I've read a ton of brake questions and answers on this site, but I haven't read if anyone has ever upgraded to the crossdrilled and slotted or dimpled and slotted aftermarket rotors. I'd like to upgrade and have found three complaines that make them. They range between $200 to 330 for the pair and are anodized so they won't rust as quickly here in the Water Winter Wonderland of Michigan. i wanted to see if anyone has had a good experiance using them and if the prices I've found are competitive. Any advice or help is appreciated.

You mean like this?



got mine from R1concepts, About $120 shipped for the pair. I'm very happy with them, but only had them on for about a month. Add ceramic pads to it and you'll have some stopping power. Some will tell you to stay away from them, others will say there fine. You need to make the choice. I've talked to several that have been using them for a few years with no problems. Claimed problems are warping and cracking.

Thanks Danthurs! That'* exactly what I meant. I have a 05 GXP and I have already upgraded to ceramic pads. The dealer cut the rotors when they installed the pads at 9k miles. I was sick of all that black brake dust that made my wheels look like hell. My problem now is that I'm getting a mild pulsation and a slight vibration out of the front end which I think is coming from the rotors. Many other GXP owners from this site have swapped out the rotors with better aftermarket parts, but I'd like to step it up to the cross drilled and slotted like the ones you have on your Bonneville. Looks great. I just hope that they hold up to the rough winters as my GXP is a daily driver.

I believe its better to have the slots go all the way out to the edges to release the gas that is produced when stopping.

Correct. Or they're next to worthless.

In addition, every hole 'drilled' increases the risk of rotor cracking, reduces braking surface area, and prevents you from getting your rotors turned by most brake shops. There'* too much liability for them. There are no brake shops in my area that will turn drilled rotors any more unless they are OEM-equipped.

Do NOT run drilled UNLESS:
1. You increase the rotor diameter to make up for the decreased friction area.
2. You get brakes that have the holes CAST into the blanks, never drilled after casting.

Get slotted only if:
Slots go all the way to the edge.

I very much like my slotted rotors with ceramic pads. I run Powerslots (blanks are Brembo) and Raybestos ceramic pads.

Moving to Performance and Brainstorming. This isn't a mechanical 'problem'.

If you go the cross-drilled route, look for PowerStop rotors. They're high-quality, with cast-in holes. I ran them on my 95 SSEi and had ZERO issues, other than the fact that my first set of pads practically DISAPPEARED. Make sure you run ceramic pads, because cross-drilled rotors will go through compound pads like a cheese-grater through a Kraft single.

If you are thinking about cross-drilled brakes as a cosmetic mod, forget about them. They will cost you money in the form of increased pad wear, and also because the rotors have to be replaced more often.
If you want them as a performance mod, realize that the only way they really help is by cooling the rotor more quickly, so that when you have heavy, repeated braking like on a road course, the brakes are less likely to fade.
If you're not using your brakes as heavily and repeatedly as that, then you don't need cross-drilled rotors.
My own need for cross-drilled rotors came from delivering pizza. I was doing a hell of a lot of driving in tightly packed residential areas, so, lot'* of heavy, repeated braking...

BTW, willwren, I am far from convinced about the decrease in braking force. If there is a difference, it'* slight. I certainly didn't notice any decrease in braking on my car.

Everyone has some interesting viewpoints. Personally, I didn't figure I needed them for performance, but was interested in them for the "cool" factor. Then I ran across a pool of info. Now, we all know the first rule of internet... don't believe everything you read. That said, here'* some interesting reading from a Camaro/Firebird website...
http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/showpo...8&postcount=36

Good pics of some cracked crossdrilled rotors there. That'* why local brake shops won't turn them. Local ricers around here are trying to find someone to blame other than their own choices in rotors.

I've been running drilled/slotted napa premium rotors for two years now and have had zero problems.
I had them turned in febuary and installed new pads other than that they are as from from warpage as any bonneville brakes I have ever used

I'm very happy for you, but that'* not going to make me change what I reccommend for people here.

They're the wrong thing for the wrong application. You'd get better braking with a different choice. And they'll be safer in the long run. Ever seen a rotor come apart? I have. It'* ugly and very dangerous.