Originally posted by Alan Coles:
Originally posted by Todd TCE:
Define 'better'.

If you have delusions of better stopping with one rotor over another it simply won't happen. Brake torque is an equation of leverage and such. Rotors of like diameter have no effect on torque.

Better may simply be the ones you like better for looks, have plating on them for better rust prevention, or are cheaper for a better price.


Todd, what about the friction between the pad and the rotor?
If I understand that interaction correctly (and it may be that I don't), the friction is created not by the pad to rotor contact but by the pad depositing material on the rotor and the friction that is created between the pad and the pad material deposited on the rotor.

Wouldn't the rotor's composition iron vs. stainless steel, etc., affect this or would the differences be so small as to be inconsequential?

Regards, Alan



It's a mixture of abrasive and, ummmm, "whatever-it's-called" friction that you describe, and I think it depends more on pad material except in exotic cases like carbon rotors. Almost any rotor you can buy is cast iron, as stainless steel makes a poor rotor material.

Now, not all cast iron is created equal. The casting process can vary. There's a lot more to metallurgy than meets the eye. Still, the rotor "brand" shouldn't affect your stopping power a great deal, but it may affect how often you replace your rotors.


Function before fashion. '96 Contour SE "Toss the Contour into a corner, and it's as easy to catch as a softball thrown by a preschooler." -Edmunds, 1998