Brake Repair: Types Of Rotors

Rotors are often resurfaced or replaced during a brake repair. The role of the rotor in the braking system is critical and if this part is not working correctly, there is a chance that a vehicle is not going to come to a stop right away when a person puts his or her foot on the pedal. A vehicle service department will know a lot about both drilled and slotted rotors and be able to perform the necessary repairs or replacements.

Drilled Rotors:
It may seem obvious given the name but drilled rotors have holes drilled into them. At first thought, this may seem like a bad idea for a part that is responsible for getting a vehicle to come to a complete stop. Don't the holes create less surface area for the pads to connect? As with other parts of the vehicle, there are reasons that there are holes drilled into the rotors.

Heat is a concern when it comes to the friction between the pads and the rotors. If these components get too hot, it can lead to problems that cause a vehicle to lose its power to stop right away. In addition to heat, older models can also contain trapped gas. Just like heat, gas diminishes a vehicle's stopping power and could cause problems that require a brake repair. Water is also a concern when it comes to braking power. If the rotors get wet, they can end up slippery. When the pads attempt to touch the rotors and create friction, the surface could be too slippery for immediate contact.

Slotted Rotors:
Instead of holes on the rotors, others have slots. They are carved into the surface of the rotor and serve the same purpose as the drilled rotors. The point is to remove heat, gas and water away from the rotors to ensure maximum performance. They tend to be stronger than the slotted rotors because they are not weakened by the holes. It is not unusual to see slotted rotors on high-performance vehicles. While a vehicle may not need a brake repair as often as someone with the drilled rotors, there is a good chance that the pads will need to be replaced more often.

Other Rotors:
Motorcycles, trucks and racing vehicles also need a brake repair every once in a while. These vehicles tend to have different rotors as they have different types of braking systems. The basics are the same but a motorcycle is much smaller and only has two wheels. Trucks are heavier and need to have rotors that will be able to stop the truck regardless of its weight.

No matter what type of vehicle you drive, don't put off a brake repair. Replacing the rotors on any vehicle is more costly that just taking care of the pads and having them replaced when necessary.