Mixing slotted and standard rotors

[Baron]

Hi all,

To some this may be a stupid question.

My rear brakes are at the end of their life - both pads and rotors are all very close to the end.

Thinking that slotted rotors are more effective than standard rotors, are there any implications of putting slotted rotors on the rear and having standard rotors on the front? My main concern is the rear brakes having a greater share of the braking force, possibly making the vehicle unstable/unpredictable under heavy braking conditions.

Your opinion sought. If its a silly idea obviously I will stay with standard rotors.

Kind regards,

Andrew

[Hellmun]

I'd be amazed if the slots would have enough impact to be a concern. The mazda does seem to dive under brakes to me still so it's all front. The only difference I'd expect is possibly slightly more brake on application in the rear than before in the wet. I really doubt you'd notice it in the dry. Don't think you'd get the rear pads hot enough unless your driving with the hand-brake on to need to clear the pad surface.....

[16bit]

expanding on the last point above: technically if the rotors are made of the exact same material using the same pad the slotted rotors would have a lower over all friction coefficient because there is less surface area. there use comes in when very high heats are experience by the pad surface and they 'glaze' over. The slots clear this surface by removing the glazed surface from the top of the pad. Unless you get a much better kind of pad i don't think you will notice a difference between the two setups. so keep to a similar pad as up front or do all at the one time.

[Matty]

short answer: no it won't make any noticeable difference.

[Baron]

Thanks all,

Your comments appreciated. Sounds like it clearly is not worth the money of slotted rotors on the rear (not even sure if such a product exists). I agree, obviously, that most of the braking force is applied via the front brakes (Physics 101 stipulates this).

The function of cooling of brakes and ejection of gasses by the slotted rotors verifies they would be of no noticable value on the rears - due to the fact, as discussed, the rear brakes do not get hot enough to warrant significant cooling and release of gasses be of real concern. If our cars were McLaren Mercedes SLR's though - it may be a different matter.

Kind regards,
Andrew