Ordered new front rotors
#1
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From: New Lenox, IL
Ordered new front rotors
I'm really curious to see how these will work out. I currently have 54,000 miles on my 05 GXP and the front rotors are warped to hell. I was looking at getting some other premium rotors but NAPA was selling their powder coated ones for $150 apiece and rockauto.com had their higher end raybestos rotors for $90 + shipping. My pads are also on their way out, so after hearing about R1 Concepts on w-body.com and hearing of a few members who had great experiences with their rotors, I decided to order a set of my own.
I'll let you guys know what my experiences are with these rotors as I continue using them. At the least bit, they're zinc coated, so they don't end up like this:
Anyways, here are the rotors I ordered, which also come with a set of brake pads that are supposed to be decent. $208 for rotors and pads, shipped. They arrive tomorrow. I did get the drilled and slotted rotors.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=220268441526
I'll let you guys know what my experiences are with these rotors as I continue using them. At the least bit, they're zinc coated, so they don't end up like this:
Anyways, here are the rotors I ordered, which also come with a set of brake pads that are supposed to be decent. $208 for rotors and pads, shipped. They arrive tomorrow. I did get the drilled and slotted rotors.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=220268441526
Last edited by xtremerevolution; 09-16-2008 at 12:23 PM.
#3
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From: New Lenox, IL
#5
Joined: May 2006
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From: Sheboygan Wisconsin
Those look a lot like mine.
Got them from Ebay for a bit over $120 shipped. R1 concepts I think it was.
There are some people that will tell you to not use them, they will crack, cut down on surface area, warps, etc. I've run mine kind of hard and inspected them a few weeks ago, no cracks, warps, nothing. Smooth stopping, much better then the stock rotors I pulled off. I suggest using ceramic pads. They grab harder as they heat up, and are very clean. I have no dust to speak of.
Got them from Ebay for a bit over $120 shipped. R1 concepts I think it was.
There are some people that will tell you to not use them, they will crack, cut down on surface area, warps, etc. I've run mine kind of hard and inspected them a few weeks ago, no cracks, warps, nothing. Smooth stopping, much better then the stock rotors I pulled off. I suggest using ceramic pads. They grab harder as they heat up, and are very clean. I have no dust to speak of.
#6
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From: New Lenox, IL
Alright, I got them installed two days ago, but wanted to wait to hear from them regarding defective pads. I don't have any pictures yet, but I wanted to add an update.
First off, one of the pads was defective and upon braking, you would hear a grinding noise on the rotor. Turns out the noise was something wrong with the outer passenger side pad cutting a groove into the rotor. Its pretty small and barely noticeable, but still there. Lesson learned: don't buy cheap semi-metallic pads. Their performance was terrible to say the least, so I'm hoping to get a refund for the pads or at least store credit so I can order rear rotors.
So I contacted R1 Concepts via ebay and yahoo, and I haven't heard from them yet, but its only been a day so we'll see how things go.
In any case, I went out to an Advance Auto and picked up a pair of Friction Master Ceramic pads for $42. Upon installing those, all problems ceased, but what I noticed was absolutely amazing. The performance these pads and rotors have is worlds above the stock rotors and pads. I couldn't believe how hard the car was stopping, and nor could my girlfriend, who was with me as I was breaking in the rotors and pads. Not only is there next to no brake fade at all, but they literally allow my car to stop on a dime. So far I'm very impressed.
I will soon be ordering rear rotors with the same configuration to complete my set. They also look pretty awesome.
I know its been said that drilled rotors have a higher tendancy to crack, but I'd like to argue against that point in saying that if they're built with quality, cracking shouldn't be an issue. I don't track race, and simple spirited driving IMO isn't going to stress them enough. I have PowerStop drilled rotors on the 95 Regal and I've been making extremely hard stops for at least a year now without any problems. When I say extremely hard stop, I mean I can smell the smoke coming from the brakes once I stop.
I'd also like to note that I've read of a few places claiming rust issues with R1 concepts rotors. I'd like to note that upon further research, it seems that they've fixed these rust issues and there are many members who have been using them for more than 6 months without any problems. With this knowledge in mind, as previously mentioned, I'll be picking up a second pair of rotors for the rear to match the front.
Pictures to come tomorrow...
First off, one of the pads was defective and upon braking, you would hear a grinding noise on the rotor. Turns out the noise was something wrong with the outer passenger side pad cutting a groove into the rotor. Its pretty small and barely noticeable, but still there. Lesson learned: don't buy cheap semi-metallic pads. Their performance was terrible to say the least, so I'm hoping to get a refund for the pads or at least store credit so I can order rear rotors.
So I contacted R1 Concepts via ebay and yahoo, and I haven't heard from them yet, but its only been a day so we'll see how things go.
In any case, I went out to an Advance Auto and picked up a pair of Friction Master Ceramic pads for $42. Upon installing those, all problems ceased, but what I noticed was absolutely amazing. The performance these pads and rotors have is worlds above the stock rotors and pads. I couldn't believe how hard the car was stopping, and nor could my girlfriend, who was with me as I was breaking in the rotors and pads. Not only is there next to no brake fade at all, but they literally allow my car to stop on a dime. So far I'm very impressed.
I will soon be ordering rear rotors with the same configuration to complete my set. They also look pretty awesome.
I know its been said that drilled rotors have a higher tendancy to crack, but I'd like to argue against that point in saying that if they're built with quality, cracking shouldn't be an issue. I don't track race, and simple spirited driving IMO isn't going to stress them enough. I have PowerStop drilled rotors on the 95 Regal and I've been making extremely hard stops for at least a year now without any problems. When I say extremely hard stop, I mean I can smell the smoke coming from the brakes once I stop.
I'd also like to note that I've read of a few places claiming rust issues with R1 concepts rotors. I'd like to note that upon further research, it seems that they've fixed these rust issues and there are many members who have been using them for more than 6 months without any problems. With this knowledge in mind, as previously mentioned, I'll be picking up a second pair of rotors for the rear to match the front.
Pictures to come tomorrow...
#7
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 29,661
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From: Sheboygan Wisconsin
Glad you like them. I have no rusting on my R1 rotors. Ceramic pads rock. Nearly tore my face off first time I used them. Very happy as well and recommend the set up.
#9
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From: New Lenox, IL
Alright, so I figured I'd post my final thoughts here as well. The rotors seem to be of very high quality, and the zinc coating definitely doesn't seem like it will ever come off or begin to rust. It took a while to get it to scrape off of the contact part of the rotors.
The braking performance is simply unmatched. I honestly didn't think these would make that big of a difference, but clearly I was wrong. I ran a few 80-0 braking runs and had absolutely no problems with brake fade. With these, my car now brakes exactly how I would expect it to.
R1 Concepts sales team promptly responded to my e-mail and refunded me $36 for the defective pads, and will be mailing me a return shipping label as well. Exceptional service if you don't mind me saying.
I'll be ordering the rear rotors tomorrow, and will continue to post updates.
The braking performance is simply unmatched. I honestly didn't think these would make that big of a difference, but clearly I was wrong. I ran a few 80-0 braking runs and had absolutely no problems with brake fade. With these, my car now brakes exactly how I would expect it to.
R1 Concepts sales team promptly responded to my e-mail and refunded me $36 for the defective pads, and will be mailing me a return shipping label as well. Exceptional service if you don't mind me saying.
I'll be ordering the rear rotors tomorrow, and will continue to post updates.
#10
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 29,661
Likes: 34
From: Sheboygan Wisconsin
Those look great, I love the open wheel look. Ceramic pads are simply the best. As the heat up they grab even harder, that'* why you have no fade. Your wheels will also stay very clean. The pads will also last a long time. You got to love it when you hit the brakes and it feels like your face is going to fly off.