Drilled, Slotted, drilled and slotted, OEM

[gridgirl]

OK I've read MANY contradictory opinions on the internet on this topic. I thought I narrow the opinions to the Audi crowd. I've got a 2006 TT 1.8 225 that I like to track occasionally (3-4 times a summer), and do a little autocross. I'm a new driver, so I'm not as hard on the brakes as some. I'd love to hear real experiences with the different types of rotors. I've been reading some comments on various options and manufacturers, but many of the posts talk about how "cool" they look. While I like wheel bling as much as the next person, I really want to be able to stop my car when it's going 130mph and I don't want to crack or warp the rotors every time I do. Oh, and I got over brake dust! The only solution to that is driving better and braking less! Any thoughts would be appreciated!

[ChipB]

My advice:

Rotors: stick with stock, or aftermarket "plain" rotors. Some advanced drivers say they like the initial bite that slotted rotors provide, but it's at the cost of faster brake pad wear, and unless you're an advanced driver you probably can't tell the difference anyway. IMHO, drilled rotors are for the bling effect only. In the old days it was claimed that the drilled holes alowed "brake shoe gasses" to escape from under the brake pad and prevent the pad from floating over the rotor. But with the modern formulations of brake pad materials that hasn't been issue in years. Some cheap drilled rotors may have an increased tendency to crack, due to the stress concentrations that build up around the holes under hard braking, and so some vendors make a point to say they've got unique features that reduce the stress (like tapered holes) or superior quality control that eliminate the issue. But since your brake rotors act as a big heat sink, the more material you remove in drilling then the less heat sink you have left over. I've never seen any credible claims that drilled rotors provide any performance improvement over plain.

[Just Me]

yep, for 99.99% of the population drilled rotors simply cost more and are more suceptible to cracking and exploding.

i have many hundreds of track laps on plain old rotors. not the audi, tho

G

[aaron1085]

more thoughts on slotted rotors? I installed some that are zinv coated (they look quite pretty) and some akebono ceramic pads.

I have yet to track this combo yet...thoughts?!

[Just Me]

My thoughts are simple. Holes and slots simpyl accelerate wear and weaken the rotor. Slots are certainly better in this regard. But Bernoulli effects are no longer common, so the reason for them to exist is gone. They are now affectations. Ignore true races cars. Their cost and durability requirements, plus their componentry, is so vastly different that its irrelevant.

Unless you also want to re-build your motor every 1000 miles too.

G

[pocketchange]

Cryo treated rotors and EBC KEVLAR (Yellowstuff) is good and reasonably priced.

Or you could mortgage the farm and step up to the BBK AP Racing kit!

Best bang for the buck would be the first selection though.
Bleed the fluid too!
pc