Slotted/Vented brake rotors

[hraney]

Ok, got to looking at my 97 K3500 CC dually's front rotors over the weekend. Seems there are quite a few surface cracks and the truck is not stopping like I think it ought to. Haven't pulled the wheels yet but the previous owner may have gotten the rotors hot (he pulled a trailer a lot, but had no brake controller on the truck). There is plenty of pad left, but I have to put a lot of pressure on the pedal to get any whoa out of the truck.
My question: I believe I want to go w/ an aftermarket slotted rotor. Do I? Also, is there an easy way of telling what size rotors I have w/o pulling the wheel and measuring (am I lazy or what)?

[RckyMtNDeZL]

I was gonna do the same thing, but after assesing MY needs, I realized I didnt qualify. I did go with ceramic brake pads, which for one doesnt mess up my alloys with black dust, and two increases my stopping power. You can order slotted and cross drilled rotors almost anywhere,ebay has some decent deals, but you gotta roll the dice as far as quality goes. Around 170$ is what is the norm on ebay, thats rotors AND pads. But I dont tow often and when I do its a 1800 lb pop up trailer so beefing my brakes wasnt that big a deal. I did notice a HUGE difference in just swapping out my pads from semi metalic to ceramic the difference is very noticeable. Depends on your needs, thats all I can say, I had slotted and cross drilled on my Prelude type sh, they started cracking after a year, I ended up going back to OE rotors after that. :eek: As far as SIZE goes, they are standard chevy 6 lug rotors, nothing special order about them.

[hraney]

I have found lots of drilled/slotted rotors on the 'net. But... when start drilling down to the 1 ton 8 lug category the pickings get slim. About the best I have found is a touch over $200.00 for just the rotors so far. Also, apparently my Crew Cab has a larger rotor than the regular cab trucks. And there is apparently also a difference between Single rear wheel and Dual rear wheel rotors.

[Husker 6.5]

I have found lots of drilled/slotted rotors on the 'net. But... when start drilling down to the 1 ton 8 lug category the pickings get slim. About the best I have found is a touch over $200.00 for just the rotors so far. Also, apparently my Crew Cab has a larger rotor than the regular cab trucks. And there is apparently also a difference between Single rear wheel and Dual rear wheel rotors.

Make your life simple. Call Summit Racing. I have a 94 C2500HD std cab and chassis w/ an 8' steel utility box. "Empty" weight with my tools is about 7100 lbs, with a houseful load of windows, doors, and materials, I go easily over 9000, and that's not even pulling an equipment trailer! The 2500HD is essentially a 1 ton single suspension and drivetrain (8 lug)
Anyway, I was in need of new rotors as there was nothing left to turn on the OEM's. I saw in the truck section of Summit some Power Stop drilled rotors, but not my specific application. I called their tech line, and gave them my application and answered some specific app. questions. I ordered Power Stop's pads with them (for warranty purposes). Superb American quality (not cheap off shore look-alike crap) fit perfectly from the box. Broke in their severe duty pads and rotors per instructions. Fantastic whoa from them. Yeah, I get dust on my American Racing rims, but I figure that's better than wearing some idiot's Honda on my front bumper when they pull out in front of me!! (I've had to do full load emergency stops on more that one occasion. Thank G-d for the new binders and ABS, my truck may be large, but it ain't slow. Why do these idiot teeny-boppers in their little pocket rockets with the coffee-can mufflers insist on pulling out in front of me?)
That was two springs and 38K mi. ago. Have mic'ed the rotors twice during major service intervals, and they are WELL within specs. Got about another 10K left on the pads, may upgrade from their semi-metallics to titanium or ceramic, or may not. I've been really happy with my front binders. As I recall, it was about $220 for the pair, and $45 for the pads.
Don't go cheap on price/quality when it comes to something as important as your brakes. Stay with Major Name-brand components, and don't be swayed by low-price pieces of questionable origin/quality. A "warranty" does you no good if you're six feet under!!