DBA Rotor Comparison

[marcusus]

So, I'm looking in to getting some slotted rotors since my current ones are on their way out, and it's a good excuse to upgrade. I've decided on getting DBA's, however my real dilemma begins when selecting which rotor to get. I'm either going to get the 4000 series T3's or the T2's. I'm not keen on the cross drilled rotors, so that makes things a lot easier.

The T3's are more race oriented, whereas the T2's are geared towards 'performance street'. Given that I'm only doing the occasional track day, it seems like the T2's will do the trick, but I do wonder whether I should just get the top of the line stuff now if I"m going to do the upgrade at all.

What are people's thoughts on the two products and how they compare?

There's a bit more info on the DBA site:
T2 - http://www.dba.com.au/products/street-performance/
T3 - http://www.dba.com.au/products/clubspec-t/

[Hjt]

T2 seems sufficient, whats the costing like?

[marcusus]

For the rears, the difference appears to be about $10-$20 per rotor. I've only just started asking about the fronts for a comparison.

[project.r.racing]

T2 seems like it will fit the bill for your needs. But if the costings is only $100 difference for all 4 rotors, then maybe just get the T3s.

[Apu]

If it's $100 difference, I'd go for the T3 with alloy hats...and consider how much the replacement rotors are (since you don't have to replace the hats).

[project.r.racing]

OP was not looking at T3 5000 series. 4000 series noted in the 1st post. I'd assume the 5000 series would have a much bigger price tag.

[marcusus]

OP was not looking at T3 5000 series. 4000 series noted in the 1st post. I'd assume the 5000 series would have a much bigger price tag.

Correct. Plus I think the 5000 series are bigger, so there's a lot more work involved in fitting them with moving things around. At least from what I can gather.

I seem to be getting some conflicting information from some suppliers. It seems that some are saying that DBA don't make the rear rotors in the 4000 series T3 anymore, and they're only doing T2's. There's also some suppliers who seem to have a dedicated 'left' and 'right' rotor for the rears, whereas the DBA site says they're all unidirectional now. Does anyone have any more concrete evidence? Or should I just call DBA directly and ask them?

Meanwhile, the price difference isn't much. For the front rotors it's $25 per rotor, so I may as well go all out for the T3's if I'm going to do it. If they really don't make the 4000 series T3 for the rears any more, then my choice is easy. T3 fronts, T2 rears.

[manga_blue]

Almost anything works OK for the rears, so I'd go to the bottom price there. I've had Chinese cheapies on there for 40 meetings without problems.

The fronts are different, it takes only one track day to destroy poor quality fronts and you can put yourself in danger when you push front roughies to the limits, so I'd go to the top of the budget there. I've had no problems over many years and many track days with DBA4000s on the front. Currently using the DBA4000 T3s and very happy with them.

[A.Chen89]

OP was not looking at T3 5000 series. 4000 series noted in the 1st post. I'd assume the 5000 series would have a much bigger price tag.

Correct. Plus I think the 5000 series are bigger, so there's a lot more work involved in fitting them with moving things around. At least from what I can gather.

I seem to be getting some conflicting information from some suppliers. It seems that some are saying that DBA don't make the rear rotors in the 4000 series T3 anymore, and they're only doing T2's. There's also some suppliers who seem to have a dedicated 'left' and 'right' rotor for the rears, whereas the DBA site says they're all unidirectional now. Does anyone have any more concrete evidence? Or should I just call DBA directly and ask them?

Meanwhile, the price difference isn't much. For the front rotors it's $25 per rotor, so I may as well go all out for the T3's if I'm going to do it. If they really don't make the 4000 series T3 for the rears any more, then my choice is easy. T3 fronts, T2 rears.

Good news! I beg to differ on the T3 availability; I just purchased a brand new set of T3 DBA-4000 rotors for my NB a couple of weeks ago. This was a whole set, so both fronts and both rears.

I got them through Race Brakes Sydney (http://www.racebrakessydney.com.au/); great service, no affiliation blah blah blah.

Since they didn't have any in stock, they got DBA in Silverwater to make up a batch which took about a week after when I paid.

I did give DBA a call earlier and the person on the phone just recommended a local reseller since they don't do sales directly. Guess what you can get depends on the individual distributor.

[marcusus]

Cool, that's a promising sign. Maybe I'll just have to push for them to actually order them for me, and cite Race Brakes Sydney. Either that, or I can just call Race Brakes Sydney and see if they'll order them for me. Incidentally, how much did it cost you for the full set?

[project.r.racing]

Depands on the reatailer I guess. Some may have the old product book, and some may have the new book. The ones that are willing to make one phone call or email normally get the business.

I brought my YSR coilovers from a retailer other than a forums sponsor on here, cos the forum sponsor claimed to be too busy to find out prices and spring rates for me. The shop I purchased from sent an email off to YSR and I got a response 18 hours later, and they got my $1200.

[marcusus]

Good news! I beg to differ on the T3 availability; I just purchased a brand new set of T3 DBA-4000 rotors for my NB a couple of weeks ago. This was a whole set, so both fronts and both rears.

I got them through Race Brakes Sydney (http://www.racebrakessydney.com.au/); great service, no affiliation blah blah blah.

Since they didn't have any in stock, they got DBA in Silverwater to make up a batch which took about a week after when I paid.

I did give DBA a call earlier and the person on the phone just recommended a local reseller since they don't do sales directly. Guess what you can get depends on the individual distributor.

How annoying... I just called Race Brakes Sydney and he's saying the same thing ie they aren't making the T3's any more. Maybe you got the last batch? I also mentioned that I spoke with you and you got a set all round, but he still said DBA couldn't do them any more.

I get the feeling that's probably going to be the case, because it seems silly that suppliers won't sell me something when it's an easy sale. I might try and call DBA just to confirm, and if that's the case, I'll just have T3's on the front and T2's on the rear. In the end, it's still not a full track car, so it should be aggressive enough.

[marcusus]

Just got off the phone to DBA. They've confirmed they no longer make the 4000 series T3 for the rear's. Just the T2's. So, it looks like that's the way forward. T3's on the front, and T2's on the rear.

[A.Chen89]

That's a bit odd, I must of bought one of the last batches then, the invoice I received on the 3rd of March definitely does have T3 rears on it.

Though I guess its not too much of an issue since the fronts do most of the braking anyway.

[marcusus]

That's a bit odd, I must of bought one of the last batches then, the invoice I received on the 3rd of March definitely does have T3 rears on it.

Though I guess its not too much of an issue since the fronts do most of the braking anyway.

That's my guess. If DBA have confirmed that they aren't making them anymore, there's not much you can do.

Meanwhile, thanks for posting up the link to Race Brakes Sydney. They're the cheapest I've found so far, so I'm going to go with them.