Tried a search on this with not much luck... I am hoping that some of you that have some experience with aftermarket brake setups can help me out.
I am considering some new rotors, either cross-drilled or slotted. SPO has them for $120 http://www.spomotorsports.com/CategorizedTableDisplayTemplateRose.cfm?CategoryID =4&CustomerID=22403 and recommends getting them cadmium plated for an extra $65. Any opinions on the plating? Primitive sells Brembo slotted rotors for $180 for the front set http://www.writerguy.com/primitive/susp.htm#brakes . I am assuming those are plated.
I have EBC front pads on order along with SS lines. If I run performance rotors in the front with those pads and stock rotors with stock pads in the rear, am I going to have a brake bias problem?
Suggestions anyone?

Boomer

I used to run Rebco pads on the front with slotted rotors and stock on the rear. It was okay. Wasn't too much more front bias than stock but it stopped alot better.

Cheers

wei rich.... so what did u and my dad end up with?? did he get any pads?? what about rears? i was told they make them for our cars...

Boomer,
I posted a big long reply on the "My first autocross!!!" post on the NESIC Forum, but I'll post some of the same stuff here for everyone else's benefit.

First, I'd stay away from slotting. I *might* go with the Brembos, because that's a company that is world renowned for excellent braking components. I definitely wouldn't trust the SPO slotted rotors - who makes the rotors? How do they slot them? Are they going to be more likely to crack and fail because they were slotted too deep? There's all sorts of things I would worry about with non-name-brand slotted rotors.

As for cad plating, it's strictly a cosmetic thing. The area of the rotor swept by the pads will stay nice and shiny, but the rest of your cast iron rotor will tend to rust. It's just surface rust, so it's not like the rotors are going to rust through and explode if you don't get them plated. But, that surface rust might look kinda ugly to some people. I myself am putting 17" 5 spoke rims on my Mustang, with 13" front/12" rear Baer Racing brakes - I'm getting the rotors plated because I want them to stay pretty looking behind the wide open 17" rims. It's strictly for aesthetics.

Actually, if you're really interested in cad plating your rotors, check out http://www.eastwoodco.com/cgi-bin/sgsh0101.exe?SKW=SPECIALTY&UID=2000081508555553&FNM=20 . Eastwood has silver cad aerosol for $8.99 a can. There's also a Golden Cad Paint System on page 3 of that same section for $32.99 - of course gold cad would look kinda funny depending on what color your car and rims were. Anyway, there's 13 pages online of their "Specialty Coatings" and I don't want to look through all 13. I'd give Eastwood a call (1800 345 1178) and see what they recommend for silver cad plating some brake rotors.

As for brake bias, I wouldn't worry about it too much. With the nose heavy weight distribution of our cars, the rears don't do a whole lot of work when you stand on the brakes. I have Mintex pads front and rear, but I think when I replace these I'll just go with stock pads in the rear.

Pat Olsen
'99 Legacy 2.5GT 5speed sedan

Thanks Pat and I did see your other post.
SPO says that the rotors are either Brembo or Eurotor, my choice. I was leaning towards getting cross drilled rotors and not slotted rotors cuz I like the fact that I will still see the same benefit even with rotor wear, where as the slot depth will shrink as the rotors get worn.
Thanks for the info from Eastwood, I will get in touch with them later if I need to.

I think the brake bias is intentionally biased to the front to keep the rear end planted under Joe Average. Think about how much understeer the factory 13mm rear bar gives before disagreeing with me...

I don't think the brake bias will be significantly altered with different rotors and pads front to rear. It will change a lot more if you change the calipers because increased piston displacement. Someone running WRX 4 piston calipers on the front with stock rear and stock master cylinder probably has a fair bit more front brake bias... so while they have better potential up front, their rear is doing even less.

just an update after spending some time on the phone...
subaru rotors are $70 each as quoted by my dealership
KVR has the brembos for $97 fronts and $90 rears each + $15 each for CAD plating, cross-drilled or slotted, your choice
SPO has them for $120 each, plating at $65 for all 4 and either cross drilled or slotted
Primitive - tried calling them but no answer. they list them on the page as brembo slotted rotors $180 a pair, and i am guessing they are not plated.

bump
i know that there are more people on this board that have aftermarket rotors... where are all of you?

Go with the KVR's I run the X-drilled vented in the front and x-drilled in the rear w/ their semi-metalic pads (for my '99 Legacy GT) The rotors are Brembo... I also have their SS lines.
I have the x-drilled Brembos in all four corners on my '97 Accord EX-R too, with their Carbon Fiber pads as well as their SS lines w/ AP Racing Dot 5.1 fluid... very good pedel feel!

Hey BoomerRS:
I don't know if you caught the end of the thread in the NEClub forum, but here's some more info on the Brembo slotted from Primitive:
$180 for front and/or $160 for rears
The rears will be available in a couple of weeks.
I'd like to get these rotors frozen, but I think that'll extend beyond my budget.
-T

tto-
i just checked the price catalog area of the primitive page and brembo power slotted rotors are $180 for a pair. now that is a good price. dunno if they are plated though, i am going to ask.

I have a unique setup.

1. Disk Brake Australia Cross Drilled and Slotted Rotors (gold hub) F&R
2. SPO SS Lines F&R (very good)
3. SPO brake pads F&R (very good)
4. Stock master cylinder
5. Stock caliper
6. Super Neo 5 Brade Fluid

For the money this is a great setup. The lines make a huge difference in brake feel, and are a good upgrade without anything else. I'm suprised there aren't more people with the DBA brakes. It's an Australian company, but they do have a small office in CA now. www.dba.com.au (http://www.dba.com.au)

I ended up getting the WRX rotors (same diameter as ours for the AU version MY96 I think).

I did have a very hard time finding someplace to install the brake stuff. Most shops won't install anything that isn't factory or from them, too much risk. You'll end up at a performance shop or doing it in your drive way. Fortunately I live in an area where there are lots of performance shops, more than liquor stores.

George

george, thanks for the info. i have SS lines coming in, and i want to stick with brembo rotors.
tto, just got off the phone with paul from primitive and he gets the rotors from brembo and then slots them using a CNC machine. they are not plated. full set for fronts and rears is $340 shipped or $180 + shipping for just the fronts. not a bad deal at all.

Hey Don't waste your money!!!!!!!!! All you guys have to do is call up KVR in Miami,FL and tell them that you spoke to Tyler at the Import Showdown, a couple of months back, down in Tamiami Park and he said he will give you all four discs, cross-drilled, and silver or gold cadmium plated for, I believe $250-275 dollars. The part number is SU 786 and SU 787, I believe. I went and picked them up, because I live in Fort Lauderdale, but they will ship anywhere. Plus, they have their main warehouse in Canada.
Zee