Brake and rotor replacement

pkhoury

That guy with the goats
Joined
Nov 30, 2010
Location
Medina, TX
TDI
2013 JSW, 2 x 2002 Golf, 1995 F450 7.3L
I'm looking for brake and rotor replacements for my 02 Beetle. Is there a big difference between slotted, drilled, both, or plain jane rotors? I'm going to be buying mine (with several hundred bucks of other stuff for 4 other vehicles) from Rock Auto. I plan on using this TDI to tow in the very near future. I've always been partial to Akebono brakes (what I have on my JSW and my Saab), but could only find those for the front pads. While I don't mind spending a little more for quality, I don't want to go overkill either.
 

joep1234

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2014
Location
NC
TDI
former '04 Beetle TDI, now 2x '15 Audi Q5 TDI's, 2007 Dodge Ram 4x4 6.7
I did slotted and cross drilled rotors and Evolution ceramic pads on my '04 Beetle and it will stand up on the front bumper. They have on the car 2 years and no regrets. I also have an '03 Beetle Vert. that still has the factory brakes (only 60 k on the clock) on it and I have remember which car I am driving. I takes up to an additional 30 to 50 feet to stop over the '04.
 

pkhoury

That guy with the goats
Joined
Nov 30, 2010
Location
Medina, TX
TDI
2013 JSW, 2 x 2002 Golf, 1995 F450 7.3L
Thankfully, I'm not that hard on my brakes unless I'm in the mountains. Actually, I replaced brakes on my JSW at around 130K and I still had about 30% pad wear left. I just replaced them for piece of mind and so I wouldn't have to do it later on.

So do the slotted and cross drilled really dissipate heat and make that much of a difference? I already know the advantages of ceramic (that's all I use), but didn't know if there's a big differentiation on brands.
 

keaton85

Veteran Member
Joined
Feb 26, 2011
Location
Camden, ME
TDI
Golf MK4
I wouldn't bother with drilled or slotted, as there is no advantage on a daily driver...

Lots of reports of cracks from drilled rotors. Nice clean regular rotors are perfect for the real world. Any cheap rotors with any cheap ceramic pads will work.

Advance auto has great prices online WITH coupon codes.
 

turbocharged798

Veteran Member
Joined
May 21, 2009
Location
Ellenville, NY
TDI
99.5 black ALH Jetta;09 Gasser Jetta
Solid and coated zimmerman rotors. Zimmer makes the OE rotors. :)

I have nothing but problems in the past with 'cheap' rotors.
 

gatz

Veteran Member
Joined
Oct 29, 2005
Location
Windsor, CT
TDI
2005 Mk4 Golf TDI PD, 2006 MkV Golf GTI
Agree slotted & drilled rotors are no benefit other than looks and only have downsides. I'm pretty sure many rallycross and F1 teams use blank rotors.
 

Drivbiwire

Zehntes Jahr der Veteran
Joined
Oct 13, 1998
Location
Boise, Idaho
TDI
2013 Passat TDI, Newmar Ventana 8.3L ISC 3945, 2016 E250 BT, 2000 Jetta TDI
Drilled have less thermal mass, thus worse brake performance.

True drilled rotors are NEVER drilled, they are CAST and are made with larger area to retain the increased mass required to absorb the thermal energy lost to the addition of cooling channels.

Rotors being made from iron as all OEM units are, can't cool fast enough to benefit from cooling channels.

Porsche, MB and others with these style brakes use alloys that have better heat dissipation properties, thus the rotor is completely different in terms of metallurgy, structure and overall mass.
 

pkhoury

That guy with the goats
Joined
Nov 30, 2010
Location
Medina, TX
TDI
2013 JSW, 2 x 2002 Golf, 1995 F450 7.3L
Thanks for the updates. This certainly affects my potential purchase. Regular flat rotors, here I come (with ceramic pads, of course).
 

bbbbbq

Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 25, 2015
Location
Hamilton, ON
TDI
'01 sedan, '06 wagon
Drilled have less thermal mass, thus worse brake performance.

True drilled rotors are NEVER drilled, they are CAST and are made with larger area to retain the increased mass required to absorb the thermal energy lost to the addition of cooling channels.

Rotors being made from iron as all OEM units are, can't cool fast enough to benefit from cooling channels.

Porsche, MB and others with these style brakes use alloys that have better heat dissipation properties, thus the rotor is completely different in terms of metallurgy, structure and overall mass.
Well put, I hope many others can benefit from this myth debunking information.
 

IndigoBlueWagon

TDIClub Enthusiast, Principal IDParts, Vendor , w/
Joined
Aug 16, 2004
Location
South of Boston
TDI
'97 Passat, '99.5 Golf, '02 Jetta Wagon, '15 GSW
Just so you know, we have more warranty claims for warped Zimmermann rotors than any other brand.
 

turbocharged798

Veteran Member
Joined
May 21, 2009
Location
Ellenville, NY
TDI
99.5 black ALH Jetta;09 Gasser Jetta
Just so you know, we have more warranty claims for warped Zimmermann rotors than any other brand.
What rotors do you recommend? Had a set of rotors from a local NAPA and those would fail in less than a year. They would rust really bad and then warp. I have a set of zimmermans on my black 99.5 for probably the last 150K miles and they are starting to get thin and warp slightly. They are pretty worn though so its to be expected.
 

tjsean0308

Veteran Member
Joined
Mar 23, 2013
Location
port angeles, wa
TDI
MKIV wagon 5spd graphite blue
The proven brand in the jeep world is centric. Bigger tires and added weight on the jeeps makes the stock brakes work real hard. The centrics are the most recommended in that application.
 

IndigoBlueWagon

TDIClub Enthusiast, Principal IDParts, Vendor , w/
Joined
Aug 16, 2004
Location
South of Boston
TDI
'97 Passat, '99.5 Golf, '02 Jetta Wagon, '15 GSW
We probably sell 10-20x as many Fremax rotors as Zimmermanns, and I can only recall warrantying two pair for warping. However, part of the issue with brake warping is how they're installed and how they're used. Often it's not the rotor's fault.

I ran Meyle Platinum rotors and EBC Yellowstuff pads on two A4 track day cars. Not a very glamorous setup, but there really aren't any race pads available for the 280mm front brakes. Never had a rotor warp. We have Fremax rotors on three TDIs now. Doing fine. But on the street I'm pretty easy on brakes.
 

keaton85

Veteran Member
Joined
Feb 26, 2011
Location
Camden, ME
TDI
Golf MK4
Rotors actually don't warp, they just get high spots which build up over time. Easy enough to fix if you do a proper high speed bed in process. I've never had rotors "warp" on me with any cheap or quality rotor. The only time I've had issues is due to stuck slide pins.

My Audi had almost a years worth of rust on the rotors when I got the car. The car would keep like it was going to fall apart if you touched the brakes they were so bad. A few bed in processes and they have been perfect ever since.

Anyway, point being, warping is the wrong word that everyone uses.
 

Lightflyer1

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Sep 13, 2005
Location
Round Rock, Texas
TDI
2015 Beetle tdi dsg
I have Akebono for the front and rear for my Beetle. EUR340A (rear) and EUR768A (front). Got mine from Amazon around $100 for both. Zimmerman rotors x4 and rotor scews from IDParts for $166. I have the metalnerd wind back tool as well if you need it.
 

IndigoBlueWagon

TDIClub Enthusiast, Principal IDParts, Vendor , w/
Joined
Aug 16, 2004
Location
South of Boston
TDI
'97 Passat, '99.5 Golf, '02 Jetta Wagon, '15 GSW
Rotors actually don't warp, they just get high spots which build up over time. Easy enough to fix if you do a proper high speed bed in process. I've never had rotors "warp" on me with any cheap or quality rotor. The only time I've had issues is due to stuck slide pins.

My Audi had almost a years worth of rust on the rotors when I got the car. The car would keep like it was going to fall apart if you touched the brakes they were so bad. A few bed in processes and they have been perfect ever since.

Anyway, point being, warping is the wrong word that everyone uses.
Totally agree with this.
 

pkhoury

That guy with the goats
Joined
Nov 30, 2010
Location
Medina, TX
TDI
2013 JSW, 2 x 2002 Golf, 1995 F450 7.3L
I have Akebono for the front and rear for my Beetle. EUR340A (rear) and EUR768A (front). Got mine from Amazon around $100 for both. Zimmerman rotors x4 and rotor scews from IDParts for $166. I have the metalnerd wind back tool as well if you need it.
No clue what the wind back tool is, but if I do need it, I'll take you up on it. The car goes to runonbeer tomorrow, but I'm fixing to do the brakes myself when I get the car back. Ordered Zimmerman rotors from rockauto, and the only akebonos I found there were for the front. I want to say I ordered Bosch for the rear, but I don't remember.
 

BobnOH

not-a-mechanic
Joined
May 29, 2004
Location
central Ohio
TDI
New Beetle 2003 manual
Most 4 wheel disc cars use an extra piece in the rear calipers for the parking brake. The wind back tool allows the caliper piston to be compressed while rotating the piston to accommodate the extra piece.
 

TDITALIAN

Active member
Joined
Nov 7, 2004
Location
Los Angeles, CA
TDI
2003 Jetta Wagon, Slv, 5 spd 1999.5 Silver Jetta Sedan 5spd
I always use ATE rotors and pads front and back. Produce a bit more dust but perform great and durable enough.
 

UhOh

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Dec 24, 2014
Location
PNW
TDI
2003 Golf GLS (2005 Mercedes E320 CDI)
I've got about 20k miles and 1 year on my Zimmerman rotors and Akebono pads on the front of my car (PO had had the rears done not too long beforehand [ceramics], so those are/were still good). No rust (and no/hardly any dust- I'm kind of lazy about washing cars so that is kind of nice).

Every time I drive my car those brakes reassure me that it was a great decision. Best feeling brake I'd ever encountered. My wife's car had new brakes done at VW (by PO) and they don't feel nearly as nice: I need to see if I can go clean them up (do the break-in procedure to redistribute brake material).
 
Top