Location: Conroe, TX. Ram Year: 2014 Ram 1500. Engine: Whipple Supercharged 422' Hemi. Paired up with a quality set of brake pads, slotted rotors are a nice improvement over stock. I prefer the slotted myself over drilled and slotted. Sep 30, 2012 at 9:54 PM #5.
I've always heard mixed things about the slotted/drilled rotors and never figured they were worth the extra money for a street driver, but hoped they might give some relief to the frequent rotor swaps I've come to expect on the Odyssey. Guess I'll just pick up another set of stock rotors for the next go-around.

Do I Need Slotted Rotors
Are Slotted Rotors Worth The Money
Are Slotted Rotors Worth The Extra Money 2020
Drilled And Slotted Rotors

Pros:. better stopping power. heat up less quickly, as the slots provide ventilation. they look cool. some people I know have said their slotted rotors were less prone to warping (I imagine this problem can be solved with nicer traditional rot.

Unless you’re driving a high-end sports car, your car’s brake system is mostly likely equipped with blank brake rotors. Also called smooth or plain rotors, blank rotors work well for most of the driving population, so there’s little reason for most drivers to consider anything else, like slotted rotors. So, what are slotted rotors good for?

For most drivers, blank rotors offer the right mix of braking efficiency and thermal efficiency. If you’re a spirited driver, spend weekends at the track, or tow or haul regularly, slotted rotors can be an improvement. Most slotted rotors feature straight grooves crossing the brake pad path, usually at a tangent to the hub circle. Some slotted rotors also feature curved grooves.

Energy Conversion in the Brake System

The brake system is an energy conversion device. Using friction, the brakes convert kinetic energy (the momentum of your vehicle) into thermal energy (heat), which is absorbed by the brake pads and rotors. The heat eventually radiates to the air or is conducted to other parts of the vehicle, like the wheels, axles, bearings and knuckles. For the average driver, automakers build brake systems to handle a certain amount of heat, how much can be absorbed by the system and how fast it dissipates.

Heat Absorption: Because 70% of braking occurs in the vehicle’s front end, front brakes are heavier than rear brakes, enabling them to absorb more heat. Rear brakes don’t need to absorb as much heat, so solid rear rotors are still common on many vehicles. Some use old-style rear drum brakes for that reason.
Heat Dissipation: To dissipate heat faster, most vehicles are equipped with ventilated front rotors, using airflow to transfer heat to the air. For even more heat dissipation, heavy vehicles, sports cars and work trucks may also be equipped with ventilated rear rotors.

What Are Slotted Rotors’ Advantages and Disadvantages?

Slotted rotors are superior to blank rotors in some ways. Slotted rotor grooves offer two distinct benefits under heavy braking: brake fade, from high-temperature brake pad outgassing, can be significantly reduced, allowing gases to escape through the slots; and the grooves shave off thin layers of brake pad material, reducing glazing and improving braking consistency.

Still, slotted rotors have some disadvantages. Depending on the type of grooving, noises and vibrations are par for the course. The brakes are functioning properly, but their aggressive nature may be off-putting to some drivers. And because of the constant shaving action, brake pad life may be shorter than if they were mated with blank rotors. You may also have a hard time finding someone to machine slotted rotors, even if they’re thick enough to resurface. Some urban legends die hard — they’re just not as forgiving as blank rotors.

Slotted rotors are available for many vehicle types, even economy vehicles. If you’re hard on your brakes and you can stand to give up a little comfort and longevity, slotted brakes could be your ticket to better braking.

Check out all the brake system parts and accessories available on NAPA Online or trust one of our 17,000 NAPA AutoCare locations for routine maintenance and repairs. For more information on slotted rotors, chat with a knowledgeable expert at your local NAPA AUTO PARTS store.

Image via Flickr.

Benjamin Jerew View All

Ben has been taking things apart since he was 5, and putting them back together again since he was 8. After dabbling in DIY repairs at home and on the farm, he found his calling in the CGCC Automobile Repair program. After he held his ASE CMAT for 10 years, Ben decided he needed a change. Now, he writes on automotive topics across the web and around the world, including new automotive technology, transportation legislation, emissions, fuel economy and auto repair.

There are several different types of rotors available for vehicles today: blanks, drilled, slotted, or drilled and slotted.

Do I Need Slotted Rotors

Rotors, which are sometimes called discs, provide a point of contact for your brake pads when you engage the pedal to stop while driving. The pressure from the pedal activates the caliper housing for each set of pads, compressing them into the rotor to create friction. That set of processes reduces the forward momentum of the vehicle, which allows you to come to a complete stop whenever necessary.

The design of drilled and slotted rotors offer drivers the advantages of both designs with minimal side effects. The drilled holes give you better cooling for the heat generated by heavy braking, while the slots work to sweep away gas and dust which come through braking. That also means the disadvantages of both drilled and slotted rotors apply to this product.

Are Slotted Rotors Worth The Money

If you’re thinking about a disc replacement today, then here are the pros and cons of drilled and slotted rotors to think about.

List of the Pros of Drilled and Slotted Rotors

1. They work better in wet climates when frequent precipitation occurs.
When the weather turns wet, does the braking profile of your vehicle change? If it does, then there’s a good chance that you’re using blanks or slotted rotors on your vehicle. Drilling holes in the rotor give the pads a better bite when you engage the braking system. More friction develops when the system engages because the holes offer moisture a place for escape. Even when water is present, the components of your system stay drier, which means your performance is enhanced.

2. They provide support for heavy-duty vehicles.
The slots on rotors provide extra support for all heavy-duty vehicles, including off-road, competition, and trucks. When choosing rotors with slots, the quality of the machining becomes the most crucial attribute for success. The inner and outer edges must be crafted with an excellent skill to prevent them from cracking sooner than they should. That means you can choose almost any drilled and slotted rotor design for any vehicle you own if you trust the manufacturing process of your preferred brand.

3. They can stop brake pads from glazing.
Brake pads can glaze when there is a continuous application of braking, like when you’re going down a mountain descent. The constant application of friction between the pad and rotor causes surface glazing. Light application of braking functions most of the time can cause some pads to polish themselves too. Reducing braking performance occurs during this situation, including the squealing associated with excessive pad wear.

The drilled and slotted rotor design helps some pads disengage from the glazing process. When constant friction is present within the driving environment, the pad fuses part of itself to the disc, causing the lack of performance, The slots on a rotor break up the contact points of the pad, providing vital momentary pauses in contact that stop the process from occurring.

Are Slotted Rotors Worth The Extra Money