Buying guide for best brake rotors
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There are three main parts to your vehicle's braking system: caliper, pads and rotor. All three work together to create the friction needed to reduce a vehicle's momentum. When you step on the brake pedal, brake fluid goes to the caliper. The fluid activates pistons that squeeze the brake pads together on either side of the rotor, pinching it to slow its rotation.
While it might not sound like brake rotors are a big deal, you wouldn't be able to stop a vehicle without them. Furthermore, if they’re improperly designed, they retain too much heat during normal operation, and the excess heat can glaze, melt or degrade the brake pads. Also, high temperatures can render brake fluid less effective. In short, if your brake rotors are wearing out, you need to replace them.
For the best performance, brake rotors need to be durable and able to dissipate heat while providing a smooth, vibration-free stop. To do this, rotors have a few different designs: blank, smooth or plain; drilled; slotted; and drilled and slotted, and each type has its pros and cons. The best brake rotor for your vehicle depends on how aggressively you drive and what kind of driving you do.
Purchasing the best brake rotors isn't hard. You just need to know the different features and how they can benefit your type of driving. It also helps to understand the drawbacks of brake rotors with certain features, so you can weigh those benefits and drawbacks. For instance, would you be happy with a brake rotor that offered exceptional stopping power but was noisy and didn't last long?
Once you decide what you need and what is acceptable, you'll be able to purchase the best option with confidence. While we highly recommend the Power Stop Front Truck & Tow Brake Kit, we've also found some other great options that might suit your needs and budget better.
Best brake rotors
Material: Stainless-Steel | Noise-Free: Yes | Dust-Free: Yes | Drilled and Slotted: Yes | Rust-Resistant: Yes | Plated: Zinc
Whether you have a truck, a 4 x 4 or an SUV, the Power Stop Front Truck & Tow Brake Kit offers excellent stopping power. The precision-drilled holes are designed to maximize heat dissipation to keep temperatures low during extreme conditions, and the rounded slots keep away debris and gas for smooth braking.
G3000 metallurgy with strict OE tolerances makes them an easy bolt-on upgrade that doesn't require modifications. They also have a noise-free design, and because they're zinc-plated, they look fantastic on your vehicle. Plus, the carbon-fiber ceramic brake pad formula delivers low-dust braking.
Material: Cast Iron | Noise-Free: N/A | Dust-Free: N/A | Drilled and Slotted: Yes | Rust-Resistant Coating: No | Plated: Silver
ACDelco is a name you can trust when it comes to auto parts. Their Silver line of parts offers a balance of quality and affordability that help you get the best bang for your buck, and the Silver 18A925A Front Disc Brake Rotors are no exception.
They’re manufactured using multiple alloys to help improve heat dissipation, so your brakes are always functioning at peak efficiency with no brake fade or other undesirable issues. Also, they’re mill balanced to ensure proper performance without the need to add any weights.
As an extra bonus, the rounded radius helps increase the durability of these wallet-friendly roctors.
Material: Cast Iron | Noise-Free: Yes | Dust-Free: Yes | Drilled and Slotted: Yes | Rust-Resistant Coating: Yes | Plated: No
If you have a GM vehicle, this Raybestos Element3 Front Brake Rotor ensures you have the necessary stopping power in various road conditions. It's suitable for trucks, sport-utility vehicles, vans and all-terrain vehicles.
Grey Fusion 4.0 coating provides tough protection against rust and corrosion, and the cooling vanes facilitate optimal airflow by keeping dirt and debris out of the way. The hybrid ceramic pad and semimetallic design deliver a strong grip with low dust for maximum performance. Plus, it features noise-reducing shims.
Material: Cast Iron | Noise-Free: Yes | Dust-Free: Yes | Drilled and Slotted: Yes | Rust-Resistant Coating: Yes | Plated: Gold
The ACDelco Gold Black Hat Front Disc Brake Rotor offers super smooth braking and is ideal for all kinds of GM vehicles, including several makes of Escalades, Silverados, Suburbans and Yukons. However, they're designed to fit most standard vehicle makes and models, making them highly versatile.
The rust-resistant coating gives them superior durability, and thorough independent testing makes them highly reliable and high-quality. Most customers love them for their noise-free design and outstanding stopping power, even when descending on rugged terrain. They're also known for minimal to no vibrations, which is a huge plus.
Material: Cast Iron | Noise-Free: Yes | Dust-Free: Yes | Drilled and Slotted: Yes | Rust-Resistant Coating: No | Plated: N/A
If you want premium brake rotors at a budget-friendly price, this Bendix Premium Front Brake Rotor, designed to fit over 95% of vehicles, will not disappoint. These rotors are easy to install and cost less than $60.
The OEM-style vanes allow for maximum heat dissipation, facilitating smooth braking even in rugged road conditions while simultaneously increasing life and performance. They're dynamically balanced and tested to reduce vibrations, and the cast-iron material matches the fit and build of the original equipment.
Material: NA | Noise-Free: Yes | Dust-Free: Yes | Drilled and Slotted: Yes | Rust-Resistant Coating: No | Plated: NA
Getting your brake system back to OE standards can be challenging if you've had your vehicle for a while, but the Power Stop Autospecialty Front Replacement Brake Kit can get you as close as possible. They come ready with easy bolt-on installation that doesn't require any modifications, and you'll notice a significant increase in braking performance right away.
They boast a ceramic formula that significantly reduces dust and noise for smooth braking every time, and a cross-hatched finish on the friction surface ensures optimal pad break-in. Plus, they have a two-year or 24,000-mile warranty.
Material: Cast Iron | Noise-Free: Yes | Dust-Free: Yes | Drilled and Slotted: Yes | Rust-Resistant Coating: No | Plated: Zinc
If you own a Honda Accord with model year from 2013 to 2021, the R1 Concepts Front Brakes and Rotors Kit is one of your best options for a replacement brake rotor. It's built with OEM specifications in mind, meaning it doesn't require any modifications and comes ready to install.
The precision-drilled holes and countersunk design prevents cracking and facilitates superior heat dissipation, which is crucial when descending on a rugged path. The shims help reduce noise output, and the ceramic formulation makes the rotor highly fade-resistant.
Material: Stainless Steel | Noise-Free: Yes | Dust-Free: Yes | Drilled and Slotted: Yes | Rust-Resistant Coating: Yes | Plated: Zinc
Although they're expensive, the Power Stop Z36 Truck & Tow Front Calipers with Drilled and Slotted Brake Rotors offers superior braking performance for trucks. They're a customer favorite because of their elite braking performance and stylish red finish.
These rotors boast a carbon-fiber ceramic formula that delivers excellent stopping power and even outperforms OE. They're low-dust and low-noise, and since they're drilled and slotted, they feature advanced cooling. The zinc plating protects them against rust and corrosion, and the red powder high-heat coating makes them highly heat resistant and durable.
Material: Cast Iron | Noise-Free: Yes | Dust-Free: Yes | Drilled and Slotted: Yes | Rust-Resistant: Yes | Plated: Zinc
There are a few key features that help set Bosch brake rotors, like the QuietCast Premium Disc Brake Rotors, apart from other brands.
First, the original equipment manufacturer-style vane configuration is effective at drawing heat away from the inner part of the wheel to help ensure consistent, reliable performance even under less than ideal conditions.
Second, the high-quality materials give these rotors a safe and long performance life. And third, the attention to disc thickness variation and a low run-out means that the brake pedal moves evenly down with no pulsation.
For extra corrosion protection, the rotors have an aluminum/zinc coating that also keeps them looking clean and new on vehicles with open wheels.
Material: Ceramic | Noise-Free: Yes | Dust-Free: Yes | Drilled and Slotted: Yes | Rust-Resistant Coating: No | Plated: Zinc
Those looking for quieter braking while driving will love this Detroit Axle Brake Kit. They're drilled and slotted according to OEM standards, so you don't have to modify them before installing them on your vehicle. They're best suited for various GMC and Chevrolet vehicles.
The ventilation slot in the rotor effectively dissipates heat for fast brake cooling and removal of excess moisture. That makes them excellent for slow braking when traveling on rugged terrain. Plus, they come with a 10-year warranty, brake cleaner and brake fluid.
Material: Iron | Noise-Free: Yes | Dust-Free: No | Drilled and Slotted: Yes | Rust-Resistant: Yes | Plated: N/A
The Raybestos R-Line Brake Rotors are best for everyday highway driving, and the black fusion finish gives them a clean, stylish look. Raybestos is known for aftermarket brake parts. The company makes drums, calipers, hub assemblies, rotors and more, and the parts exceed the original equipment in performance.
Raybestos rotors have an advanced technology metallurgy that enhances durability to help ensure they offer a solid value as well as reliable, quiet performance. The diverse Raybestos product line covers almost all domestic and import vehicles, so you can be sure that you'll find the right equipment for your car.
What to know before you buy brake rotors
What they are
Brake rotors are round metal discs that you might be able to see inside each tire on your vehicle, especially if you don’t have hubcaps. Remove a tire and you can clearly see the brake rotor. It’s part of the wheel, which connects to the vehicle’s axle. As the axle rotates, the wheels rotate, propelling the vehicle forward. When you stop, the brake rotor and braking system come into play.
On most cars, the rotors are cast iron, like the Raybestos rotor on our list. High-performance vehicles might use brake rotors made of reinforced carbon or ceramic composites, such as the Power Stop and R1 Concept sets, because they reduce weight.
How a braking system works
The rotors are only part of the braking system that slows and stops your vehicle. The braking system uses a caliper with two brake pads attached to it. Pressing the brake pedal pinches the ends of the caliper together. This action presses the brake pads against the brake rotor, creating friction. Because the rotor is connected to the wheel system, this friction eventually stops the tire from spinning. When you release the pedal, the caliper ends flex open, disengaging the friction between the pads and the rotor, and the wheel moves freely again.
Types of brake rotors
When selecting new brake rotors, you can pick from four primary types: blank, smooth or plain; drilled; slotted; and drilled and slotted.
Blank or smooth brake rotors are the most common rotors on the market. They are often available by top brands such as Bosch and ACDelco. They have a smooth design that offers the most surface area for the brake pads to grip. Plain brake rotors, in turn, provide the greatest amount of friction, or stopping power, of all the available rotor types. It makes them an effective and economical choice for average use situations.
The downside of blank brake rotors is they have no built-in features to dissipate heat or help get rid of gasses, dust or debris. Since the heat created by braking can diminish the effectiveness of your brake fluid as well as the life of your brake pads, smooth brake rotors are not the best option for any type of high-performance driving. This includes any commutes that require frequent or quick stops.
Drilled brake rotors have holes drilled through the rotor disc to allow the friction-generated heat to dissipate more quickly. Excessive heat around the brake rotors and pads can cause the system to work less effectively. The holes in the brake rotors also allow water to pass through. When driving on wet roads, the brake rotors could become slippery if they stayed wet. The water dissipates more quickly when the rotor has holes.
The downside of drilled brake rotors is that rotors with holes have less surface area to generate friction between the rotor and the pads, which could cause the brakes to work more slowly. Also, if not drilled correctly, the holes can weaken the structure of the rotor. However, the benefits of holes in the brake rotors significantly outweigh the minor drawbacks.
Slotted brake rotors have thin slots or lines in the surface. These slots aren’t deep enough to weaken the brake rotor, but they’re just the right depth to help remove water and heat. You’ll find slotted brake rotors more often on high-performance vehicles where the rotors are under excessive stress. Holes in rotors could cause a brake system failure in this type of vehicle. Most consumer vehicles don’t put such stress on the rotors, so slotted ones aren’t necessary.
The downside of slotted rotors is that the brake pads tend to wear out more quickly versus pads on drilled rotors. Also, on average, slotted rotors are more expensive than drilled.
Drilled and slotted brake rotors have both of the previously mentioned features. The benefits are that these rotors remain cooler and are much better at removing moisture, gasses, debris and more. They help prevent overheating, which reduces the chance of building up a low-friction glaze, so the brakes perform much better in high-demand situations.
The downside of drilled and slotted brake rotors is that they are the most expensive and the least durable — cracking may occur between the drilled holes. Also, though you probably won't notice it much, these rotors can be louder and feel less smooth when applying pedal pressure.
When to replace brake rotors
You can’t always tell if the brake rotors are too worn just by looking at them. However, there are clear signs you can look for when trying to decide whether you should replace the rotors.
Measure the wear. The original thickness of the rotor should be listed in the vehicle owner’s manual. You can measure the wear on brake rotors using a micrometer, which is more accurate than a basic tape measure. This type of calliper will tell you the exact thickness of the material to a fraction of a millimeter. Take four to six measurements around the rotor. Always measure where the brake pads have touched the rotor.
If the brake rotor has worn down beyond acceptable limits or if the wear is uneven, it needs to be replaced.
Listen for odd noises. If your brakes make loud whining or squealing noises, this can be a sign of a failing brake pad, but it can also signal a brake rotor problem. Sometimes this high-pitched noise is caused by metal on metal: the brake pad has been completely worn down, which will eventually cause the brake rotor to fail. The rotor needs a functioning brake pad in order to work. A poor-quality or worn brake pad also can cause grooves to appear in the surface of the rotor, which can sometimes cause a high-pitched noise. If the grooves become deep enough, the rotor must be replaced.
Notice any vibrations. If your vehicle shakes when you apply the brakes, this points to a warped brake rotor or underinflated or weakening tire. If the rotor is causing the vibration, it means the rotor has suffered wear on some part of the surface and is no longer a uniform thickness.
FAQ
Q. How much do brake rotors cost?
A. You have two options: you can pay a mechanic to replace them, or you can install them yourself.
Most mechanics recommend replacing at least two brakes (on the front or rear wheels) at the same time. A complete brake system replacement, including pads, caliper and rotors, costs between $350 and $700 per wheel (each wheel has its own brake system). If you’re only having the brake rotors replaced, it costs about $150 to $300 per wheel. At the very least, most mechanics will recommend replacing the pads and rotors at the same time, which costs about $200 to $400 per wheel.
If you go the DIY route, average-quality brake rotors cost anywhere from $25 to $85 each. These are basic models made for lightweight vehicles. Examples in our top five are ACDelco Silver, ACDelco Gold and Raybestos rotors. High-end rotors cost $200 to $250 each. The more expensive brake rotors are made of better quality materials or are specialty rotors for certain vehicles.
You can also purchase rotors for your DIY auto project in sets that include two rotors for the front or back wheels. Some may also come with brake pads. These sets range between $140 and $400 depending on the brand and quality. Power Stop and Weize makes rotor sets that we chose for our list of favorites.
Q. How long do brake rotors last before needing replacement?
A. The longevity of brake rotors varies greatly from vehicle to vehicle. If your car uses especially rough or aggressive brake pads, the rotors will wear down more quickly. If your vehicle’s manufacturer used low-quality materials to make the brake rotors, such as poor-quality cast iron, the rotors will wear more quickly. On average, brake rotors last for 30,000 to 75,000 miles, but some high-quality rotors can last even longer.
Q. Can I change out brake rotors myself?
A. Choosing the DIY option will save you quite a bit of money over going to a mechanic, but replacing rotors requires some auto repair know-how and specialized tools. Purchasing tools or renting space at a DIY garage will drive up the cost.
Before buying any type of brake rotor, make absolutely sure it’s compatible with your vehicle’s make and model. The hub attached to the rotor is a different size and thickness depending on the vehicle.
Then you need to be able to safely jack up the vehicle, and you need to know how to remove brake fluid. You have to remove several large bolts, so you’ll need the right tools on hand for that. This is an intermediate-level DIY job, so you’ll have better success if you already have some experience working on vehicles.
Q. How long does it take to swap out brake rotors?
A. When changing brake rotors, you’ll probably also change the brake pads. For an experienced mechanic, the process can take between half an hour and an hour and a half for two wheels. If you haven’t worked on vehicles a lot, the process could take twice that long for two wheels. Novices might need even longer, especially if they don’t have the proper tools.
