Which is better slotted or drilled

Brake pads work better at lower temperatures, and you reduce the risk of pulsating brakes as well. Slotted rotors do not improve any heat transfer. However, the slots can improve brake output by removing gas and dust that is trapped between the pad and rotor.

This gas and dust reduces the friction force by preventing the pad from fully contacting the rotor. However, for track racing high speed stops , slotted rotors are the better choice.

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The Science Behind Heat Transfer in Rotors Drill holes and slots in rotors can both improve braking, but under different braking scenarios. Turns out, there are a few good reasons. But rotor thickness is just one aspect of braking performance. Even more important are the brake pads themselves and the heat they produce.

When you press the brake pedal, the pads clamp down on the rotor via the caliper. And through friction, your vehicle slows down. However, that friction creates heat and wears away at the pads and the rotors. This releases dust—from the rotors mostly, not the pads, Car and Driver reports—as well as hot gases. Plus, they let water escape more easily from the braking surface, The Drive reports.

While that seems dangerous, it has a practical purpose. Removing that glaze exposes fresh grippy material, R1 Concepts explains. While there are tangible benefits to swapping in slotted or drilled—or slotted and drilled—brake rotors, there are some downsides, too. So, nobody can give you better advice than Brembo on which type to choose. Below, we'll review the characteristics and respective advantages of the two types of brake discs, for the sake of simplicity looking at Brembo Xtra drilled and Brembo Max slotted discs that can be considered the Brembo range entry level.

The same considerations are obviously valid in general for all drilled and slotted discs and also for the discs in the High Performance line. The latter are available in both finishes and are intended for all enthusiasts who want reliable brake discs on the road and superior discs on the track. The presence of holes Brembo Xtra or slots Brembo Max on a brake disc is a guarantee of better grip and certainly a more responsive and effective braking system.

This effect is due to the surface of the holes or slots which ensure, especially in the initial braking phases, better performance thanks to a higher friction coefficient than that of standard discs. Another important advantage to using drilled and slotted discs is the constant renewal of the pad friction material. The holes also interrupts the sheet of water that can deposit on the braking surface in the rain. For this reason, even in the case of wet roads, the system responds efficiently from the very first braking operation.

In the same way, the slots, which face outward, ensure more effective dispersion of any water that may be on the disc surface: the result is more uniform behavior in any weather conditions. In the same way that they disperse water, holes and slots also provide better capacity for dissipation of the gases that form due to the high temperatures between the pad and disc surfaces.

When they reach high temperatures, these gases created by the combustion of the resins that make up the friction material, can cause the phenomenon of fading, which reduces the friction coefficient between disc and pad, with a consequent loss of braking efficiency. The presence of holes or slots on the braking surface allows for rapid expulsion of these gases, quickly restoring optimum braking conditions.

Ultimately, both types of discs, Brembo Xtra and Brembo Max, are two outstanding solutions for anyone who wants sporty driving, without compromising comfort and the life of discs and pads. The differences compared to standard discs are both aesthetic and of a practical nature. On the other hand, let's talk about the differences and circumstances that tip the scales toward one type as opposed to the other.

For all types of brake discs, particularly for those with machining on the braking band as in the case of drilled and slotted discs, Brembo conducts numerous bench and road tests in order to meet the performance and thermal-mechanical needs of the braking system in the widest possible range of operating conditions.

This prevents the risk of cracks forming both for the drilled and slotted discs. Nevertheless, limitedly to use in extreme conditions, as racing conditions can be, or even simply for track sessions, the slotted disc boasts greater mechanical resistance compared to the drilled disc, so it should be preferred.

Therefore, the Brembo Max discs could be more suitable for those who favor substance, since the slots, in addition to providing greater resistance to cracks — although only in extreme conditions like racing — also provide a valid tool for recognizing when it's time to change the disc.