Aftermarket rotors

[runerx]

Already searched and didn't find what I was looking for so here's my question. For those of you who have replaced the factory rotors with an aftermarket set, what did you get, how much, where did you get them and are you experiencing any warping with the replacement units.
I want to replace my front rotors and pads soon so I'm trying to get a bead on what I'm going to buy. I'm hoping to get a set that won't need to be resurfaced after 17k.:hmpf:
TIA

Dave:hothead:

[05vueblue]

I saw the cross drilled rotors on ebay and was thinking of them. I have had friends that bought them and they have been pretty good. The warped rotors (as mine were at 13k) are not as much form the heat as when people rotate the tires and over torqueing the lugs. Saturn replaced my rotors and now I request when I get tires rotated they torque them by hand. I put myself though college working at Sears in the auto shop, we alwyas used torque sticks and torque wrenches to tighten wheels (well when management was looking :}). I think the cross drilled ones you buy aftermarket are just stock parts drilled out, basically gettin charged for the drilling. They do advertise they dip them so they do not rust as bad with some coating. Food for thought...

[runerx]

I saw the cross drilled rotors on ebay and was thinking of them. I have had friends that bought them and they have been pretty good. The warped rotors (as mine were at 13k) are not as much form the heat as when people rotate the tires and over torqueing the lugs. Saturn replaced my rotors and now I request when I get tires rotated they torque them by hand. I put myself though college working at Sears in the auto shop, we alwyas used torque sticks and torque wrenches to tighten wheels (well when management was looking :}). I think the cross drilled ones you buy aftermarket are just stock parts drilled out, basically gettin charged for the drilling. They do advertise they dip them so they do not rust as bad with some coating. Food for thought...
Mine have been hand torqued to "Saturn specs" from day one, I re-PDIed it myself as soon as I got home and still have the issues with vibrations. (warp,build up, whatever) Any one found a set with a good gurantee at a reasonable price that doesn't feel like riding in a paint shaker when stopping from hi-way speeds??

[05vueblue]

I guess if mine warp again I will buy the autozone lifetime ones and just swap them out once a year, I did that with a pontiac GA I had thru college. Cross drilled ones will cut down on the heat, but who know how good they are over resisting cracking and such. Maybe SSBC makes aftermarket brake kits (I put those on a 67 dodge I had drum/disc conv) awesome company and products. Also when the make a rear disc kit for the vue I will do it, more for looks than anything. Also check brembo, if you want to spend that kind of money.

[05vueblue]

Check these out, just found my new purchase!!!!! I have to order a set of 18" wheels now.

http://www.ssbrakes.com/products/detail/3150/?make=Saturn&model=Vue+%28AWD%29&year=2004

[SylenThunder]

I went with the Stillen Cross-drilled rotors and metal matrix pads from SPS (www.spswebpage.com) They are awesome. and only cost me 10$ more than stock equipment did from the dealer. I can tow a 2000lb trailer and barely notice it when I'm stopping.

[scotted73]

I think the key is to not only replace the rotor but also change to an aftermarket pad. Sometimes the OEM pads can be very hard on the stock and aftermarket rotor.

[SylenThunder]

Yeah... the Semi-organic pads that GM uses on all the cars are prone to sqealing even when there is nothing wrong. I hated that the most. Need to get around to doing the rears, but I was hoping to get a disc conversion for the back. Nobody makes one yet though.

[runerx]

Yeah pads and rotors will be done together.
Bg makes an anti squeel compound that is applied to the pads prior to installation. All pads being replaced at the Benz dealer where my dad works get this before being installed. Seems to work pretty well too.

Dave :hothead:

[Mud Road]

...For those of you who have replaced the factory rotors with an aftermarket set, what did you get, how much, where did you get them and are you experiencing any warping with the replacement units.

I bought my '03 Vue new in fall of 2002. I had rotor warp at 25K, and again at 44k, supposedly "fixed" at my Saturn dealer. So I went to my reliable local garage that I've been going to for 20-something years. I asked the owner for the best pads and rotors he could get, I was fed up with the OEM garbage.

I got Raybestos ceramic pads along with suitable rotors. The pads were $92.95 and the rotors were $114. Labor was $110. (I'm 66 and don't wrench on my vehicles anymore.) With 3k on the new brakes now, I can say it was worth the money spent.

After putting about 500 miles on the new brakes I still noticed a slight shimmy in the steering wheel when just about stopped. My wife couldn't feel it, but I could and it reminded me of all the wasted time, grief and money I spent at my Saturn dealer.

I went back to my reliable local garage and had the tech who did the job test drive it, with me in the passenger seat. He sensed it was the REAR drums. I never heard of such a thing, but of course, this is a Vue. He was right! He chucked them on the machine and found the right rear drum was way out of round and the left just a little. He turned them true and voila, no shimmy.

So far, so good. I'm hoping to get better wear than the OEM junk pads and rotors. I got 60k out of my 97 Saturn SC-1 brakes, but that was an awesome vehicle. I'm sorry I sold it at 90k, but live and learn. :)

D.J.2

[Dante]

I went with the Stillen Cross-drilled rotors and metal matrix pads from SPS (www.spswebpage.com) They are awesome. and only cost me 10$ more than stock equipment did from the dealer. I can tow a 2000lb trailer and barely notice it when I'm stopping.

StylenThunder -- I see the pads on the SPS page, but not the rotors. If you can find a link to them, will you post it? Thanks.

[2004NJVue]

StylenThunder -- I see the pads on the SPS page, but not the rotors. If you can find a link to them, will you post it? Thanks.


Thats odd, I purchased them as well a few months ago and dont see them on the page anymore. I have yet to install them because my dealer suprised me and replaced both pads and rotors under waranty. Lucky me. The second set apears to be holding up much much better.

[SLAPSHOT]

Already searched and didn't find what I was looking for so here's my question. For those of you who have replaced the factory rotors with an aftermarket set, what did you get, how much, where did you get them and are you experiencing any warping with the replacement units.
I want to replace my front rotors and pads soon so I'm trying to get a bead on what I'm going to buy. I'm hoping to get a set that won't need to be resurfaced after 17k.:hmpf:
TIA

Dave:hothead:

When my wife's '03 started experiencing the "paint shaker" phenomena (great analogy, BTW), I purchased a set of "Wearever" brand rotors and a set of "Raybestos" brand pads for a total of around $150 at either Advance Auto or Autozone (I always get those two confused). These rotors and pads have been on for about 3000 miles so far and all's well. I saved the stock rotors and will have them turned so I can throw them back on the next time it needs a brake job.

[SylenThunder]

StylenThunder -- I see the pads on the SPS page, but not the rotors. If you can find a link to them, will you post it? Thanks.

Oh, Sorry. SPS is slowly disappearing into oblivion. The only other place I found them when I was shopping was direct from Stillen. The price was the same both places and sometimes Stillen (http://www.stillen.com/brakepros_detail.asp?Brand=cat=1&subcat=182&id=34615&page=1) has them on sale.


Absolutely have to get the metal-Matrix pads to go with them. They are the highest quality rotors I was able to find for my Vue.

[05vueblue]

The stillen website doesnt show the rotors for the 05, are the brakes the same in all the VUEs? I didnt think the ever changed it thru the years....

[SylenThunder]

Guess you will have to call Stillen about it. I noticed that for the '05 they list the K&N filter for the V-6, but on the '03 and '04 they don't list it. Even though there's a K&N filter for both the 4 and 6 in all year models.

[runerx]

I ended up with Wear-ever rotors (1 Yr. guarantee) and Bendix lifetime gurantee semi metallic pads. Bout a buck fourty for all. I guess time will tell.
The manager at Advance gave me a 10% discount on everything.
Dave

[VueCop]

I researched and debated this change on my 2003 for a couple of months. It seems there are VERY mixed reviews on those "performance" rotors, drilled, slotted or the combos.

Some say great improvement and others say no difference. Some have reported cracking and such too, while others are problem free.

I ended the debate when I traded in to 03 for an 05.:yes:

Average auto parts store rotors are sooo cheap that I have swaped them out on my cars for an additional cost of only $60. Then you have a spare set for the next brake job. That way you don't have to lay the car up while the machine shop turns the rotors!

I don't know if you can land Vue rotors that cheap...:ugh:

[SylenThunder]

You can.... but remember, you get what you pay for.