New brake rotors - recommendations please.

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Originally Posted by Aussie Jeepster

I'm looking at replacing my front and rear rotors in the near future.
I have a set of Akebono pads to fit and was looking for feedback on what has worked (and not worked) for others.
Vehicle is a D3 V6 petrol which sometimes (not often enough!) tow a 2 tonne van.
I've read about RBA discs warping, but the discussion seemed to get to was it really warping, or was it something else, so I thought I'd ask the group.
My plan is to do it myself at home, having done my earlier D1 and my former Perentie.
Hit me up with ideas.

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I have just put on Delios front slotted rotors, and Delphi pads, have not turned a wheel yet so sorry can not comment on how well they work. Removed standard rotors and pads at 120,000. Three of the 4 had about 6mm pad thickness remaining, the fourth, the one with the wear sensor had about 4 mm, discs were quite worn hence the replacement. Good time to do a brake fluid change while you are getting dirty [thumbsupbig], and overall its an easy enough job. My mistake was looking at the caliper mounting bolts and shaking my head at why LR used Torx headed bolts, [bigsad] only to discover that they are actually 21mm double hex (ie like a non-impact socket) Ohhhh well, learn something most days.

Have always found that I get a better life out of my rotors (and the brakes that work well under most conditions), if I fit "soft" pads.
The pads wear, but they grip well, and the rotors last.
Not sure about other disc pad manufacturers, but Bendix certainly can offer pads in varying degress of hardness.
I am using bog standard solid discs, but I don't do much heavy braking, or likely would be looking at slotted discs.
I am fortunate that I live remote and do very little stop start/braking, and average 200,000+k out of rotors, and <80,000 from pads.

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Originally Posted by PeterJ

I have just put on Delios front slotted rotors, and Delphi pads, have not turned a wheel yet so sorry can not comment on how well they work. Removed standard rotors and pads at 120,000. Three of the 4 had about 6mm pad thickness remaining, the fourth, the one with the wear sensor had about 4 mm, discs were quite worn hence the replacement. Good time to do a brake fluid change while you are getting dirty [thumbsupbig], and overall its an easy enough job. My mistake was looking at the caliper mounting bolts and shaking my head at why LR used Torx headed bolts, [bigsad] only to discover that they are actually 21mm double hex (ie like a non-impact socket) Ohhhh well, learn something most days.

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This is an old topic related to the rate of wear on discs and pads, but I thought I'd add something to the info.
I've been surprised at some of the reports of rapid wear on discs and pads on D3/D4's, and suggest it is a combination of what driver style and where they drive, and perhaps what sort of pads they fit.
I have always fitted "soft" pads as I have found they don't seem to chew out the discs. (Easier/cheaper to replace pads than discs.)

My D3 has just logged over 510,000K's mostly in remote areas doing long runs in limited traffic, but plenty of dusty tracks, three desert crossings and kilometres of water wading in the wet season.
As my hand brake activator has died (again), I am currently pulling that item out to have a look at what can be done to it, and it occurred to me that I had not had to touch the rear pads disc in a while.
On checking back through service records, the last time I fitted rear discs and pads was at 251,000k's, and the current pads still have 4mm depth each.
The rear discs have a minor 'lip', they are smooth and flat and have plenty of thickness on them.
So 250,000k's from that set of rear pads and discs.
I happen to have a spare set of new rear discs and pads so will fit them anyway, but mention the k's to highlite that mileage from discs and pads seems dependent on where you drive and perhaps driving style.
The last time I changed front pads was 112,000 k's ago and they are still showing 4mm, but will also get changed shortly.

I have the Pedders rotors and pads front and rear. Ceramic pads apparently from same factory as Akebono. They have been performing as well as factory setup including through some very wet and dusty conditions.

Cheers,
Scott