I just went to switch back to my street pads from a track day at Gingerman, and noticed a huge radial crack in my rotor. So I'm looking for recommendations for rotor replacement.

I wish to keep using the Hawk Blue pads, which are great track pads but very agressive on the rotors. Are there any good rotor replacements out there that have good surface wear properties? Venting is secondary as I plan to put ducts in place by my next track day.

Thanks

 

this is the first i have heard of our rotors cracking...
good question, so i am moving it back up to the top!
question for you- which wheels do you use on the car? (my recollection is that some of the drilled and slotted rotors are too big for the stock wheels)

 

There have been a couple of reports of cracked rotors when subjected to high track heat. I have not had the problem (I guess I am easier on the brakes) but would look seriously at the rotors Rick's now sells that are racing units sized for stock brakes.

I am on my second set of stock units (these were cryo treated) but am finding that with experience I am having less brake wear and more tire wear at the track.

 

cryo won't prevent cracking from heat...i've seen them crack in just as much time as stock rotors.

I'd just keep replacing with stock...that's what I do. all my rotors are replaced b/c of cracking and not b/c of wear. besides they're pretty cheap.

there's a guy out here that races a neon (waaaay fast...below 2:05 at thunderhill) and he uses the cheapest rotors he can find w/ his hawk pads. they end the day being concave, but since they're the cheapest it's easy to replace.

 

wanabe - I'm using stock wheels, so anything I'd get would have to fit.

Unabageler - Interesting perspective. My car is used on the street along with about 5 or so track days per summer. I'm not sure that it still wouldn't be in my best interest to try to get something that might last a little longer.

If I did take your advice and view rotors as disposable, would you think there's any problem with just replacing them as they crack, and continually inspecting them as I change pads. Or would you think it would be more appropriate to replace them in pairs?

 

i think Unabageler goes thru brake rotors like oil filters...they are defintiely disposable!

I'd think that replacing them as you need them should not be an issue. But one key to keeping them longer is to make sure that after any track run, drive around the paddock even after the cooldown run for a few minutes to cool the rotors as much as possible...of course you may already know this, but it may help others extend the life on their rotors.

 

Well, while cryo-treated rotors I'm sure aren't a Godsend, I'm sure there's some credibility to it, since it's valued by a lot of racers/autocrossers/etc.

I say give www.frozenrotors.com a shot. I've been considering a set of their cryo-treated plain (no cross-drilling or slotting) Brembo rotors, in OEM size, to replace my aging Impreza rotors.
The good thing is that it seems the cost of these (not any of the big brake kit rotors, just OEM replacements, which are Brembos that get cryo treatment) seems to come out to lower than an OEM replacement.

For instance, the cost for mine seems to be about $86/each for the front rotors (a few dollars cheaper per rotor in the rear). So let's say the total is $170 for the fronts. Well, most dealerships want about $190 for a set of stock 2000 2.5RS rotors.

So I get cryo Brembos for less than stock. Good deal.

(Regardless of the fact that I know of a dealership in New Hampshire that actually sells OEM parts at reasonable prices--front rotor set for $100 for me--I think I'd still prefer the Brembos.)

When you Email you can ask for a man named Mark Link. I think he handles most Email anyway, but he's a VP over there and took care of all my Emails, he was very good with correspondence and had lots of useful information.

 

I would personally upgrade to a big brake kit. You don't have to but for track days, I'd really recommend it. If not, I'd also recommend those Frozen Rotors if you want to stay with stock dimensions. I haven't personally used them (no need at this point) but I've seen them used on SCCA rally cars and they do a fair bit of heavy braking on tarmac sections that would thrash any rotor. There's a company out there also called StopTech that I just recently saw an article on but haven't seen a listing for S2000 parts. Give em a call and see what's out there.

I also just found this as another point of reference for big brake kits/rotors/pads. Not too great but interesting nonetheless.

http://www.subarureview.com/brake.php

 

Big brake kits are wonderful if you have the cash, but otherwise, all you really need for superb braking is a good set of stable rotors and great pads to clamp 'em with. The OEM calipers are certainly sufficient to provide the muscle for said clampin.'

As for pads, well there's a zillion. I have four Porterfield R4-S on my Impreza, they're great. Your Hawk Blue pads I'm sure are just as good.

Big brakes are nice for track days, though.... for the sheer reason that the larger sets dissipate heat better, so you get better consecutive performance on the track, or so the stats and users say. So it's a toss-up, but for street use most big brake setups are good only for looks.... if you can lock up your brakes well with the OEM setup (like I can in my car, and I'm sure you can with an S2000), all you need is good pads and rotors that are in good shape.

-S2-

 

I've found the S2000 rotors to run very hot at the track. Additional cooling (I use ducts plumbed into the front bumper) helps tremendously. Also, I think you should consider another brake compound. I've compared the Blues to Carbotech P+ on the track, and find the P+ to have equal braking performance at temp with better cold bite and zero rotor wear compared to lots of rotor wear of the Hawk pads.

JMO.

regards,
-- Chris