What Are Rotors And Why Are They Important?
Brake rotors are one of the most important parts of a car's braking system. They play a big part in stopping or slowing down your vehicle when you press down on the brake pedal.
Brake rotors work with the brake pedals to generate enough friction to stop or slow down the vehicle. Under normal driving circumstances, rotors need replacing every 50K-70K miles. So if you own a car, it's important to know what brake rotors are and why they're important.
What Is A Brake Rotor?
Brake rotors are large metal discs that come standard on most modern cars. Most brake rotors are made of cast iron. Some luxury and heavy duty vehicles use rotors made of different materials.
Rotors come in several different designs:
- Solid
- Vented
- Slotted
- Drilled
- Cross-drilled
Each design has its own set of pros and cons. For instance, slotted rotors are ideal for keeping moisture off the surface area. Vented rotors are great for dissipating heat. If you have a performance vehicle, it pays to research each type of rotor to determine which one will provide the best braking performance. If you have a daily driver, solid rotors will usually do just fine.
How Brake Rotors Work
In a disc braking system, there's a rotor at every wheel. The rotor is attached to the wheel hub. Wrapped around the top part of the rotor is a brake caliper. Inside the caliper are brake pads. The friction material of each brake pad faces the rotor.
What happens when you press down on the brake pedal? The hydraulic fluid forces the pistons inside the caliper to extend and press the brake pads against the rotor. When this happens, the friction between the pads and rotor is enough to either stop or slow down the rotor. The car's wheels and axles are connected to the rotor. This means these parts will stop or slow down, too.
Looking at it another way, the brake system converts kinetic energy (the motion of the car) into heat energy. The rotor and pads absorb and dissipate the heat into the air.
Why Do Brake Rotors Wear Out?
Brake rotors undergo a lot of wear and tear from being used repeatedly when you brake. That's why brake rotors don't last forever.
In order for your vehicle's braking system to work, you need to keep your rotors in good condition. If your rotors are corroded, worn too thin, or warped, they won't be able to absorb enough heat when braking. In that case, they can't perform their job of stopping or slowing down the vehicle when you hit the brakes. Replacing your brake rotors will keep your vehicle's braking system in optimal condition at all times.
If you need replacement brake rotors, look no further than SuburbanAutoParts.com. We carry genuine OEM brake rotors for a variety of makes and models. You'd be hard-pressed to find better pricing elsewhere! Please contact us if you need help finding the right rotors for your vehicle.