RAYBESTOS Element 3 coated rotors or ...
- Thread starter odie
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I've used both with good results, I'd buy whichever one has the better price.
+1. I have been using the Bosch rotors and pads for several vehicles. Love them. Granted, not the coated ones, I'm in South Carolina, so salt and stuff not an issue. I did, however, send a set to my daughter in Connecticut last year. No issues.
My recent experience with the Raybestos Element 3 coated rotors showed light rust in less than 1 winter's use on the drum-in-hat area of the 2 rear rotors for my 2019 QX60. I decided to paint these 2 rotors with oil based Tremclad grey paint and this has stood up very well.
So, not impressed with the Raybestos coating.
So, not impressed with the Raybestos coating.
Powerstop coated rotors are awesome 
- Joined
- Nov 28, 2023
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I went with a similar combination: Element 3 calipers and pads+ Evolution Geomet rotors. 6 months later (and lots of rain this summer) they still look new and work great. We'll see what they look like after this winter...
Overall, I'd rate them like this:
Bosch>PS~E3. I installed a few of each on diff cars over past few years.
Bosch>PS~E3. I installed a few of each on diff cars over past few years.
I had horrible luck with Raybestos E3 rotors and pads on a 2015 Odyssey. Horrible shudder after a short time.
Ultimately replaced them with the RockAuto Dynamic Geospec (?) and Honda pads. Thanks @The Critic for the recommendation...
Been fine ever since.
Ultimately replaced them with the RockAuto Dynamic Geospec (?) and Honda pads. Thanks @The Critic for the recommendation...
Been fine ever since.
I just bought and installed a Raybestos front pad/rotor kit from Rockauto for my 2021 GMC Canyon, the price was too good to pass up. Included the Element3 coated rotors and the R-Line ceramic brake pads. This replaced the OEM brake rotors and pads.
I like the rotors but I'm not a big fan of the R-Line pads. Initial bite is good but I find I need more pedal effort for the equivelent stopping power. Not a soft pedal, same travel as before but the pads don't feel like they have enough friction.
I'll be changing the front pads for something different. I'm thinking the Powerstop Ceramic Z36 towing pads or Fleet Metlock which are semi-metallic. The Fleet Metlocks get great reviews for stopping power and durability, but at the expense of brake dust. I might be willing to live with that.
Good experience with cryo rotors...including for tracking cars, Porsche, VW R32....
https://www.tirerack.com/brakes/sto...UELUDvGqDKLh_1fQmyz9ASpXEIUdzXTGLANT2Aw6DuK_P
Two to three times life of regular rotors. I don't bother with coated rotors as the coating wears off in the pad contact area after a few miles.
https://www.tirerack.com/brakes/sto...UELUDvGqDKLh_1fQmyz9ASpXEIUdzXTGLANT2Aw6DuK_P
Two to three times life of regular rotors. I don't bother with coated rotors as the coating wears off in the pad contact area after a few miles.
I've been having increasingly bad luck with Element3 pads (specifically pad fitment and hardware)
Wrong hardware, holes for anti drag clips not drilled in backing plates
The rotors have been better, but still a bit rustier than I'd expect in ~12 months use
I might switch over to Bosch (at least for pads) and see where that takes me
Wrong hardware, holes for anti drag clips not drilled in backing plates
The rotors have been better, but still a bit rustier than I'd expect in ~12 months use
I might switch over to Bosch (at least for pads) and see where that takes me
Ive been using the Element rotors as well with mixed results on a Honda Civic. In our dry climate they dont rust and still do look new. But the combo with Akebono pads has a slight warped feeling. Maybe its not the rotors but it feels like the rotors are warped after 5,000 miles.
I've been using the Bosch quietcast coated rotors for about 10 years. I know this was about Raybestos but thought I'd give my experience. The coated here in Michigan usually last about 3-4 years before they're so rusty they need to be replaced. The coating only slows down the rust but doesn't eliminate it.
and the Bosch rotors have more carbon in them, I've noticed the better stopping ability over other brands, plus the runout has been the lowest I've measured on any rotors lately. When it's that good I keep buying them!
and the Bosch rotors have more carbon in them, I've noticed the better stopping ability over other brands, plus the runout has been the lowest I've measured on any rotors lately. When it's that good I keep buying them!
I just did brakes in a friends Camry - kept the original rear rotors, it already had mostly new front rotors. I resurfaced all the rotors on both sides with a belt sander to give them a new, consistent surface, and installed akebono pads. She’d had the brakes done by a budget shop and they weren’t stopping the car well at all. Upon installation, the feel and silence was amazing. Even I was impressed, and this is in a Camry. BUT, 1000 miles later, she brings it by mentioning squeals. I take it out for a drive and notice what she didn’t - brake pulsation. And then I remembered - I had a a lot of that years ago, which drove me away from ak’s to try other brands.
I re-bed the Camry and told her if it acts back up I’d try something else, maybe Bosch.
Don’t snooze on the Advics pads if they are available for that Camry. They are usually pretty decent.
Ebc. I’ve never used Powerstop, but after using Bosch and raybestos and replacing way before I should have due to pulsing, I switched. They aren’t much more money and I’m way past where I would have normally replaced sub par rotors and they’re still flawless. If they continue on the current path, I could actually see a pad slap down the road. That never happens.
