Thread: Slotted rotors - Worth it?

NJZ fitted slotted rotors on his '97 D1; best he give you an opinion on their effectiveness. He was also told recently that slotted rotors chew pads and that perhaps Defender discs could be used! Over to Nik...

The DBA slotted rotors seem to work well and many people on this site swear by them. I was recently told the slotted rotors can chew up pads but I haven't had them on long enough to see any major wear. If you want a real upgrade you can easily swap to defender front calipers and vented rotors.

I hope they work, I just bought a set for the Rangie.

Yeah I got a set for my defender when I warped the last set (normal first ones from LR)

I recon I have 20% more stopping power, but that could come from straight disks and new pads .. but they can lock the defender up 4 wheels when ever I want now ....

I feel much more confident with them .. but I do get more brake dust .. but thats a given.

I have them on the RR, fronts and soon rear also. Excellent braking, I haven't noticed any pad wear more than usual and they don't seem to fade as much either. I'm happy.

JC

Slotted rotors will provide better cooling but should have no effect at all on the actual brake effectiveness or pedal pressure (until the discs heat up). Any apparent improvement in pedal pressure or effectiveness in normal use will be a reflection of the worn out brakes you replaced, and perhaps changes in the pads, plus the fact that you now have new fluid that won't boil a bit above blood temperature.

Where they WILL be an improvement, is where the brakes are used consistently in circumstances where they get hot enough to lose effectiveness (which with disc brakes is pretty hot unless the fluid has absorbed water and boils!). This would be if you operate at close to maximum weight, or live in very hilly country, or regularly tow an inadequately braked trailer - or usually drive like a lunatic.

John

we run slotted discs all round on the Defender with braided brake lines, Bendix 4x4 pads and run 235/85/16 tyres and usually loaded up to close the max when touring and have great stopping power' far better than standard well worth the effort to upgrade.

I've run plain and slotted. This biggest difference I have found (depite all of the brake theory) is actually caused by using better brake pads.