Brake rotor decision "RANT"

[zzyzzx]

If you get 5 years out of rotors and pads, is that considered good?.,,,

I've gotten more than 20 years out of rotors.

 

[Scott S]

I've gotten more than 20 years out of rotors.

What kind do you use?

 

[Hall]

I've gotten more than 20 years out of rotors.

How many miles ?

 

[zzyzzx]

How many miles ?

At least 250K miles.

 

[zzyzzx]

What kind do you use?

Those were the OE rotors. I bought the car new.

 

[Tifosi]

Stumbled onto this video on YouTube today. I am both amazed and horrified at the same time. As Americans, we take so much for granted here in this country. I think they are on both FB Market Place and on eBay.

 

[I<3oil]

At least 250K miles.

Ratio of city to highway miles?

 

[Scott S]

[QUOTE="I Ratio of city to highway miles?
[/QUOTE]
Obviously mine isn't going that far

 

[zzyzzx]

[QUOTE="I Ratio of city to highway miles?
[/QUOTE]
City / suburban miles exclusively. This was a commuter car that was in DC area traffic that I never took on long trips.

 

[I<3oil]

City / suburban miles exclusively. This was a commuter car that was in DC area traffic that I never took on long trips.

So you're telling us that you have/had a 20+ year old car with 250k+ miles on it in DC traffic and the factory rotors are still in spec? I just want to make sure we're discussing the same thing(s) here.

 

[zzyzzx]

[QUOTE="I So you're telling us that you have/had a 20+ year old car with 250k+ miles on it in DC traffic and the factory rotors are still in spec? I just want to make sure we're discussing the same thing(s) here.
[/QUOTE]
Yes.

 

[I<3oil]

Yes.

Pics? Info on car?

You'll have to excuse us if we're a little skeptical as that's a pretty hefty claim to make.

 

[zzyzzx]

[QUOTE="I Pics? Info on car?

You'll have to excuse us if we're a little skeptical as that's a pretty hefty claim to make.
[/QUOTE]
I got rid of this particular 1995 Ford Escort in September 2020. I think I threw out the old rotors so no pics. I will have to check that because I do have some old rotors around that I am using to hold something down.

 

[I<3oil]

I got rid of this particular 1995 Ford Escort in September 2020. I think I threw out the old rotors so no pics. I will have to check that because I do have some old rotors around that I am using to hold something down.

Interesting. Are you one of those that does like 45mph in the right lane when the flow of traffic is 90 and everyone is angry at you?

 

[Quantico]

Powerstop .. detroit axle. Brembo , more money but nice

 

[zzyzzx]

[QUOTE="I Interesting. Are you one of those that does like 45mph in the right lane when the flow of traffic is 90 and everyone is angry at you?
[/QUOTE]
I'm one of those people who just replaces the pads and lets the pads wear to meet the imperfections of the rotors.

 

[Dave9]

^ That may work for an Escort but not so sure about vehicles that you haul loads, or loads of people in.

I'm not hell bent on having perfect rotors for new pads either, but I'm also not that picky about rotor brand to pay more for something special as long as it's not the economy grade which tends to have more runout from lower QC to pass rotors with more runout. There is some middle ground.

Pads, I love the Autozone Duralast Gold for long term ownership, lifetime warranty and they always replace them no questions asked so the initial ~35% more they cost, works out in my favor by the first swap. It's funny to me that so many people have so much trouble stopping their vehicles that they would rather keep paying over and over for pads again just in case they get the "ultimate" performance possible which just tells me they are terrible estimating traffic/roads to let off the throttle... unless of course, hauling loads down long mountain roads, or robbing banks. IMO these days stopping distance outside of these extremes has more to do with the tires. Once ABS became a thing, automakers weren't shy about designing with more stopping power than otherwise needed.