2 quick questions..

[solekeeper]

Hey guys, ex-FX owner checking in here..

I had 2 quick questions, one being do bigger rotors mean they dissipate heat faster?
And also, the rust that builds up on the rotor, from when water sits on it, does that cause anything bad? Just double checking! Thanks!

 

[Mongolian]

My rotors on my beater honda rusts everynight =)

It squeaks in the morning during initial braking and it goes away. My brakes work fine...

 

[GEE50FX]

The oxidation on the rotors is normal and does not hurt anything.

 

[StuLax18]

Bigger rotors provide more surface area for braking.
The rust will just come off after one full revolution while braking.

 

[solekeeper]

So the bigger rotors don't necessarily dissipate heat better then?
I swore I read that somewhere, lol

 

[fxlr8]

I believe, it's the larger the rotors the more heat they can handle. Internal vane design determines the cooling characteristics.

 

[Gilley]

Larger rotors will absorb more heat than a smaller rotor, given the same conditions. Larger rotors also have a larger swept area for the pad to use.

 

[solekeeper]

So the more heat the rotor is able to handle will be less likely to warp right?

 

[fxlr8]

You can say that, also the more heat the rotor can handle the less chance for brake fade.

 

[jumbosrule]

Just from a physics standpoint a bigger rotor will take longer to heat up, but it will also take longer to cool off. If the ONLY difference between two rotors is the size, it won't be a big advantage.

If you start to look at aftermarket options with internal cooling vanes, cross drilled or slotted features - these help cool the rotor more quickly. They add surface area to the rotor, direct heat away and allow air to circulate freely for better cooling than rotors without these features.

If the rust dissappears after using your brakes (just get out and take a look) then it's normal and you have nothing to worry about. However, if the rust does NOT go away completely where the brake pad makes contact or you see rust pitting in the surface of the rotor, you might want to get them turned down. The rust will continue to come and go for the life of the rotor.