One of the first rules every new car owner learns is that they need to check on their braking system every once in a while. The braking system consists of over 40 parts but the most visible ones are the brake pads and the brake rotors. The brake rotors are visible from the wheels and they are the circular discs that the pads press into to stop the wheel’s rotation during braking. There is a lot of friction produced during braking and in turn this friction results in heat. The brake rotors have to quickly get rid of this heat through convention in order for the system to be usable again. In this guide, you will see steps on how to go about upgrading your brake rotors to ones that suit your needs.

Types of Brake Rotors

There are four distinct types of brake rotors and these are conventional rotors, drilled rotors, slotted rotors and a combination of drilled and slotted rotors. Conventional rotors are smooth and lack any groves or holes. They are the most popular and cheapest and come in ceramic, iron or steel. If you are driving on a normal road, then conventional brake disc is the best bet for you. On the other hand, drilled rotors are the best option for heavy vehicles such as tow trucks. They need to handle a lot more heat and the holes are designed to dissipate as much heat as possible.

Uses Of Slotted Rotors.

Slotted rotors are designed for vehicles that require a lot of braking. They are best for vehicles travelling mostly in rough terrain and a combination of both drilled and slotted rotors work best in racing cars. Racing vehicles produce a lot of heat and that’s why you’ll see the rotors shining red hot in the heat of a race. This heat has to be quickly dissipated and the brake rotors have to handle as much heat as possible. However, this leaves them susceptible to wear and tear and that’s why racing vehicles change their braking systems almost every month.

Deciding The Material Of Your Braking Motors.

As observed, brake rotors come in ceramic, iron or steel. Iron is heavier as compared to the two and this is why they are more popular with heavier vehicles. However, once iron rotors break down or can’t sustain the braking system they become unbearably heavy on the steering system and you’ll notice some difficulty in steering. However, unlike steel, iron rotors don’t bend easily unless they undergo too much strain. You will notice steel brake rotors producing a shrill sound when the wheels turn.

Ceramic brake motors are mostly found in high end luxury vehicles since they are designed to optimized on faster breaking at top speeds. Ceramic rotors are however quite brittle and will easily crack or break under intense pressure.

Aluminum Brake Rotors

Aluminum is quickly becoming a preferred rotor material for its cheap cost and versatility. Unlike steel rotors, aluminum doesn’t rust and retains its smooth surface longer than even steel rotors. However, you can’t resurface aluminum despite its cheap cost and easy availability.