99 Tahoe-need rotors

[scmelik]

My Tahoe is in desperate need of new rotors but I am not 100% which ones are better. I was looking at rockauto.com just as a starting point, of course they have quite a few different brands that go anywhere from $15 a piece to $44 a piece. Are the $44 dollar rotors that much better than the $15 rotors? Is it better to go with more expensive break pads than it is the more expensive rotor?

[4JawChuck]

In general there are two quality of cast iron brake rotors, malleable cast is used in the more expensive rotors and the cheap rotors its white cast iron with a malleable skin.

The cheap rotors warp very easily and are basically unmachinable once worn, the material under the surface is full of inclusions and is very hard. In a heavy duty application such as a SUV towing under load down a grade where they brakes are stressed its not unusual for them to crack. The more expensive rotors are softer and consistent from interior to surface and hence do not suffer the same differential expansion cracking issue to the same degree.

That being said some places sell the cheap rotors for a middle price so you don't know if your getting a good deal on the better rotor of screwed on the cheap crap. You used to be able to tell them apart because the good rotors used to have "made in germany/USA" stamped into the mold but the cheapo mfgs figured that out and have their molds made in the same places now but are poured and machined in China or overseas.

What I do is buy the better rotor at a third party supplier and the pads from the mfg, I find all the aftermarket pads are very hard with a high percentage of ceramics so they squeel as they age and get harder...the factory pads may not last as long but at least they don't make noise.

[Shellback]

I haven't had much luck with after market rotors. Went through a couple sets on my truck. Have gone back to OEM rotors.

[SSH]

I use Raybestos Professional grade rotors and have had good luck with them.

AMAZON has ACDelco 18A258A Advantage Front Brake Rotor for
$28 with Free Super Saver shipping.

[Suzuki]

Interesting. I just bougth 2 OEM rotors from GM dealer for $250 and they were'nt even the expensive ones!

[MrStarnes1]

Originally Posted by Suzuki

Interesting. I just bougth 2 OEM rotors from GM dealer for $250 and they were'nt even the expensive ones!

and that is why they call it the stealership

[MN_Moose]

The post quoted below has some inacuracies but I'm not going to say everything is not true.

In America, no brake rotors are produced from malleable iron. Virtually all are gray iron (heat disapation) some special applications are ductile iron or compacted graphite.
Malleable iron foundries are nearly extinct. There are a few in PA but not many others. Malleable cast irons are formed by annealing white irons to transform the eutectic cementite to graphite ( http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...8EzDUZrpjCX6OA )

Cheap iron is not white iron. White iron is the base metal for malleable and then it's heat treated to eliminate the brittleness.

There is no way possile to have a malleable "skin". Malleable iron is heat treated thru and thru.

Waupaca Foundry supplies a lot of excellent brake rotors made in America through Affina and Federal Mogul.

Originally Posted by 4JawChuck

In general there are two quality of cast iron brake rotors, malleable cast is used in the more expensive rotors and the cheap rotors its white cast iron with a malleable skin.

[jopes]

I have bought a good amount of parts from rock auto, if they have the OEM Acdelco's I would recommend using them.

[4JawChuck]

Originally Posted by MN_Moose

The post quoted below has some inacuracies but I'm not going to say everything is not true.

In America, no brake rotors are produced from malleable iron. Virtually all are gray iron (heat disapation) some special applications are ductile iron or compacted graphite.
Malleable iron foundries are nearly extinct. There are a few in PA but not many others. Malleable cast irons are formed by annealing white irons to transform the eutectic cementite to graphite ( http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...8EzDUZrpjCX6OA )

Cheap iron is not white iron. White iron is the base metal for malleable and then it's heat treated to eliminate the brittleness.

There is no way possile to have a malleable "skin". Malleable iron is heat treated thru and thru.

Waupaca Foundry supplies a lot of excellent brake rotors made in America through Affina and Federal Mogul.

I would say there are more than a few inaccuracies!