pjbutzer

Looking for a good brand of drilled rotors. Range of brands and prices is enormous!

iolmaster

iTrader: (1)

First question has to be. Why would you want drilled rotors. Waste of money!

RX in NC

Some folks think drilled or slotted rotors look cool. Some folks think they will turn their RX into a performance vehicle. The reality is NOTHING can turn these land barges into a performance vehicle.

fastnoypi

just get replacement solid rotors and spend some time to rebuild and/or lubricate your affected caliper to avoid future warping. As the car gets old, some fine brake dust can stick on the caliper's pistons and drag..causing uneven wear. Also dust/water can affect the slider pins. The lazy quick way is to get new calipers and use the OEM for the core charge. Or DIY push the pistons out, clean, lubricate and replace all dust seals and squared gaskets. Rebuild kits are readily available under $5 per corner.

pjbutzer

I am a retired automobile mechanic with 20 years experience. I know the value of drilled rotors. I just don’t know which brands offer good value. I no longer have access to wholesale parts houses. I am surprised that more Lexus owners do not use drilled rotors.

pjbutzer

My AWD RX is the best handling vehicle that I have ever owned.

iolmaster

iTrader: (1)

What are you smoking there in Oregon. Not only do you think drilled rotors give you a performance boost, you say the RX is the best handling vehicle you have owned. You must have owned nothing but pickup trucks for that to be the case. Let's see, how did someone just describe the RX, oh yes, a "land barge". A very appropriate description if I do say so myself. Don't get me wrong, I love our RX, but best handling, not even close.

pjbutzer

I am looking for effective heat dissipation as I pull a trailer that has no brakes.
It’s so nice to be treated so well here…

RX in NC

Although my wife's 2015 RX350 FWD came with the factory towing package, I would never tow anything with it. That's what full-size pickup trucks are for.

pjbutzer

I appreciate all the unsolicited advice, but it sure would be nice to get the advice I was looking for. Anyone…Anyone? Beuller?

11bravo

pj...I have been very happy with Brakemotive, available both on amazon and ebay. I recently bought Brakemotive front and rear rotors and ceramic pads for my Cayenne S. Yes, I got the DRILLED AND SLOTTED....and I don't care what anyone thinks of them, so no need to tell me how dumb I am. I have the same on my wife's RX, going on 6 years now.

They arrived quickly, free shipping, and had new shims, and lubricant. I've bought Brakemotive for maybe 15 years, and am always satisfied.

I suppose you already know this, but the biggest factor in having long-lasting rotors is how you break them in. After install, take your car to a place where it is safe to accelerate quickly and stop quickly without danger. Do not use your brakes heaving en route. When and where it is safe, accelerate to 60, then brake hard to 5 mph, release the brake while still moving, and repeat 4 more times. Do NOT allow the car to stop with pads resting in one spot on the rotor! Ideally, you are evenly heating up both the rotors and pads, without creating a "hot spot" anywhere. When done, brake slowly to a stop, and immediately release the brake. Let the brakes cool a few minutes and drive home.

I was skeptical of this process 20 years ago until I found that, after doing it, I never again had any rotor warp or "modulation" in the brakes.

pjbutzer

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

afpj

Just to muddy the waters, I used powerstop drilled/slotted rotors with powerstop pads for my fronts (I think the z36 kit but can’t be sure, it’s been a few years). It has less brake dust than oem ( would not have expected that at all), grips harder, and is lasting longer than oem. No brake fade after repeated hard breaking. The freeways here can be like racetracks…zip up to 70, then slow down rapidly to a stop, rinse and repeat. With oem I recall noticing a little fade after a few rounds of that, but not with these powerstops. And as 11bravo said, break in is key. I kept the oem calipers though. Good luck.

pjbutzer

Thank you!

11bravo

I was going to mention another good brake I have used, but could not recall the name. It was PowerStop. I think they are as good as brake motive, though the latter often has more options, and sells separately, or as kits.