Hi guys, Im getting ready to do a wheel bearing up date and would like to install either cross drilled or slotted rotors up front. I found these on Ebay for $55 a set plus $25 for shipping to my door but dont know about the quality of them. My stock rotors have almost 150,000 miles on them and are getting pretty worn! Take a look and let me know what you think would be the best. I own vacation cabin way up in the mountains and the roads that take you to it are very steep and very dangerous, every time we go by the time you get to the bottom all you can smell is burning brakes! Anyway heres the link http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=33564

 

I would ask who built the blanks? If its not Brembo, Zimmerman, Bradi or another reputable blank, don't buy the rotors.

Drilled rotors look good, but don't handle heat well. There is less material, which means they heat up faster and are prone to cracking and warping. They do have some advantage in the rain, as the water between the rotor and pad has an escape path. Slotted rotors are better than drilled for taking heat, and still provide a water channel. Solid rotors are the best for heat.

Your 88 has weak braking by design. Putting on anything but a solid surface rotor will only make mountain braking worse. The better solution is to put on quality rotors (Brembo), a set of ceramic pads, and then use 2nd gear to come out of the mountains.

 

I agree with unhappy99. just set a set of solid brembo rotors and youll be happy. i know that 70ish dollar price tag looks very tempting but its really not worth it. from the research ive done, real slotted and/or drilled rotors are made from castings taht already include these features.

i emailed a few of those ebay auctioners to see what methods they use to create a slotted and/or drilled rotor. most of them use a cnc machine so that isnt too bad, but like unhappy said, you are cutting out alot of metal, thus there is less area metal for the heat to disapate from (warping), and structural wise they are weaker, which cause the cracking.

hope i helped somewhat. sorry if doesnt make sense... i really need sleep . feel free to ask more questions

 

If you use your truck off-road, don't get them. dirt can deposits in the holes and it will wear out your brakes more.

 

My brembo that are cadium coated, were bought at "cost" from my store for $160 for a set. but retail is close to $300

 

Yeah the guy that is selling the ones on Ebay gave me the same price for Brembos, 160 for the pair plus shipping. Would you all say to steer away from the drilled rotors? He said he could drill them for $10 each if I wanted. I think I may just stick with a new set of stock rotors...are the Brembo's worth the $$$ over stock? Thanks again Matt

 

To reuse last nights quote, "Yes, yes, oh God, yes."

Tirerack has Brembos for $55 each, ImportRP.com has them for $33 each. Does this not make superior Brembos cheaper than inferior Toyotas?

 

THANK YOU! I just ordered a set of Brembos from ImportRP, it worked out to like $91 for the pair! I also went ahead and bought a Hendrix motor sports hub puller, why not for $19 even if I only use it once it’s still better than beating the hubs off! I also called Napa and ordered inner and outer bearings and races. Not to shabby, all this for under $200! That’s less than the stealership wanted for labor to do 1 wheel bearing! Thanks again, Matt

 

I also recommend using Mobil 1 synthetic grease, or even better, Redline CV-2.

 

I will have to track down some M1 grease...I have never seen it but I can honestly say I have not bought a new tub-O-grease in well over 5 years! Thanks again for all the help, Ill keep you posted when I get everything I need to do the job.. Any input on brake pads to go along with the Brembos? I currently have CarQuest "Big A" blue pads on it now, they are life time pads I think so I may just take them in and get a new set for the low low price of free! But it there is a better set that will slow me down faster, but not pump out the black dust with out eating my rotors let me know! Thanks, Matt

 

I think I bought M1 grease at Pepboys last time. Could have been Autozone though. Redline is available at Desert Rat or other performance stores, or racerpartswholesale.com

Pads for an 88, huh? I can only recommend calling the usual shops, Pepboys, Autozone, Checker, Napa, and hunt down a ceramic pad if available. If not ceramic, then semi-metallic. I got a set of semi-metallic a while back from Napa for $45, which worked reasonably well once broken in. Avoid organics.

 

I also agree with Unhappy99, I have Brembos cross drilled sloted rotors with Kevler pads on my 4Runner and before my brakes would fade on winding roads or high speed off road trips. Not anymore. And use a good grease. I used the Mobil 1 syn.