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Disk brake rotors question

perry shooterperry shooter Member Posts: 17,105 ✭✭✭
edited October 2012 in General Discussion
does anyone know WHY they don't make disk brake rotors out of Stainless Steel[?] I have one Car I only drive during warmer weather . The disk brake rotors get very rusty, not only do they then look like crap but they are very abrasive to the pads[:(][:(!]. I have tried high end drilled and grooved rotors and they are even worst. The drilled holes and grooves rust up and are even more abrasive.I know rotors are cast iron.Does anyone make cast Stainless rotors[?] And if not why[?][?] What do people that have SHOW cars do [?] I know you can buy high end calibers with high temp color treatment "BTDT" but what about the friction surface of the rotors themself.

edit Hey bruce You are right[:I] zinging me if fair play for me zinging you [^][^]If I drove like my age it would never be a problem .However I have always had a proformance
car and like to drive on both street and track at VIR.shall we say in a spirted manner. When the car sits for 3 or 4 months at a time the darn rotors look like a sunken ship that has been on the bottom for 50 years. the vented rotors fill up the vents with rust. I found some high end pads and calibers from Bavarian Autosports that work and look great but can't get rotors that don't rust. They dont just turn brown they crust up and flake off the flaked off stuff clog the vents and drilled holes. I would look into carbon fiber like on some race cars but my pockets are not that deep [}:)][;)]

edit IIThanks guys some good suggestions [:)][8D][^]
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Comments

  • minitruck83minitruck83 Member Posts: 5,369
    edited November -1
    They're self cleaning.



    Sllen
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  • gjshawgjshaw Member Posts: 14,760 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Not all cast iron is made the same. The better cast or billet steel rotors will not rust and I switched to the ceramic pads and that helped with the dust from the rotors.
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  • bpostbpost Member Posts: 32,669 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Just drive it more often, you can't take it with you so enjoy it!!!!

    Or get these [:)]

    http://www.edmunds.com/car-technology/ceramic-composite-brakes.html
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  • RosieRosie Member Posts: 14,525 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    It takes very little heat to warp steel. I built machines to test drums and rotors.
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  • AlpineAlpine Member Posts: 15,092 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    They do make SS rotors, for boat trailer brakes.
    ?The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.?
    Margaret Thatcher

    "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics."
    Mark Twain
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  • savage170savage170 Member Posts: 37,553 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/KeywordSearchCmd?Ne=1+2+3+13+1147708+1147708&Ntt=884&Ntk=brand&manufacturer=Stainless-Steel-Brakes&langId=-1&storeId=10001&N=4294962232&catalogId=10002&Nty=0
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  • TANK78ZTANK78Z Member Posts: 1,365 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Perry,
    Replacement stainless steel rotors are available for MANY cars and light trucks/suvs,and motorcycles.
    Jeg's carries some of them as do other big parts suppliers , they may not be available for your vehicle , but they are out there.
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  • select-fireselect-fire Member Posts: 69,494 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Don't get too excited about those. Unless they are 300 grade stainless they will rust and pit. Just cause it is stainless steel doesn't mean it won't rust.
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  • MMOMEQ-55MMOMEQ-55 Member Posts: 13,134
    edited November -1
    Both boat trailers have SS rotors. They originally had cast drums and everything would rust up. I replaced everything I could with stainless. Didn't make sense putting cast iron drums on an aluminum trailer.

    The reason why they put cast on cars, I am guessing, is because it is cheaper.
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  • HandLoadHandLoad Member Posts: 15,998 ✭
    edited November -1
    I think, but don't have the figures handy, that Cast Iron has the Highest Specific Heat of the spectrum of suitable Rotor Metals. That is, it takes more Heat (BTUs) to raise the Rotor Temp, so Brakes Fade and Wear a lot less.

    SSBC (Stainless Steel Brake Corp) has packages for Many, if not Most, Vehicles.

    I favor Cast Iron, as I really Really Depend on the Maximum performance from my Brakes, and for the Brakes on my Wife's Vehicle. I also Never machine the surfaces after one run. I buy Another Set of Rotors instead. When The Rotors are Machined, they lose Mass, which makes the Temp rise Faster, and the Fade Happen Sooner. It is Cheaper to replace Cast Iron than Ceramic or Stainless Rotors.

    [EDIT]: If ya want brakes to stay clean, take the "SPORTY" for a drive once a Month or so!!! <GRIN>

    If ya want Better Brakes, then either Force Cool them, a la NASCAR/Racing Cars, Install Bigger Brakes (WILWOOD, Brembo, et al) or Do Both!
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  • AlpineAlpine Member Posts: 15,092 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by HandLoad
    I think, but don't have the figures handy, that Cast Iron has the Highest Specific Heat of the spectrum of suitable Rotor Metals. That is, it takes more Heat (BTUs) to raise the Rotor Temp, so Brakes Fade and Wear a lot less.

    SSBC (Stainless Steel Brake Corp) has packages for Many, if not Most, Vehicles.

    I favor Cast Iron, as I really Really Depend on the Maximum performance from my Brakes, and for the Brakes on my Wife's Vehicle. I also Never machine the surfaces after one run. I buy Another Set of Rotors instead. When The Rotors are Machined, they lose Mass, which makes the Temp rise Faster, and the Fade Happen Sooner. It is Cheaper to replace Cast Iron than Ceramic or Stainless Rotors.

    [EDIT]: If ya want brakes to stay clean, take the "SPORTY" for a drive once a Month or so!!! <GRIN>

    If ya want Better Brakes, then either Force Cool them, a la NASCAR/Racing Cars, Install Bigger Brakes (WILWOOD, Brembo, et al) or Do Both!


    While true that machining takes mass off the rotor, for a rotor that weighs 7 pounds taking off 3 ounces is insignificant.

    But hey if you want to unnecessarily buy new rotors, that's certainly your prerogative.
    ?The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.?
    Margaret Thatcher

    "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics."
    Mark Twain
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  • bambambambambambam Member Posts: 4,818 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I clicked on the link to look at the rotors![:0]

    My normal rotors are ~$25 & the SS are $125!!![:0][:0]
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  • HandLoadHandLoad Member Posts: 15,998 ✭
    edited November -1
    Yep^^^ you're Right.

    Over many Years of Motoring, I learned via personal experience, that remachined Rotors Warp with maybe Triple or Quadruple the frequency of New Rotors. Add to that the Mismount, then subsequent Skewed Thickensses of the Remachined Rotors, I ended up with Hot and Cold sections of the rotor, even if they were not warped. It was just easier to install New. Differential costs are not so bad, IMHO.
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  • bambambambambambam Member Posts: 4,818 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by HandLoad
    Yep^^^ you're Right.

    Over many Years of Motoring, I learned via personal experience, that remachined Rotors Warp with maybe Triple or Quadruple the frequency of New Rotors. Add to that the Mismount, then subsequent Skewed Thickensses of the Remachined Rotors, I ended up with Hot and Cold sections of the rotor, even if they were not warped. It was just easier to install New. Differential costs are not so bad, IMHO.


    Yep, cost me $17 to have a rotor set turned down.
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