Performance Brake Rotors

The friction created during brake operation creates heat that must be dispersed to prevent brake fade and component damage. Disc brakes are a significant improvement over drum brakes because the exposed disc brake rotor cools much more easily than the enclosed friction surface of a drum, and all factory front and many rear rotors are vented to further improve cooling. However, performance driving and hauling heavy loads or towing with a truck can create heat that even the best OE brake rotors can’t handle. You can significantly improve your vehicle’s stopping capability with our performance brake rotors.

If you push your car hard on twisty roads or at the race track, or your hard-working truck gets rigorous use, you can experience brake fade and dangerously longer stopping distances with factory brake rotors. You can get the performance you want and the safety you need by upgrading to performance brake rotors. They have metallurgy and features specifically designed to dissipate heat and remain true, for superior braking performance even under severe operating conditions. We offer a large selection of rotors in a variety of constructions so you can get the rotors that best suit your needs and budget.

While the materials used for brake rotor construction are proprietary formulations unique to the manufacturer, in general they are all designed to provide consistent braking performance at high temperatures. Cast iron rotors may have a high carbon or silicon content for added strength and resistance to distortion at high temperatures that could otherwise cause shudder, vibration and fade. Carbon ceramic rotors were originally developed for racing. They’re manufactured from a mixture of fibers, resins and powders that combine to create lightweight components that are also resistant to deformation at extreme temperatures. But in addition to better materials, performance brake rotors also have design features that allow them to run cooler and provide shorter stopping distances.

The friction surfaces of performance rotors are drilled or slotted, or have a combination of the two features, to cool the rotor, allow water and pad gasses to escape, and provide better pad contact. Some rotors also have directional cooling vanes to further aid cooling and these are designed to be installed on a specific side of the vehicle. Another way to decrease stopping distance is with larger diameter rotors that can provide greater braking leverage, and the best way to get them is in our big brake kits. These kits also include multi-piston calipers and performance compound brake pads that can supply much greater clamping force. Keep in mind that running bigger rotors, which also positions the caliper further away from the hub, may require mounting larger diameter custom wheels.

You can see a lot of brake components behind today’s open design, large diameter rims, and wouldn’t you rather display big drilled and slotted rotors and multi-piston calipers instead of small, plain OE rotors and calipers? Larger diameter performance brake rotors can be heavier than OE components, though. To reduce the weight some have 2-piece construction with the center mounting area made of lightweight aluminum. This weight reduction decreases unsprung weight and rotational mass, reducing the load on the suspension and improving handling. Floating rotors are the ultimate 2-piece design. The friction surface can expand independently from the center section, and the rotor is better able to remain parallel to the brake pads and centered within the caliper, for effective braking and long pad life.