ATE Power Discs

["K.C. Boyce" <k_boyce@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hmmm...some misinformation floating around out there.

Slotted rotors are more properly called "Gas-slotted rotors".  This is
because the slots provide a channel for gas (from the pads out-gassing
as they heat up, or water in the liquid or gaseous forms) to escape
from between the pad and rotor.  Basically, the channel "sweeps" the
pad face every time it goes by and dispenses of this bad stuff.

Why is it bad?  Well, if you have a layer of gas or liquid between your
pad and rotor, you aren't going to stop as well.  This is one of the
causes of brake fade (the other that I can think of offhand is the
brake fluid boiling).

Gas slotted rotors actually *decrease* the ability of the rotor to
withstand heat.  This happens because you're removing some metal --
metal that would otherwise work as a heat sink.  That's why gas-slotted
rotors don't tend to warp as much as cross-drilled rotors (which have
had more metal removed).

    KC Boyce
    '85 325e
    E30 Eta Page: http://rikki.cc.colorado.edu/~k_boyce/


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