Rep Power: 425

Anyone who has brake rotors that are Cross drilled (as in all the way through, not the dimples). That would be the AEM, Brembo, Baer, Wilwood... Have you had any problems regarding them cracking or becoming damaged in any way? I'm trying to figure out whether to go with drilled or slotted Brembos, my preference being drilled because they will cool faster. The fact that Ferrari, Porsche, etc..... have drilled rotors on their cars stock would lead me to believe that there is no problem with them, but I just want to find out from people who have them.
The stores that sell the real Brembo drilled rotors seem to say there is no problems with them, but the places that drill Brembo blanks seem to think that there is something bad about cross drilling. My instinct would be to go with the places that sell the real deal, but I want to hear what people have to say... Thanks.
It doesn't necessarily have to be on your Civic. if your dad has a Porsche, share the info from those brakes too. I want do my homework on this one.

 
Rep Power: 0

I have them on my Grand Cherokee, have had no problems. On a Civic however, they are really not necessary, they will not reduce your stopping distance, they could increase your stopping distance due to less surface contact on the rotor due to the holes. On larger, more powerful vehicles such as Porsche, Ferrari, Mercedes, some trucks, they are good for temperature reduction. I have them on my Jeep because I tow the Civic to the racetrack constantly, and the extra 3400lbs of weight really overheats the rotors/pads. I autocross and track race my Civic, and have never had a temperature problem with the rotors, even after a 20 min High Speed Test and Tune on a 1.8 mile/10 turn road race track. I have a brake temperature sensor, and even after a hard run on a 110 degree day, the temp is still no where near dangerous levels that would warp or break the rotor.

My advice would be to get something such as the AEM Big Brake Kit, this has the cross drilled/slotted rotors (drilled for temperature, slotted for offgassing), and a larger rotor, helping temperature and stopping distance. Otherwise, spending the extra $20 per rotor for slotted/cross drilled would, in my opinion, not be worth it, as your stopping distance will increase.

 
Rep Power: 425

The only problem with the big brake kit is the fact that I still have 15's on my car. If it weren't for that, I'd probably get the big ones.

 
Rep Power: 349

X-drilled rotors are notorious for cracking. With the expansion and contraction due to temp rise and fall they eventually crack. It takes a long time and alot of heat/cold to do this. I doubt your civic will be able to heat these pads that much to where they would crack. Normally, the cracks are hairline that only show up on NDIs (Non Destructive Inspections) and the such. My friends 3000GT suffered from that. When I worked on the flightline we checked them one day to settle a debate. He had them for about 2 years and they had like 6 cracks per rotor. They couldn't be seen until they were put in the NDI machine.

 
Rep Power: 375

I got them on my ride the AEM big brake upgrade and let me tell you they do improve your stopping distance and the tech that drove my car after the install said hes never felt a Civic stop that fast and he has a 9sec civic. So its worth the money and as far as them cracking i havent had any problems whatsoever...i had them on my old Lude as well
check my members ride page to see them installed with 17in wheels...looks good!

 
Rep Power: 0

The AEM is a definate improvement, I plan on getting them as soon as I have the money. But using the stock size rotors, cross drilled and/or slotted, will increase stopping time. I've heard that the AEM kit can reduce stopping distance as much as 30%, that's a damn impressive figure for using the stock calipers.

 
Rep Power: 425

By putting in slotted rotors, you would release the gas that builds up from breaking hard and creating brake fade. So by eliminating the brake fade, how would stopping time increase? Do you have numbers or proof to back it up?

 
Rep Power: 0

Stopping times will increase due to less surface contact on the cross drilled or slotted rotors.

Most modern pads, pads made in the last 15 years, do not offgas significantly. Especially those (such as our stock Honda pads) that are rated as low dust pads. Slotting was a solution when pads still offgassed at low temperatures, but pads are made now to not offgas significantly at any temperature/wear/speed. Call Brembo and ask them, this is what they will tell you. Increasing rotor surface (larger rotor) or higher pressure calipers are the only way to reduce stopping distance.

This is why you see most (true, not ricer) race cars using blank rotors, no cross drilled or slotted. These are really only good on high temperature applications, which our Civics could never qualify for unless you stick about 2000lbs of weight in the trunk and slam stop from 90mph. Cross drilled will also break easier, as they do not have the uniform surface tension as a blank rotor.

 
Rep Power: 425

According to Brembo:
At the speeds that stopping distance is generally measured from (60 to 70mph), the test is primarily testing the tire's grip on the pavement. As delivered from the manufacturer, nearly all vehicles are able to engage the ABS or lock the wheels at these speeds. Therefore, an increase in braking power will do nothing to stop the vehicle in a shorter distance. For this reason, we do not record stopping distances at this time. The Brembo systems will show their greatest advantages when braking from higher speeds, or when tasked with repeated heavy braking. The increased braking torque provides for maximum deceleration at speed, and the ability to absorb and quickly dissipate the intense heat generated during repeated braking insures that the braking system will perform at the same high level each time.
As far as performance increase:
Easily fitted onto customer's vehicle
Disperses gasses, cleans pads for better "bite"
Bold, aggressive appearance
Optimizes performance of the system

So essentially they are helpful on the track where you're constantly breaking hard, they'll cool faster than stock ones. Other than that, it doesn't look like it matters one way or the other. Clearly with larger brakes, you'll see a difference, but without big rims, you can't use them. However, over stock, it seems that this, or any other non stock rotor would be an improvement.

 
Rep Power: 0

That's basically what they told me, that the rotors will not have a big effect on stopping distances.

I had slotted on the Civic at one point.... we measured my stopping distance from 60mph and it increased 2 feet... nothing big, but definately nothing worth the extra $20 per rotor. I am getting the AEM kit though, I just need the money first.

 
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Is anyone aware of the fact that the wilwood big brake kit is half the price of the aem big brake kit w/4piston calipers. It comes with the same size rotors, (12.19"), and 4-piston calipers?

It think that's the way that I am going. For $607 my stopping distance goes from (60-0mph in 123ft) to (70-0mph in 113ft).....(according to the latest sport compact car).

Don't forget the stainless steel brake lines and high-temp brake fluid, they're a necessity for upgraded brake systems.

 
Rep Power: 0

hey i have brembo cross-drilled and slotted rotors and they are great I would rather buy them then the AEMs they are cheaper and do the saem job. hey if ur worried about them cracking i can tell u now that my rotors have been beaten to he!! and they still work great. My car has been to VIR (virginia international reaceway) a few times and have been on the road course and raced agaisnt the honda challenge guys. I didnt do good but i didnt do bad either. I had a pro drive my car with my in the passenger seat and when i got done there was alot of smoke from the brake pads that heated up. but the rotors are still fine and the still stop perfect. So i would suggest saving ur money and buying the brembo cross-drilled/slotted rotors. and then buy AEM brake pads of the EBC green stuff or the reds stuff.