks for my front rotors. there pretty nice

[SpeedSTARs]

is there any way I can paint them black? I really want to get them zinc plated so it wont rust so easily though, how would I go about doing that? Is that a possible DIY ?

Yes! Most definitely Bro ... You can paint the rotor hub black with a caliper paint that is resin based. Here, Tire Rack carries them. This is the link below:

http://www.tirerack.com/brakes/g2/caliper_paint.jsp

I used this stuff on my rear rotors (when it still had it). They last allot longer that the caliper paint (spray can) junk. Unless your buy the DuPont Caliper paint (also resin based). Just remember, If you plan on using this stuff, the mixing of resin and paint dries up quick. So work in small quantities and mix small portions at a time.

[SleeperSolara]

Was thinkin' about gettin' cross-drilled for my car..........
I knew that slotted chopped up your brake pads.

[Assyrian]

Unless you're a serious autocrosser, getting slotted or drilled rotors are worse than having blanks... more maintenance...

But if you need to keep your brakes running a little cooler so you can be rough on them for longer, then slotted is the way to go.... but everyone's right, they do look at your brake pads like a delicacy.

[krook]

Unless you're a serious autocrosser, getting slotted or drilled rotors are worse than having blanks... more maintenance...

what kind of maintenance would be required if you get drilled rotors?

[Assyrian]

what kind of maintenance would be required if you get drilled rotors?

Drilled = looks good, but makes the rotor weaker and more prone to cracking under heavy use.

I guess you can say that having drilled rotors does not always equate to more maintenance, but drilled rotors definitely is more maintenance on average.

[jdsun1]

Like krook I would like to know about what tyoe of maintenance is on the cross drilled. Mainly because I have them and the brembo blanks.

[hskrsolara]

More maintenance, due to Shorter life? I have the brembo cross drilled, not slotted, and I am pretty sure he is equating more maintenance with the shorter life span that c/d rotors typically have (compared to blanks).

[Russian Mafia]

I have cross drilled brembo's. Time will show, but right now they are awesome, much better then stock ones. Now i just need better rubber, but that is to come in the spring.

P.S. Just got Dunlop M3 for winter, have not had a chance to test them in the snow, but on dry road they are pretty good (for winter tires).