Brake rotors - shape and material

[Mikkel]

I did try to find a search but didn't find anything conclusive.

Has anyone got some insight into the benefits and drawbacks of different brake rotors - both in regards to the shape and the materials.

Stainless
Cast Iron
Carbon/ceramic
Spaceage Stealth Bomber Materials

Also, anyone got any experiences in regards to aftermarket brands they'd care to share?

[crash harry]

My understanding - based on experience but no scientific testing - is that plain steel discs have much better feel and performance than stainless.

Having said that, they were on quite different bikes, but the bike I rode with a stainless front disc was impossible to stop. The pads just didn't seem to bite at all.

I am led to believe that Carbon discs have to be hot or they don't work well. They are lighter and tolerate high temperatures, but god help you if you let them get cold. Racing only territory. AFAICT from the promotional parephinalia, Carbon Ceramic discs have the light weight of Carbon discs without needing to be 300 degrees before they will work properly.

[Skunk]

My understanding - based on experience but no scientific testing - is that plain steel discs have much better feel and performance than stainless.

Having said that, they were on quite different bikes, but the bike I rode with a stainless front disc was impossible to stop. The pads just didn't seem to bite at all.

I am led to believe that Carbon discs have to be hot or they don't work well. They are lighter and tolerate high temperatures, but god help you if you let them get cold. Racing only territory. AFAICT from the promotional parephinalia, Carbon Ceramic discs have the light weight of Carbon discs without needing to be 300 degrees before they will work properly.

The 'plain steel discs' you refer to is NOT plain steel. I have have a disc on my Bucket made to my design out of High Carbon Steel which is the closest to 'std disc' material I could find.

As you say: Carbon discs ONLY work at high temperatures.

[Mikkel]

So how about brands?

Anyone got any experiences they'd care to share with any of these:

EBC

Braking

Galfer

Beringer

Ferodo

?

[The Pastor]

cast iron discs work well, on cars they are about 3 times the size of bike ones!

[vifferman]

Mikkel, you might be interested in these Ferodo CMC rotors on an RC45.

[JimO]

well my brembos are warped have been waiting 4 months for triumph NZ to get new ones

[Mikkel]

Mikkel, you might be interested in these Ferodo CMC rotors on an RC45.

I would - two minor issues:

1. The CMC discs are about US$1000 a piece - I would need two.

2. They are not Ferodo - they are braketech and braketech doesn't do the AXIS line of rotors for the 1996 Kawasaki zx7s anymore.


The only cast iron discs for my bike I've seen are the Beringer ones - but they are about the same price per disc. At the moment I think I'll be going for either EBC, Braking or Galfer - that is IF I do have to buy new discs at all.

[Ixion]

The best material for brake discs is cast iron. But then, the best material pretty much anything metallic is cast iron.

[Owl]

that is IF I do have to buy new discs at all.

What is wrong with yours? I just had one of my rotors repaired at F1 Engineering and it turned out to be a minor fix.

[BBzz]

I think I'll be going for either EBC, Braking or Galfer - that is IF I do have to buy new discs at all.

I was looking around to and ended up going for some Pro-lite EBC rotors. Man what a difrance didn't know how bad the other ones were.
It's kind of a strange feeling (in a good way) as you lightly hold the brake leaver it sort of starts loading up the rotor real smoth, amazing feed back. Ended up getting them from the UK in the end better exchange rate at the time. But don't forget about the GST
http://www.brakes4u.co.uk/supersearch.asp?catType=M

[Mikkel]

What is wrong with yours? I just had one of my rotors repaired at F1 Engineering and it turned out to be a minor fix.

Not sure, I am going to have them checked over. Unless they are getting close to the minimum service thickness I'll have a look at trying to get them fixed before flushing out big dollars for a set of replacement rotors. Some of them are ridiculously expensive - seen discs at upwards of $2k

At the moment the the brake has a slight pulsation under medium braking increasing to disturbing at hard braking. I want it sorted, as long as they are like that I won't feel completely confident with them.

[Mikkel]

I think you are foolish riding with them like that. At the very least you should rule out if the rotor is cracked. If it IS cracked, and it goes square on you, you WILL be going over the bars. Nasty!

Take them off and get them magnafluxed pronto before they bite you.

Steve

I think you are foolish for assuming I am riding with them as they are. I don't commute on my sportsbike...

But thank you for your concern. It's not a violent pulsation - it only becomes noticable at medium to hard braking above 50 km/h. Not something that is that noticeable on the road - on the track at 200+ km/h is another story.

[Mikkel]

Yep, just got the verdict. Right-hand disc is slightly warped and both discs are getting close to the service limit (at 4.55 mm limit is 4.5 mm) so I'm going to get them replaced. Bit of an expense...

So anyone got an opinion vis-a-vis EBC, Galfer, Braking and Moto Master rotors?