question about stock rotors

Xterminater · Sep 6, 2009, 12:15 PM

Hey all. I just had my car for an oil change today at Firestone and they told me I need to get my rotors changed soon! The car only has 24k miles on it and it's a 09 es sport. Everything in there is stock I haven't mess with anything beside the air intake from RRM. I asked them if it needs resurfacing or not they told me all 4 rotors need to be replaced, I'm like uhmm why do it need to be replaced so soon and I'm not even driving the car crazy hard or off road or anything. They couldn't give me an answer, however they do have paperwork to show me the stats of the rotors. Should I actually replace them and call the dealer up to tell them why are their stock rotor so ****ty that it needs to be replaced so soon?

Please advise, and if I do need new rotors like firestone said and the dealer won't replace me free of charge, where can I get slot-drilled rotors for my car at a good deal? it's a 09 lancer es sport

ambystom01 · Sep 6, 2009, 12:26 PM

If you want, you could find out the stock specs (minimum thickness before replacement) and measure the rotors yourself.
Drilled rotors are a waste of time as are slotted. They're just visual bling. If you want the cheapest option to get you back on the road, buy some NAPA blanks or something similar. There is no braking difference between solid rotors and slotted, I've tried both on track.

lancer0220 · Sep 6, 2009, 01:11 PM

LOL firestone is Fu8king with you bad, my brothers 08 es has 60k miles and the stock brakes and rotors are just fine. on my 09 gts i have 31k miles and my stock rotors and brakes are in Great shape. dont worry about it, firestone was just out to get $ especially since they couldnt tell you why.

Xterminater · Sep 6, 2009, 04:33 PM

thats what I figured too! but how can I check myself? visually they looked GREAT! but isn't slotted drilled rotors better than regular rotors cause they disperse heat better?

ambystom01 · Sep 6, 2009, 04:37 PM

No, slotted rotors are intended to remove the layer of gas that can get trapped between the rotor and the pad.

Xterminater · Sep 6, 2009, 06:14 PM

would that improve breaking time or anything? apparently slotted rotors are made for a reason? :\ I saw some EBC or whatever it is two front is like 190 and two back are 200 so total about 400 for all four slotted rotors.... can I get them anywhere cheaper?

ambystom01 · Sep 6, 2009, 06:20 PM

No, braking distance wouldn't change at all. Slotted rotors are made because people who think they drive hard enough on the street to warrant them will buy them, even if they're useless.

jer301 · Sep 6, 2009, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ambystom01

No, braking distance wouldn't change at all. Slotted rotors are made because people who think they drive hard enough on the street to warrant them will buy them, even if they're useless.

I have not met a road racer or autox'r yet who did not think that the drilled or slotted rotors are a waste of money. I did have somebody tell me they thought they had reduced break performance, but i don't think that with the holes drilled or slotts you are losing enough surface area contact to make any diff whatsoever.

ambystom01 · Sep 6, 2009, 07:30 PM

I have noticed that slotted rotors eat pads a lot faster and are generally noisier.

djslik408 · Sep 7, 2009, 03:43 AM

You dont need to replace your rotors. I have 44k miles on my 08 GTS and they are still stock. 24k miles on your car tho seems crazy to replace all four at that low mileage.

Xterminater · Sep 8, 2009, 08:06 PM

so in general slotted rotors are a waste of money? then why all newer car and sport cars have it?

ambystom01 · Sep 8, 2009, 09:52 PM

It depends, if the car is designed with performance in mind, they can be a good idea. I personally haven't seen any cars come stock with slotted rotors. I've seen plenty with drilled rotors but none with slotted. Maybe I'm just not looking closely enough at rotors. For your purposes, slotted or drilled rotors would be a waste of money from a performance standpoint. If you want them for looks, go for it.

evo_soul · Sep 8, 2009, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xterminater

would that improve breaking time or anything? apparently slotted rotors are made for a reason? :\ I saw some EBC or whatever it is two front is like 190 and two back are 200 so total about 400 for all four slotted rotors.... can I get them anywhere cheaper?

KVR is providing a J hook slotted rotor. AP Racing Taps them too. I hear nothing but positive reviews about them. I am personally torn between getting cross drill or the J hooks. Better performance/ Visual appeal vs. all out braking performance of the Jhooks.

A good set of pads help too. The Kevlar pads seem to last a long time and dont have much squeel to them.

Xterminater · Sep 10, 2009, 07:11 PM

evo_soul... how much am I looking at for those J hook rotor cost me? and is it really worth getting it just for my 09 es sport? and the kevlar pads too?

cause right now at 80mph+ breaking my steering wheels shakes and I just have my wheels rotate and aligned!

what could be the cause to this?

ambystom01 · Sep 10, 2009, 08:11 PM

Your rotors are ****ed, that's the cause. It could be that the rotors are warped (if that even happens, Stoptech doesn't seem to believe so) or you have uneven pad transfer. Either way, the rotors either need machining, or replacing.
I have yet to see evidence that these J-hook rotors actually do what they say they do. Even if that is true, whether you would notice it and whether it's worth paying a premium for is highly debatable. Personally I view rotors as wear items, there's no point in paying a high amount for a product that will just get worn down, at least not if the lower cost item will show the same performance. If you're a hardcore track addict, expensive rotors (ie. 2-piece rotors) make sense because you absolutely need the extra cooling, strength and ease of replacement. However, if you're just driving around town, save yourself the money and just buy whatever is cheapest.