Does anyone know what the metallurgy in Napa's premium rotors is? G3000? G3500? The few sets I've driven after being installed a while seem to be doing well.
Napa Premium rotor metallurgy?
- Thread starter Alex_V
- Start date
- Status
Not sure, but it seems since NOW ALL brake rotors are coming from China (including NAPA), the quality of them all seems to be going up a lot.
The first ones back in '99-'02 were utter garbage... soft iron better suited for skillets and such.
The first ones back in '99-'02 were utter garbage... soft iron better suited for skillets and such.
One can hope!
4wd
$50 site donor 2026
After a bit of reading up - got some Callahan rotors ... having them around helps me tolerate the EBC yellow pads eating my stock rotors like candy ...
Originally Posted By: Linctex
Not sure, but it seems since NOW ALL brake rotors are coming from China (including NAPA), the quality of them all seems to be going up a lot.
The first ones back in '99-'02 were utter garbage... soft iron better suited for skillets and such.
DBA, disc brakes Australia still available online
Not sure, but it seems since NOW ALL brake rotors are coming from China (including NAPA), the quality of them all seems to be going up a lot.
The first ones back in '99-'02 were utter garbage... soft iron better suited for skillets and such.
DBA, disc brakes Australia still available online
Originally Posted By: 4WD
After a bit of reading up - got some Callahan rotors ... having them around helps me tolerate the EBC yellow pads eating my stock rotors like candy ...
Like Tommy Boy Callahan?
After a bit of reading up - got some Callahan rotors ... having them around helps me tolerate the EBC yellow pads eating my stock rotors like candy ...
Like Tommy Boy Callahan?
They are high carbon (damped iron) if the application calls for it. Otherwise, G3000 standard steel.
The most important part of any rotor installation is to clean the hub flange throughly and measure rotor runout once installed. A $30 HF dial indicator will do the job very well. This step really helps reduce the likelihood of pulsation issues.
Also, Euro cars using abrasive friction need to be paired with high carbon rotors. Cars using adherent friction (most cars using a ceramic type material) do not. However, many OEM rotors such as Advics advertise a higher carbon content than the generic rotors.
The most important part of any rotor installation is to clean the hub flange throughly and measure rotor runout once installed. A $30 HF dial indicator will do the job very well. This step really helps reduce the likelihood of pulsation issues.
Also, Euro cars using abrasive friction need to be paired with high carbon rotors. Cars using adherent friction (most cars using a ceramic type material) do not. However, many OEM rotors such as Advics advertise a higher carbon content than the generic rotors.
Kestas
Staff member
I've never heard the term "high carbon iron." Rotors are made from ferritic gray cast iron. It's a material that is cheap to produce and cheap to process. When I was involved with rotor design, one of the very few requirements was a minimum flake size in the microstructure for damping characteristics. That, and a ferritic matrix. There were a few other things, but there's no need to dwell on the minutiae here.
I believe that rotor quality is mostly dependent on the trueness in machining, and not the material itself.
I believe that rotor quality is mostly dependent on the trueness in machining, and not the material itself.
Originally Posted By: Kestas
I've never heard the term "high carbon iron." Rotors are made from ferritic gray cast iron. It's a material that is cheap to produce and cheap to process. When I was involved with rotor design, one of the very few requirements was a minimum flake size in the microstructure for damping characteristics. That, and a ferritic matrix. There were a few other things, but there's no need to dwell on the minutiae here.
I believe that rotor quality is mostly dependent on the trueness in machining, and not the material itself.
Enthusiastically agreed. Iron is iron.
A few quick measurements will tell you what kind of rotor you bought. And weather you should use it.
People here are still confusing pad issues and driving style-caused problems with rotor problems...
I've never heard the term "high carbon iron." Rotors are made from ferritic gray cast iron. It's a material that is cheap to produce and cheap to process. When I was involved with rotor design, one of the very few requirements was a minimum flake size in the microstructure for damping characteristics. That, and a ferritic matrix. There were a few other things, but there's no need to dwell on the minutiae here.
I believe that rotor quality is mostly dependent on the trueness in machining, and not the material itself.
Enthusiastically agreed. Iron is iron.
A few quick measurements will tell you what kind of rotor you bought. And weather you should use it.
People here are still confusing pad issues and driving style-caused problems with rotor problems...
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Enthusiastically agreed. Iron is iron.
Exactly. Getting the cheapest rotor from any large brake manufacturer is perfectly acceptable. The only difference in higher end rotors are the anti rust coatings, slots/drilled holes, and maybe better heat dissipation only if they adjust the fin design.
Enthusiastically agreed. Iron is iron.
Exactly. Getting the cheapest rotor from any large brake manufacturer is perfectly acceptable. The only difference in higher end rotors are the anti rust coatings, slots/drilled holes, and maybe better heat dissipation only if they adjust the fin design.
Originally Posted By: nobb
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Enthusiastically agreed. Iron is iron.
Exactly. Getting the cheapest rotor from any large brake manufacturer is perfectly acceptable. The only difference in higher end rotors are the anti rust coatings, slots/drilled holes, and maybe better heat dissipation only if they adjust the fin design.
I can certainly see folks wanting coatings and such up in the frozen North. Down here we rarely have rusted up stuff unless we're coastal. Slots are for pad issues, drilling is only good if you have excess rotor mass to spare (and one day you'll get "the noise"), and fins are usually ok in those nicer rotors and hit or miss in the cheapos.
Almost everybody would likely never notice any difference driving...
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Enthusiastically agreed. Iron is iron.
Exactly. Getting the cheapest rotor from any large brake manufacturer is perfectly acceptable. The only difference in higher end rotors are the anti rust coatings, slots/drilled holes, and maybe better heat dissipation only if they adjust the fin design.
I can certainly see folks wanting coatings and such up in the frozen North. Down here we rarely have rusted up stuff unless we're coastal. Slots are for pad issues, drilling is only good if you have excess rotor mass to spare (and one day you'll get "the noise"), and fins are usually ok in those nicer rotors and hit or miss in the cheapos.
Almost everybody would likely never notice any difference driving...
I disagree, I put some ebay rotors on my wife's matrix a few years back.
We live in Texas, they rusted badly after they got wet. No salt, no snow ever.
The OEM hyundai rotors and OEM Scion rotors on our current cars have zero rust, everything looks brand new.
There has got to be a coating on the OEM rotors that the aftermarket ones do not have.
We live in Texas, they rusted badly after they got wet. No salt, no snow ever.
The OEM hyundai rotors and OEM Scion rotors on our current cars have zero rust, everything looks brand new.
There has got to be a coating on the OEM rotors that the aftermarket ones do not have.
4wd
$50 site donor 2026
"Some" aftermarket do not have (mine are coated) ...
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2014
- Messages
- 1,187
Originally Posted By: JustinH
I disagree, I put some ebay rotors on my wife's matrix a few years back.
We live in Texas, they rusted badly after they got wet. No salt, no snow ever.
The OEM hyundai rotors and OEM Scion rotors on our current cars have zero rust, everything looks brand new.
There has got to be a coating on the OEM rotors that the aftermarket ones do not have.
You've got to be kidding. How many times do you think you can apply the brakes while driving and have ANY kind of coating on the rotors still present? Rotors are made of iron; and iron rusts. Period. Go to your local Hyundai or Scion dealer and ask them to show you some discarded OEM rotors....worn out trash in the recycle bin. Post pictures of the non-rusted ones you find. Please.
My cars are generally garaged; but occasionally sit outside overnight. If it rains, the rotors are rusted in the morning.
I disagree, I put some ebay rotors on my wife's matrix a few years back.
We live in Texas, they rusted badly after they got wet. No salt, no snow ever.
The OEM hyundai rotors and OEM Scion rotors on our current cars have zero rust, everything looks brand new.
There has got to be a coating on the OEM rotors that the aftermarket ones do not have.
You've got to be kidding. How many times do you think you can apply the brakes while driving and have ANY kind of coating on the rotors still present? Rotors are made of iron; and iron rusts. Period. Go to your local Hyundai or Scion dealer and ask them to show you some discarded OEM rotors....worn out trash in the recycle bin. Post pictures of the non-rusted ones you find. Please.
My cars are generally garaged; but occasionally sit outside overnight. If it rains, the rotors are rusted in the morning.
Are we talking surface rust or in between the fins? Surface rust will happen on all rotors...OEM or not. Better rotors have anti rust coatings in the fins which really helps in salty areas. The rust starts flaking and plugging up the fins, affecting heat dissipation. I have never seen OEM rotors having this anti rust coating.
Originally Posted By: 901Memphis
Originally Posted By: Linctex
Not sure, but it seems since NOW ALL brake rotors are coming from China (including NAPA), the quality of them all seems to be going up a lot.
The first ones back in '99-'02 were utter garbage... soft iron better suited for skillets and such.
DBA, disc brakes Australia still available online
Also, when you have a European car, getting brake rotors from parts of Western Europe is easy.
In some cases, not made in China does not equal better brake rotors. My mom had a 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The factory rotors (Made in Canada) weren't nearly as good as Raybestos Premium which was made in China for her car.
Originally Posted By: Linctex
Not sure, but it seems since NOW ALL brake rotors are coming from China (including NAPA), the quality of them all seems to be going up a lot.
The first ones back in '99-'02 were utter garbage... soft iron better suited for skillets and such.
DBA, disc brakes Australia still available online
Also, when you have a European car, getting brake rotors from parts of Western Europe is easy.
In some cases, not made in China does not equal better brake rotors. My mom had a 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The factory rotors (Made in Canada) weren't nearly as good as Raybestos Premium which was made in China for her car.
- Status
