Brake discs are available in various types. If you plan to purchase a new brake disc set, it would be advisable that you take some time to understand the differences between them and the components that make them unique. You should also be aware of the benefits and limitations of each style.
- Drilled
- Slotted
- Drilled and Slotted
Drilled: You will find no problem in recognizing drilled brakes as they have a pattern of drilled holes in the metal
Slotted: Slotted brakes contain slots, these slots look like there are lines present on the metal
Drilled and Slotted: Slotted and drilled brake rotors join the slot marking with the drill marking
Blank/Smooth: The name explains it all, smooth or blank brake disks have a plain or smooth surface that doesn’t contain markings or holes in metal.
These brake disc names describe the style of their appearance quite accurately and you will have no problem telling the type of disk present on your car despite being new when it comes to vehicle maintenance or ordering brake parts.
Once you go through the various kinds of brake rotors, you should know about the things that make them unique and favorable for different types of vehicles. Because all cars are completely different to each other, the types of brake discs used in them are different too. For instance, brake discs used in sports car will not go well with trucks. Let us take a deeper look to understand the difference between all the brake disk types.
Drilled
Drilled brake disks are perfect for improving your vehicle’s performance on the streets. If you happen to live in a rainy area, going for drilled brake discs would be an excellent choice. They offer higher friction on wet surfaces, especially when you compare them to slotted brake discs. These discs work well in wet surfaces because of the holes drilled in them, which provide an escape route to the water. It allows the braking system to dry effectively. The less watery the surface is the better the brake’s performance will be.
These brake discs are not suitable for racing vehicles because of the extreme temperatures involved in it. In addition drilled brake discs also deteriorate a sport’s car’s overall visual aesthetic. Street vehicles are where these disc brakes shine the most.
Slotted
Slotted brake discs are excellent for off-road driving, hauling/towing, track/autocross, competition cars, and street performance. Make sure that you get the best quality of brake rotors when choosing slotted brake discs.
They tend to crack quickly if they are not machined properly. Slotted brake discs are quite consistent as they reduce brake pad friction significantly. They are an excellent option for the long run and reliable for efficient braking especially for heavy duty cars.
Slotted brake disk tend to become a bit noisy in the long run, but they continue to perform effectively.
Drilled and Slotted
Drilled and slotted brake disks are perfect for off-road, hauling/towing, and street performance. Similar to drilled disk brakes, they perform well in wet climates. Quite a lot of luxury cars these days use these kinds of rotors. Car owners who want first rate maintenance along with consistency would greatly benefit from drilled and slotted brake discs.
Heavy duty cars, trucks, and tow vehicles benefit from drilled and slotted rotors the most. Heavy vehicles in particular need extra energy to stop with safety, and that is what precisely this brake disc provides them. You can also use these rotors in street vehicles for general use. A major con associated with these rotors is that they aren’t suitable in performance racing. This is because the drilling present in them could possibly make them crack after some time.
Difference between Drilled, Slotted and Drill/Slotted Brake Discs