Disc Brake Rotor

Much prominence is given to the exterior appearance of automobiles by vendors, purchasers and collectors alike. Yet, only a handful of vehicle lovers are familiar with an automobile’s constituent components and the intricate functionality each such mechanism brings about. For instance, a disc brake rotor is a term few of us have given much thought to, despite the enormous service it provides.

For the uninitiated, a disc brake rotor is a device that slows down or stops the rotation of wheels, while an automobile is still in motion. It is connected to the wheel and/or axle in most instances, and once friction is applied, the discs and the wheels they are attached to slow down or grind to a complete halt, depending on the intensity of the pressure used.

The disc brake rotor was developed over a century ago and was made up mostly of copper at the time. However, the viability of using copper for a disc brake rotor left much to be desired in terms of its achieving the purpose intended. So, many years later, with the fine-tuning of knowledge, cast iron came to be the material of choice, while some even use composites of reinforced carbon or ceramic to manufacture disc brake rotors.

A disc brake rotor comes in more than one uniform design. Some are solid cast iron. Some have vanes which attach the two contact surfaces together. Yet others have holes drilled into it while a few have shallow channels incorporated into the disc itself, the latter which gives rise to the term “slotted disc”.

When comparing a disc brake rotor with that of a drum brake, a few advantages of the former promptly spring to mind. A disc brake rotor seldom overheats. Also, it has a faster recovery time after being immersed in water, thus making it superior to drum brakes in terms of functionality.

A disc brake rotor is most frequently used in sports cars and automobiles made for racing. Similarly, high performance vehicles too often use disc brakes. Larger vehicles such as passenger rail cars and even some airplanes use the disc brake rotor to its best advantage.

When engaging in routine or preventive maintenance of an automobile, one area that merits considerable attention are its brakes, for obvious reasons. Ideally, quality should not be compromised in such instances, so when choosing a disc brake rotor, choose one that is of a high quality and which meets the vehicle’s specifications. A competent mechanic should be consulted if further guidance is required.

There are a number of disc brake rotor manufacturers in the market today. A quick search on the internet will verify the accuracy of this statement. So tarry no further, if your disc brake rotor needs to be replaced, do it now, without undue delay.