paulroad

is there really a difference in them?

Is a Zimmerman better than an ATE?

Is a Brembo rotor any different?

Discuss..

I'm Not talking about pads..that difference is obvious.

Studly_1

Heavy rotors are less prone to warp. Stock rotors are usually thinner. I've had no troubles with the stock brakes on this car. The pads wear quicker than some, about 25 - 30k. I'm still on my first set of fronts on the Suburban at 115,000.

I'm going to need a new set of fronts next week. Mine will be plain face (no slots) with Hawk HPS pads. Do you like your PBR pads?

SilverA4Fun

for overall reliabilty
ATE
Brembo
DBA
Powerslot
Zimmerman

qfrog Ti20

The vendor codes most usually associated with rotors are BDE or SHW. Both are German manufacturers, I don't know if either has any association with ATE.

I can check my rotor spreadsheet again or I can also check my shelf stock.

paulroad

it think its a matter of alloy.. but then again.. who is better? does it matter?

qfrog Ti20

So you're suggesting that the thickness of each of the two friction surfaces are of lesser thickness on stock rotors? This necessitates that the cooling channel between the two surfaces is larger and that the cooling vanes have more surface area. If one narrows the cooling channel then the mass of the rotor will increase as will thermal capacity but the rotor's ability to dissipate heat will likely be reduced. I expect there is a balance between rotor mass and surface area of the cooling vanes.

Have you taken comparative measurements between stock and aftermarket rotors yet? My research on rotors indicates that the stock 8E0-615-301-AD rotor weighs in at about 21.6 lbs and is manufactured by BDE.

How are heavy rotors less prone to warpage?

I'd expect that the quality of the casting, material used in the casting, cooling vane design (thickness of vanes/ vane count/ vane type) if the rotor has been cryo treated, or stress relieved. These are the thoughts I had, I'm sure somebody in the brake rotor industry could provide a more insightful answer.

Judge AR

and just ordered a set for the front. No experience with Brembos.

qfrog Ti20

I have not done any comparative research or testing that would provide results applicable to the rotor you guys use. Keep in mind, each rotor casting design and even each individual rotor cast in that design is slightly different, I think they are sand cast then machined down.

I'd want to ask somebody who works at a foundry or is an engineer for a foundry etc to answer part of the question on quality of casting/material, maybe a metallurgist too. Also I'd want to consult a brake system engineer for an opinion on quality of the design.

OK... so I just make things complicated by over thinking it. Sorry about that.

paulroad

remind me never to ask you for directions. ;-)

qfrog Ti20

Yeah I know I make things way more complex than they need to be. Analysis paralysis is my forte.

I think this is the vendor that corresponds to the code BDE

There may be ties from this company to Robert Bosch dating to '03.<ul><li><a href="http://www.buderus-guss.de/">http://www.buderus-guss.de/</a</li></ul>