DBA worth it or not?

[PoloGTi]

Hey guys Just been looking at the DBA 4000 series slotted rotors for my car.
Does anyone have any opinions on them.
Have heard good and bad things.
Another option would be the ATE power rotor but would like to go with an Australian company.

http://www.dba.com.au/2006/catalogue_aust.asp

They make them in the 312mm so will work with the bigger brakes on the car.
Any real gains going with a new rotor?

[mitch_gti]

Dba

I would love to upgrade to slotted rotors, continue using the standard calipers and upgrade the brake pads and fluid.


Dont think they offer anything for the polo though? nothing in the catalogue

[PoloGTi]

I am almost 100% sure the MK4 GTI rotors are the same ill track it down for you and find out.

[shaneth]

Rob i voted yes, With the amount of track work you do im sure you will find it better. I was thinking the same as mitch. Maybe slotted and dimpled though???

[PeterHBne]

People whom I’ve spoken to who rally & race and know of these things say that slotted rotors are brilliant at drastically shortening the life of your pads and little else.

[PoloGTi]

If they do that then the pad is getting more bite on the rotor.

[PeterHBne]

The purpose of the slots is to remove the surface of your brake pads every time you apply them in an effort to remove glazed materials. Maybe helpful if you are always glazing your pads (I can’t imagine you are with your rotor upgrade) or if your car spends 99% of its life at 10/10ths on a race track.

[Timbo]

If you like the "look" and have the money, why no? DBA is a good local brand with good support if you have problems.

But you'll probably notice no difference -- perhaps even worse when cold -- in braking performance for 99% of your driving.

What pads/fluid are you using? In terms of performance improvement over stock, that's where you'll probably find the greatest immediate and significant gains.

[Flaps]

Do it. I will when the time comes.

People whom I’ve spoken to who rally & race and know of these things say that slotted rotors are brilliant at drastically shortening the life of your pads and little else.

So why do all race, rally and performance cars use them all over the world if they don't improve your braking??

[shaneth]

Ok this is he sales speel for MRT Discs. found here MRT. I know its about there WRX but the principle still stands. THIS IS ONLY FOR REFERENCE OF THE BENEFITS OF DRILLED AND SLOTTED ROTORS I AM NOT RECOMMENDING MRT.

On the slotted rotors, directional slots have been milled into the rotor surface.
These slots have two benefits. Firstly, they lightly scrape the brake pad during use, preventing glazing of the pads, keeping performance at 100%. Secondly, they aid in dispersion of dirt the gasses emitted by the pads under hard use ("out-gassing"), keeping the pads in constant contact with the rotors.

For ultimate performance and looks MRT Performance recommends the slotted and drilled rotor.
These top of the line rotors have been designed, utilising advanced computer modelling. As well as the slotting described above, the rotor is also cross-drilled (see picture). The carefully designed holes (one per vane on ventilated front discs) aid cooling of the rotor, as well as dispersion of water, dirt and out-gassing.

This is off DBA Themselves DBA

Why use drilled or slotted discs?

Drilling or slotting discs aids the disc in several ways:

The edges of the slots or holes continuously clean and refresh the pad surface as well as providing increased brake "bite". Additionally, they prevent gasses from collecting between the pad and disc interface.

The disc is lightened, thereby decreasing its rotational inertia.

Improved ventilation increases the disc's ability to shed heat, resulting in cooler operating temperatures

Now personally i wouldnt get drilled rotors, but i know you can get dimpled ones which i will look at when the time is right.

[PeterHBne]

Anyone who markets slotted rotors wants you to buy them, so of course they will tell you why you should have them.

As MRT say, the slotted rotors scrape off the surface of your brake pads to remove the glazing (as I said in a previous post).

If you are not glazing your pads (and with the size of those rotors and the weight of the car I can't imagine that you are), all you will do is scrape off perfectly good brake material everytime you use your brakes.

Why do race cars have slotted rotors? Because race cars spend 100% of their time racing, are likely to glaze their pads and don't have a problem with replacing brake pads like you and I change underwear.

[shaneth]

Yes Peter i understand where you are coming from. But everyone who has tracked the polo on standard rotors and pads has stated that they fade pretty badly. Now i know different pads and fluid help alot. But when you are changing the rotors what else do you use to get rid of the heat and maybe gas. You could just get dimpled i think. Personally i will track mine to see what i think first, but i have been looking along the same lines to replace standard ones.

[DubSteve]

I agree with Peter here, the vr6 came with slotted rotors as stock

They feel heaps better than drilled. I have seen rotors that have been drilled aftermarket and have hair line fractures showing from them. Slotted get rid of that slice of crap brake pad and do the trick helps on the vr thats for sure

[shaneth]

Steve, Peter is saying you dont need slotted rotors. Interesting though that the VR6 came with them. And you will notice i said dimpled not drilled, dimpled dont go all the way through the rotor so the rotot shouldnt crack..

[Timbo]

But when you are changing the rotors what else do you use to get rid of the heat and maybe gas.

Well, a cheap (free) quick and effective way is to simply remove the backing plates.