Table of Contents
- View The Best Brake Rotors Below
- 1. ACDelco 18A1705 Professional Front Disc Brake Rotor
- 2. DuraGo BR900526 Rear Solid Disc Brake Rotor
- 3. Power Stop K3053 Front Brake Kit
- 4. ACDelco 18A925A Advantage Front Disc Brake Rotor
- 5. Wagner BD125669E Premium E-Coated Brake Rotor
- 6. Raybestos 580279R Professional Grade Disc Brake Rotor
- 7. Bosch 50011343 QuietCast Premium Disc Brake Rotor
- 8. ACDelco 18A1659A Advantage Non-Coated Front Disc Brake Rotor
- 9. Bosch 26010733 QuietCast Premium Disc Brake Rotor
- 10. Centric Parts 120.47021 Premium Brake Rotor
- Brake Rotors Buyer’s Guide
Brake rotor are an extremely important component of almost all large vehicles, acting as the surface that a car’s brake pads can use to stop the wheels from turning. That’s not all they’re able to offer, though: many have their own extra benefits, ranging from improved performance to better heat dissipation compared to other designs of brake rotor on the market. Unfortunately, this also means that there’s a lot of rotors to choose from, and it can take a long time to trace down the best brakes for cars that you or your family members own: even small differences can mean a lot.
Below are ten sets of the best brake rotors available right now, as well as details on what they offer compared to other top brake rotor styles and brands.
View The Best Brake Rotors Below
1. ACDelco 18A1705 Professional Front Disc Brake Rotor
These balanced and well-made disc brake rotors are built to be as quiet as possible, focusing on smooth and silent operation in every situation. The rotors themselves have also been tested for maximum quality in as many conditions as possible, and can handle all kinds of vibration-based, physical and weather-related damage without breaking or putting the user in danger.
In terms of heat dispersion, the design is able to dissipate heat in a way that prolongs the life of the brake rotors while also cutting down on unnecessary vibrations and noises, keeping you safe without slashing braking performance or wearing down the brake rotors quickly.
Pros:
+Designed to prevent vibrations and loud noises.
+Very durable construction.
+Thoroughly tested.
+Made with high performance materials.
+Ready to be installed straight away.
Why We Like It – These brake rotors are perfect for anybody who wants safe, reliable and well-performing brake rotors that they know they can trust no matter what.
2. DuraGo BR900526 Rear Solid Disc Brake Rotor
These straightforward disc brake rotors are precisely engineered to give you the best possible results and breaking performance every time. The design includes multiple different vane configurations to help with heat dissipation while also pulling in cooler air, improving performance and braking power while making sure the rotors last longer.
Each part of the metal casts has been tweaked for maximum strength and reliability, staying consistently thick and durable throughout every inch of the construction. Thanks to the non-directional swirl, installation is also slightly faster and less fiddly, and they have the added benefit of being hub-centric for a massive reduction in vibrations.
Pros:
+Low vibrations.
+Made with durable metals.
+Designed for quality and performance.
+Built-in heat management vanes.
+Easy to install without adjustments.
Why We Like It – These brake rotors focus on quality and results above all else, giving you a high-quality set of rotors that make any vehicle’s braking tools far more effective.
3. Power Stop K3053 Front Brake Kit
These slotted rotors use a special ceramic and carbon-fiber compound material that’s able to improve braking performance without any major downsides, working alongside two layers of high-temperature rubberized shims to help eliminate braking noises almost entirely.
The low-dust braking system also means that the brake rotors will produce up to 30% less dust each time compared to normal designs, and the slots in the construction improve cooling through natural heat dissipation. Not only that, but each of the rotors is zinc-plated to fight off rust, ensuring that corrosion and water damage from bad driving conditions can’t affect your vehicle’s braking performance.
Pros:
+Low dust production when braking.
+Slotted brake rotors for better heat management.
+Plated with zinc to prevent rusting.
+Allows for almost silent braking.
+Durable construction.
Why We Like It – Not only are these brake rotors quiet and dust-free, but they’re also very durable and effective when it comes to frequent braking, making them an excellent choice for nearly any vehicle.
4. ACDelco 18A925A Advantage Front Disc Brake Rotor
These non-coated brake rotors are built with a range of different alloys that naturally improve braking performance and heat dissipation, all while being perfectly balanced and not requiring any other external weights or adjustments. The quality of the metals used has been properly verified and fully checked for thickness changes, making each of the rotors equally consistent and reliable to ensure maximum safety while braking.
The rounded radius in the design is also supposed to boost its strength even further, meaning that it can take longer to wear out and won’t need a replacement as often. Alongside that are the usual noise and vibration dampening that makes every drive slightly smoother.
Pros:
+Non-directional finish for better consistency.
+Improved airflow for heat management.
+Designed to be durable.
+Made with specially-chosen alloys.
+Checked for quality issues.
Why We Like It – These brake rotors are high-quality and offer some excellent boosts to your braking performance, making them a great safety measure in any vehicle.
These well-designed and high performance brake rotors use a special vane design that’s meant to improve braking power while also allowing for better heat dissipation. They’re all kept inside a corrosion inhibitor bag that’s meant to keep them ready to install straight away, and each of the rotors uses a special protective coating that makes the internal parts even less susceptible to rust without needing to be treated.
The smooth finish also means that they don’t take as long to break in, and the balanced design adds some extra stability while also helping you get rid of annoying vibrations while making sure you have full control over the vehicle.
Pros:
+Designed to resist corrosion.
+Balanced brake rotor design.
+Easy to add to an existing braking system.
+Special vane design for dissipating heat.
+Constructed with top quality metals.
Why We Like It – While these brake rotors might seem basic and flat, they’re actually very well-designed and have been built to a very precise standard for maximum braking performance.
6. Raybestos 580279R Professional Grade Disc Brake Rotor
These high-quality rounded brake rotors use a range of specially-chosen metals to ensure maximum braking performance in as many situations as possible, using a design that’s meant to improve friction, grip, brake power, and overall durability without needing you to take any extra steps during installation.
The design is also surprisingly reliable and offers plenty of natural heat management and strength, ensuring that your brake pads can work correctly and slow your vehicle down in a safe, smooth way. Each of the brake rotors has been tested to ensure that it can fit Raybestos’ expected level of quality, as well as making sure that all of the features will work correctly in any vehicle.
Pros:
+Built for quality and reliability,
+Tested thoroughly.
+Designed to reduce vibrations and improve brake friction.
+Made using excellent materials.
+Can reduce noise and provide smooth braking performance.
Why We Like It – These brake rotors combine excellent quality with a reliable rotor design that can make any vehicle get better performance from its brake pads.
The aluminum, zinc and ceramic brake rotor coating on these brake rotors prevent rust and other forms of natural damage from affecting your vehicle and its overall stopping power. The precise design leads to much smoother performance in nearly every situation, and the special vane designs provide better heat management while also extending the life of the rotors.
Thanks to the smooth outer rim and sides, the brake pads also don’t bump or vibrate as much, and the full coverage design means that the rotors can work on a range of vehicle types. Not only that, but the rotors can offer a decent level of noise dampening during drives.
Pros:
+High-quality, professional coating.
+Rust and corrosion-resistant.
+Offers good heat management and dissipation.
+Designed for smooth performance.
+Durable construction.
Why We Like It – The design of these brake rotors makes them perfect for getting high performance out of nearly any vehicle, but they’re still very reliable and effective.
8. ACDelco 18A1659A Advantage Non-Coated Front Disc Brake Rotor
The various custom alloys used in these front brake rotors improve both their performance and their ability to dissipate heat, making them suitable for a huge range of vehicle types. They’re easy to install without any need for extra balancing weights, and each of the rotors has been checked for size issues to ensure perfect quality every time.
The rounded radius construction improves their overall strength even further, and the cast iron used in the design backs this up with its natural durability. Not only that, but they can extend the life of your best brake pads, lowering the number of times you’ll need to get the braking system repaired or replaced.
Pros:
+Designed to help protect brake pads.
+Built with a special vane design.
+Non-directional construction.
+Reliable performance.
+Simple design that’s easy to install.
Why We Like It – These front brake rotors offer a good mixture of features while still being durable and effective at a basic level, giving you great stopping power in almost all vehicle types.
These premium-quality brake rotors use an OEM vane configuration that lets them dissipate heat faster, extending the life of both the rotors and your brake pads. The castings have helped improve durability and cut down on long-term wear, as well as dampening sounds.
Thanks to the zinc and aluminum coating, rust and other forms of damage are less of a problem and won’t affect your stopping power that much. Even better, the ABS tone ring means that it can work well alongside other braking system features or traction control tools, all while being balanced enough to make every power stop smooth and comfortable.
Pros:
+Allows for smooth braking.
+Effective at dissipating heat.
+Very precise and balanced.
+Easy to use.
+Coated with protective materials.
Why We Like It – These disc brake rotors are extremely hardy and can give you a smoother braking experience time and time again without wearing down easily.
These brake rotors have been made with premium materials to give them a high level of durability and precision, allowing for smooth movements and better brake performance even if you have to perform an emergency power stop. The special black coating provides even better protection from corrosion and rust without making the surfaces imbalanced, and the double disc design results in smoother movements with less noise production overall. Each part of the design has been precisely engineered to provide better results, including split core castings that let heat escape and cold air re-enter the brake rotors to prevent overheating and/or weather damage.
Pros:
+Professional and reliable design.
+Built to be visually clean and pleasing.
+Reduces noise and improves smoothness.
+Protected from corrosion.
+Dissipates heat well.
Why We Like It – These disc brake rotors provide a great mixture of performance enhancements and practical benefits, making them a great jack-of-all-trades choice.
Brake Rotors Buyer’s Guide
Brake rotors aren’t like an aesthetic accessory for your vehicle that are mostly interchangeable with any other option: they have a direct impact on your vehicle’s performance, its ability to brake well and various other aspects of its movement that can be much more important than you might expect.
Even some of the best brake rotors might be missing a feature that you need, and there’s no guarantee that a certain set of brake rotors will even fit on a vehicle of a particular size or style. If you’re looking to buy the best brake rotors you can find, you’ll want to have an understanding of what the “best” would actually be in that context.
Vehicle Usage
You might not realize it at first, but the way you use your vehicle will affect how the brake rotors can function and what the best options are going to be. It’s not just in terms of how you drive, but the kinds of roads you’ll be on, how often you’ll be using the vehicle and even the kind of climate you’ll be in.
For commuting, even the simplest brake rotors can be perfectly fine, since they’re rotors that offer a decent mix of everything. Of course, this assumes that you’re on normal roads: you’ll still want different rotors if your commute takes you on dirt paths or other unconventional roads and routes. If your vehicle is meant to be used for other activities such as racing or recreational purposes, then this might not be the case: drilled and slotted rotors are a common sight due to the extra benefits they can offer.
For towing other vehicles or moving around heavy loads, stronger rotors with the ability to dissipate heat are much more valuable, since this cools the rotors down and makes sure that they don’t break: slotted brake rotors are often popular for this exact reason. Driving off-road is a similar story, with drilled and slotted rotors becoming very widely used for a similar reason: you get better brake power if your rotor is drilled, and slotted rotors are better for handling heat. Keep in mind that slotted rotors can clog in muddy areas, though.
Repairs
Speaking of vehicle usage, it’s also important to understand that rotors are just like any other component of a car or truck. Eventually, your rotors will need to be replaced or repaired if they start to break down, which is extremely important to your safety considering that brake rotors interact with the braking pads directly. Don’t be afraid to choose easy-to-replace rotors if you want, especially if you’re not much of a car fan and don’t mind losing some power or performance to get rotors that you can understand with minimal experience.
Materials
Not all rotors are going to be made out of cast iron and aluminum, and the exact materials used can change quite a lot about how the rotors work. Some of the best brake rotors might even integrate some special materials or custom alloys into the design.
Cast iron is an old-school option that’s durable but weighty, whereas steel and layered steel can be lighter at the cost of some durability: this depends on the exact alloys or designs used, of course. High carbon is another common choice, which offers better noise reduction and anti-vibration features as well as helping the rotors cool down, but not all carbon designs are going to be as durable as you expect. Aluminum and ceramic brake rotors are even lighter but have a much lower durability, with ceramic brake rotors being some of the lightest options available.
Coatings
Remember that some brake rotors have other coatings on them. The top layer of a brake rotor can be covered with zinc to prevent corrosion, aluminum for extra protection or even another layer of cast iron. This can all make a difference, and the top layer shouldn’t be overlooked.
Rotor Types
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of brake rotors on the market that all have their own unique designs and quirks. However, there are a handful of common brake rotor types that you can usually sort them into like categories, and each of them is meant for a different situation or a certain type of braking style. Not all types are meant to be used in the same way, and some sacrifice one benefit in favor of another or try to match a balance between multiple other brake rotor types. Here’s a brief breakdown of each of these rotors and what they’re meant to be used for.
Smooth Rotors
Smooth rotors are exactly what the name suggests: they’re almost completely smooth and offer a flat surface for the brake pads to press against, meaning that they’re generally seen as the most rotor basic option. However, they can also be some of the best brake rotors in terms of versatility, since they’re the most balanced and generic in terms of design. They also don’t wear out that fast, since their constructed to be used in all situations. Because of this, any vehicle you own is likely to come with a smooth brake rotor set as standard unless you specifically ask for (or order) a different type.
Drilled or Dimpled Rotors
Dimpled or drilled brake rotors are similar to the smooth kind, but have a series of holes in the braking surface: they’re similar, but have some minor differences between them, which is why they go by two names. Drilled rotors have the holes going all the way through the surface (as the name implies, they’re “drilled” brake rotors), whereas dimpled rotors don’t let the holes go all the way through. Both dimpled and drilled brake rotors offer improved stopping power, making a sudden power stop or emergency brake much more effective by ‘biting’ onto the brake pads more effectively.
Slotted Rotors
Slotted brake rotors have carved lines on the surface instead. These are meant to improve performance by helping your rotors cool down, as well as clearing away any debris that could get in the way of the brake pads. This generally means that they’re used on heavy-duty vehicle types, but slotted brake rotors can also work well on a normal vehicle that has to deal with hot weather or just needs slightly better cooling. Some slotted brake rotors can even offer better grip depending on the design of the surface the brake pads have to use.
Combination Rotors
Combination rotors are quite simply a combined version of dimpled/drilled and slotted rotors, mixing the boosted braking with the better cooling. Designs can vary, but most of them will just mix the holes of drilled rotors with the slots of slotted brake rotors to get a mixture of both, with the rest of the design being more or less the same. Unlike drilled and slotted rotors, they’re most commonly used on large, heavy vehicles like trucks.
None of these rotor types are objectively better than the others: smooth rotors are seen as the baseline, and drilled and slotted rotors are often seen as the most common ‘upgrades’, but there’s nothing wrong with using any of the designs. It’s up to you which one you prefer to use, since they all have their own upsides and downsides that make them the best brake rotors for different purposes.
Who makes the best brakes and rotors?
It’s very easy to look at top brands and assume that every rotor they make is the best, but that’s just not true. They may have all rights reserved on a custom drilled and slotted brake rotor design that’s said to be one of the best options available, but it depends on what you personally need. If you need brake rotors that will hold up to 5,000 miles of driving across off-road terrain, then a top brand rotor that crumbles after 4,000 miles won’t work. Even if you find one that will support 5,000 miles of driving, it might be drilled and slotted when you need a smooth design.
The best manufacturer or brake rotors vary from person to person for this exact reason. No rotor can satisfy everybody, and unlike looking for the best brakes MTB companies offer, car or truck companies don’t have the luxury of everything being compatible. Location can matter too: if you need brakes in Canada, you have to look at the best brake pads and rotors Canada has to offer, since there might be certain legal requirements for road-worthy vehicles that other countries don’t have.
Are drilled brake rotors better?
As mentioned earlier, no brake rotor is perfect. Drilled designs have as many benefits as drawbacks: in this case, a drilled rotor can make a power stop easier and can work with a brake pad much more effectively, but you’re sacrificing some temperature management to get that power stop benefit. This means that drilled rotor designs aren’t going to be the best in every single situation they can be used in, and you shouldn’t assume that a drilled rotor will fix all your problems.
Other Vehicle Parts
It’s worth keeping in mind that your brake pad can have some input, as can other parts of your car. Unlike bikes (where each product, such as a Shimano brakes disc, can work with almost any bike design), each vehicle will have its own brake system and other features.
Not all rotors will work with each wheel size and design, and there’s no guarantee that a single rotor model will work straight out of the factory. Even if you get it to fit, there can be plenty of cons if it’s not actually supposed to fit: rotors rely on a good braking system, so an incompatible design can be downright dangerous if used badly.
Conclusion
By now, you should have an idea of what a brake rotor is (if you didn’t before), what brake rotors can do for your vehicle and what to look for in the best brake rotors. If you’re still looking, take another look at the rotors reviewed up above and see if they suit your vehicle – if not, then they’re a good place to jump-start your search and narrow down the rotor types you don’t want!
All rotors are unique in one way or another, and it’s just a matter of finding the rotors that suit your needs or a rotor style that works with your car. Don’t give up your search easily: there are thousands of rotors out there, and each rotor design could bring you a step closer to the perfect product!