You may look at a brake rotor as a slab of metal that has most of your braking system's components working together but the truth is that it's more than just that. A rotor is what determines not only the performance of your brake pads but also the way your braking system will act even when it's been pushed to the limit.
However simple they may look, DBA rotors, can drastically improve both the endurance and performance of your brakes. But that is only the case if you go for the right type of brake rotor as not all are made the same.
Types of Brake Rotors
Solid
The simplest and most commonly used type of DBA brake rotor is a solid one. This is indeed a piece of metal, in this case, iron, which is both flat and affordable for manufacturers. Solid DBA brake rotors are fitted on most commercial vehicles big and small as they are able to provide ample braking power since they have a large surface area. But solid rotors are not made for long braking periods as they can heat up rather quickly.
Vented
When you want to introduce greater braking performance and avoid your brakes heating up so much even after prolonged use, you should go for vented rotors. A vented rotor comes with slots that help heat escape a lot easier than it would from a solid brake rotor. Thanks to convective heat transfer, the heat from one rotor surface goes to the other one and cools the rotor surface that the pads are on.
What to Look for in a Brake Rotor
Material
Cast iron is the most commonly used material for the making of brake rotors and that's been the case for DBA rotors too. Cast iron makes for a heavy rotor but also one that can last a long time even when it comes to performance vehicles.
Steel rotors are the way to go if you want to compete on the track. They are both thinner and lighter than cast iron rotors and make for better handling. But steel rotors are not as durable as cast iron ones.
Layered steel rotors are made by having layers of steel put together and laminated so that they can resist warping which makes them a better option than regular steel rotors.
With aluminium rotors you can expect quick heat dissipation as well as a lightweight solution. But keep in mind that aluminium rotors can't take a lot of wear and they're not recommended for racing.
High-carbon DBA brake rotors are still made of iron but they have carbon thrown in the mix. This makes them dissipate heat better without losing on durability but you'll lose more when spending on such rotors.
Ceramic rotors are everyone's favourite when it comes to high-performance cars as they provide the best heat dissipation and are rather durable too. They are also the priciest option.
Fading Resistance
We all want rotors with high fade resistance but not all cars require you to have such rotors. Although high fade resistance means a more durable rotor as it's able to handle a lot of friction and heat without wearing out as much, if you don't go hard on the brakes such DBA rotors are going to be overkill.
Crack Resistance
What's more important for any type of rotor is crack resistance. If you want the best solution when it comes to crack resistance you should go for solid rotors as anything with holes in it loses some structural integrity for the sake of performance.
Brake Wear
Brakes will wear out no matter how good of a driver you are, meaning you don't have that much control over brake wear. But what you do have control over is the type of DBA brake rotor surface you go for. Smooth and blank surfaces are the best when it comes to wearing down pads the slowest.
Cooling
On the other hand, you have heat dissipation which requires having the smallest contact area possible to ensure the rotors don't heat up and warp. This is where holes matter more than structural integrity or longevity.
Grip
When you want your brakes to have a strong bite then you need a grippy surface for them to put pressure on. In this case, you'll want to have rotors with a pattern on them. This pattern will increase its surface area in a different way than what a solid rotor does.
Wet Conditions
What holes also help with is getting rid of water. When you're driving in the wet and you still want to get the best out of your brakes, vented rotors are the way to go as they will make almost no difference in braking performance no matter the weather conditions.
Slotted vs Drilled
The big question here is which type of rotor performs better. Well, in certain cases a slotted rotor works better when it comes to providing a balance between durability and braking performance. The channels or grooves can still let heat escape but not as good as the holes in drilled rotors. Drilled rotors are better for towing and performance applications while slotted ones are best for a combination of both city and track driving but they don't excel in any case.
