Brake Rotors – How Do They Work?
Your vehicle even if it’s the Fred Flintstone’s car or whatever it may be, requires a braking system. Brake rotors or what used to be called brake discs are the main component of the brake system. This system works with the brake pads pressing down on the rotors to slow down and eventually stop the rotation of the rotor. When the rotors stop rotating, the vehicle also comes to a full stop. There are a variety of materials or elements that can be used in manufacturing brake rotors which could be heavy cast iron, carbon or other specialized materials.
There are two major types of brake rotors used in transportations today, namely the drilled and slotted. To determine which type to use on your vehicle may largely be dependent on how you want your vehicle to perform. The drilled brake rotors have holes drilled through them. In earlier days, there was a problem with heat in the brake system. The holes were positioned to help ventilate the heat caused by the friction between the brake pad and the rotor. When this heat is not aired out, it could lead to brake fade that diminishes the brakes power. Another reason is water wherein a wet brake rotor can be slippery causing brake failure. However with the drilled brake rotor, the holes moves gas, heat and water from the surface of the rotor ensuring the brakes stopping power.
The second type is the slotted brake rotor which instead of holes would have slots on the surface of the rotor. This type is much more durable than the drilled and performs better but tends to wear out the brake pads faster. This is the ideal brake rotor used for car racing due to its higher stopping power required to halt a speeding car. One thing to remember though is that regardless of what brake rotor you are using, drilled or slotted – keeping your brake system in top condition is a must to get the best performance in your brake rotor.