rotors quality vs. price

übertek · 09-19-2005, 08:41 AM

looking at rotors

the DBA's from AWE are $299 for front, 189 for back...

is there a major quality difference between that one and the ECS rotor below for $199 front/$169 back? both can be cadmium or zinc coated so they don't corrode as easily.

thanks for any iquiries

Pat · 09-19-2005, 09:15 AM

Not sure about DBA, but the slots in my coated ECS rotors wore out in ten months.

nobodeuno · 09-19-2005, 09:18 AM

from what I have read DBA's are a good choice and there are quite a few running them without issue. Hopefully they will chime in. Also remember to bed them correctly!

Good Luck

BiturboBoy_V2.0_S3-- · 09-19-2005, 09:19 AM

übertek · 09-19-2005, 09:19 AM

not yet anyway. we'll see how things go

BiturboBoy_V2.0_S3-- · 09-19-2005, 09:27 AM

protective coating near the centers. the coating there is good for corrosion resistance. also dba has a "kanaroo paw" pattern for venting...assumng ECS is like OEM. not sure how much difference that makes.
if it were me i'd give zimmerman a try. they have plain as well as drilled. I'd get the plain as i don't want to deal with any issues that drilling may cause (would rpobably overweight he benfits for me)

link below has pic of drilled zimmerman's. seems they have the centers coated too.

Pat · 09-19-2005, 09:28 AM

Ginseng Sniper™ · 09-19-2005, 09:33 AM

WECoyote-SuperGenius · 09-19-2005, 09:50 AM

the dba 4000's. the dba's don't pull. Both times that I replaced the rotors, new mintex pads were also put on.
At this time, I would buy the dba's again, over the ecs's.
The coating (on the non braking surface areas of the rotors) do not hold up too long with either brand.
btw: i have the ecs's on my wifes A4 (oem sizes) with no issues.

pic of a used ecs vs. new dba:

used dba (in service for about six months now

RKA · 09-19-2005, 09:58 AM

The drilling won't help your performance, and it will chew through your pads like cheesegraters. The slots create vibrations in some cases (namely DBA's), and again, little to no performance benefit.

If you want any serious gain in performance, start looking at big brake kits. Otherwise, just get OEM replacments. I got a set of OEM front rotors from Germanautoparts.com for something like $165 I think.

09-19-2005, 08:41 AM	#1
übertek Member Account #: 90395 Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 10,175	rotors quality vs. price looking at rotors the DBA's from AWE are $299 for front, 189 for back... is there a major quality difference between that one and the ECS rotor below for $199 front/$169 back? both can be cadmium or zinc coated so they don't corrode as easily. thanks for any iquiries __________________ 2007 VW Passat Wagon 2.0t the t is for turd!

09-19-2005, 09:15 AM	#2
Pat AudiWorld Super User Account #: 7507 Join Date: Jul 2000 Posts: 9,176	.... Not sure about DBA, but the slots in my coated ECS rotors wore out in ten months. __________________ Fun is awesome. "Of all the extreme sports I've ever participated in- windsurfing, kite boarding, wake boarding, tow-in surfing and snowboarding- skiing, for me, made everything else easy." -Chuck Patterson

09-19-2005, 09:18 AM	#3
nobodeuno AudiWorld Senior Member Account #: 25538 Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 1,815	I would not skimp on Rotors....pay the extra money... from what I have read DBA's are a good choice and there are quite a few running them without issue. Hopefully they will chime in. Also remember to bed them correctly! Good Luck __________________ -Justin- 01.5 S4, Santorin, 6 speed ::18x8.5 Hartmann RS4 DTM w/ Somitomo HTRZ III:: ::Eibach Pro Street S Coilovers:: ::APR V5:: ::AWE Twin2:: ::ASP TSB w/ Vast Snub:: ::Adjustible ToyGuy SS:: ::AMS TBB w/ 710N's:: ::20gb Phatbox:: ::HCB-700 BT Kit:: ::Painted RS4 Grill::

09-19-2005, 09:19 AM	#4
BiturboBoy_V2.0_S3-- Elder Member Account #: 13456 Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 12,499	what pads were you running? __________________ AWESOME post, funny and informative for newbs...its not all right but i suggest you click!

09-19-2005, 09:19 AM	#5
übertek Member Account #: 90395 Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 10,175	no problem, i'm getting everything changed, except the calipers... not yet anyway. we'll see how things go __________________ 2007 VW Passat Wagon 2.0t the t is for turd!

09-19-2005, 09:27 AM	#6
BiturboBoy_V2.0_S3-- Elder Member Account #: 13456 Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 12,499	well in the second picture, the rotors don't have that black protective coating near the centers. the coating there is good for corrosion resistance. also dba has a "kanaroo paw" pattern for venting...assumng ECS is like OEM. not sure how much difference that makes. if it were me i'd give zimmerman a try. they have plain as well as drilled. I'd get the plain as i don't want to deal with any issues that drilling may cause (would rpobably overweight he benfits for me) link below has pic of drilled zimmerman's. seems they have the centers coated too. __________________ AWESOME post, funny and informative for newbs...its not all right but i suggest you click!

09-19-2005, 09:28 AM	#7
Pat AudiWorld Super User Account #: 7507 Join Date: Jul 2000 Posts: 9,176	Pagid Sport Blues __________________ Fun is awesome. "Of all the extreme sports I've ever participated in- windsurfing, kite boarding, wake boarding, tow-in surfing and snowboarding- skiing, for me, made everything else easy." -Chuck Patterson

09-19-2005, 09:33 AM	#8
Ginseng Sniper™ Junior Member Account #: 79295 Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 1,821	So what rotors would you recommend aside from big brake upgrades? what is a good OEM replacement? __________________ BbSrS4rNsES4oEm+UsPGOODNESS

09-19-2005, 09:50 AM	#9
WECoyote-SuperGenius Member Account #: 10452 Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 9,705	previous rotors (slotted) ecs, they always tended to pull during braking, current rotors are........ the dba 4000's. the dba's don't pull. Both times that I replaced the rotors, new mintex pads were also put on. At this time, I would buy the dba's again, over the ecs's. The coating (on the non braking surface areas of the rotors) do not hold up too long with either brand. btw: i have the ecs's on my wifes A4 (oem sizes) with no issues. pic of a used ecs vs. new dba: used dba (in service for about six months now __________________ Long Island, New York

09-19-2005, 09:58 AM	#10
RKA Member Account #: 2062 Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 67,038	My opinion...get OEM replacements and be done with it. The drilling won't help your performance, and it will chew through your pads like cheesegraters. The slots create vibrations in some cases (namely DBA's), and again, little to no performance benefit. If you want any serious gain in performance, start looking at big brake kits. Otherwise, just get OEM replacments. I got a set of OEM front rotors from Germanautoparts.com for something like $165 I think. __________________ 2005.5 A4 Avant 2.0T Quattro 6MT APR 91/93/100 \| APR Exhaust \| 19" BBS RS-GT's \| Carbonio \| Hotchkis \| Partridge-in-a-pear-tree Others: 2006 TL on the block 2001 S4 sold 2000 A4 sold * September 11th, 2001 - Never Forget *

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