Your Guide to Shopping for New Brake Rotors

Brake rotors play a major role in slowing down or stopping your vehicle when you hit the brakes. They need to be very durable—otherwise, they won’t last for long, especially if they often get engaged hard. If a brake rotor goes bad, you should replace it as soon as possible because it will make braking your car much more difficult.

What Is a Brake Rotor?

Also called “brake discs,” brake rotors are circular parts attached to the vehicle’s wheels. They are made from materials that produce a lot of friction when in direct contact and can withstand the resulting heat.

A vehicle with a disc brake system can have brake rotors for its front wheels and drum brakes for the rear wheels. It can also have rotors for all four wheels.

How Does a Brake Rotor Work?

Brake rotors slow down the vehicle by reducing the rotational speed of the wheels that they are attached to. When you step on the brake pedal, you trigger a process that will press the brake calipers into the surface of their respective rotors.

The brake pads on the ends of the calipers are made from friction-producing material. Once the pads press into the brake rotors’ surface, they will convert much of the wheels’ rotary movement into friction and heat. As the wheels’ rotation slows down, so does the vehicle.

When Should You Replace the Brake Rotor?

Like any other car part, brake rotors will wear out over the years. Brake rotors can typically last between 30,000 and 70,000 miles.

Depending on a wide range of factors, like your driving habits, road surfaces, and weather in your area, your vehicle’s brake rotors can last longer or shorter than their expected service life.

Some of the most common symptoms of bad brake rotors include:

• Pulsing or vibrating when you engage the brakes
• Chattering or clunking noises when the brake pads press into the brake rotors
• Reduced braking performance caused by an uneven brake rotor surface
• Visible damage, like cracks, hard spots, deep scoring, or heat discoloration

If your vehicle develops these problems and you or a trusted mechanic confirmed they came from a bad brake rotor, it’s best to replace the brake faulty part as soon as possible.

The 6 Best Brake Rotor Brands Today

To help you out, we identified some of the best brake rotor brands you can choose from:

SureStop

Surestop is your one-stop brand for reliable and affordable products that can return your vehicle’s braking performance to like-new condition. Its brake parts deliver a perfect fit right out of the box and meet world-class standards. Made from environment-friendly materials that don’t compromise on performance, Surestop parts and all-in-one kits give you big savings and hassle-free installation.

Featured Surestop Brake Rotors

Ford F-150 Brake Disc Chevrolet Impala Brake Disc Toyota Camry Brake Disc

Raybestos

Raybestos manufactures affordable, durable, and flexible brake rotors. Their products make less noise than most other rotors and run cooler while still delivering a great braking performance the moment you step on the brake pedal.

Featured Raybestos Brake Rotors

Jeep Grand Cherokee Brake Disc Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Brake Disc Ford F-150 Brake Disc

Brembo

If you own a luxury vehicle or want premium performance, Brembo brake rotors are for you. Their specialized brake discs produce a lot of friction to stop a speeding vehicle faster while also minimizing the heat that warps metal and causes fading.

Featured Brembo Brake Rotors

Chevrolet Impala Brake Disc Toyota Camry Brake Disc Jeep Grand Cherokee Brake Disc

AC Delco

A certified GM parts manufacturer, AC Delco engineers OE-quality parts like brake rotors. They design their replacement brake discs to match the performance of stock rotors, restoring the brakes to like-new condition.

Featured AC Delco Brake Rotors

Ford F-150 Brake Disc Toyota Camry Brake Disc Jeep Grand Cherokee Brake Disc

See also  Common Symptoms of a Bad Brake Disc

EBC

Specializing in brake parts, EBC develops innovative brake rotor products. Their products are designed for the ever-changing needs of drivers and made from high-quality materials to guarantee quality performance.

Featured EBC Brake Rotors

Ford F-150 Brake Disc Chevrolet Impala Brake Disc Jeep Grand Cherokee Brake Disc

Powerstop

Proudly made in the USA, Powerstop products are a popular choice among performance-oriented customers like car enthusiasts and racers. It has a wide array of brake products, including performance brake rotors.

Featured Powerstop Brake Rotors

Chevrolet Impala Brake Disc Toyota Camry Brake Disc Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Brake Disc

It’s important to get the best brake rotors that your budget can find. These parts need to withstand the friction and heat produced by the brake pads pressing into them while braking.

They will also be exposed to ground moisture and the weather, which can cause corrosion and reduce their performance. By choosing from the brands listed above, you can safely get back on the road in no time.