Aftermarket Rotors: Cost vs Name Brand

[black86glhs]

I have had good luck with the duralast rotors from autobone. I get the wagner thermoquiet pads, though. Even the duralast gold pads have a tendency to cause the rotor to rust under the pad if the car sits for a long time. My Olds 88 had no brake issues until I replaced the pads and it sat for a month. Now the fronts pulsate. I got the rotors for my intrigue from Rock and have had no issues whatsoever. I usually order the wagner stuff from Rock also.

[Ondonti]

Rich, did you buy those in R/T size?

[rbryant]

I have had good luck with the duralast rotors from autobone. I get the wagner thermoquiet pads, though. Even the duralast gold pads have a tendency to cause the rotor to rust under the pad if the car sits for a long time. My Olds 88 had no brake issues until I replaced the pads and it sat for a month. Now the fronts pulsate. I got the rotors for my intrigue from Rock and have had no issues whatsoever. I usually order the wagner stuff from Rock also.

I have also had bad experiences with duralast pads. They squeal worse than anything else I have ever used.

-Rich

---------- Post added at 10:28 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:26 AM ----------

Rich, did you buy those in R/T size?

Yes. $125 shipped for the 11" front RT EBC slotted and dimpled brake rotors. I have installed them and they are the correct rotor. I just haven't driven the car with them.

-Rich

[iTurbo]

I got my Wagner rotors from Rock Auto yesterday. The fronts (BD 61958) have, "MADE IN THE USA" cast right into the backside of the rotor. The rears (BD 61950) do not have any casting marks or anything on them. Not even minimum thickness specs, but the box they came in says they were made in China.

FWIW, the boxes for the front rotors (USA made) say Wagner Brake Division and Cooper Industries. The rears (China made) say Wagner Brake Products and Federal Mogul Corporation.

[supercrackerbox]

Hmmm. Any dates on the labels?

[RoadWarrior222]

I guess it's a plan to keep an eye on those special closeout parts they have, from buying stock from defunct enterprises, or old or stale overstock... 'coz some of that might be older, made in US or Canada stuff, where they make it in China now.

[Force Fed Mopar]

We've had good luck at the shop w/ CarQuest rotors. They are made in China though.

My car is still using original '89 and '93 rotors off junk cars No pulsing, and they've never seen a lathe. The pads are pretty craptastic though, not sure what they are, think the back are Wearever Silvers, fronts are who-knows-what. Whatever they are, they need a few seconds to heat up before they really stop good at all. On a hard stop you can feel them slowly heat up and grab over about 3 secs.

[iTurbo]

Hmmm. Any dates on the labels?

Not that I could find anywhere on the boxes for the front rotors, although boxes were slightly yellowed and the Wagner logo looked like an older design. The boxes for the rears were bright white new and have a tag on them that says "copyright 2003 Federal Mogul Corporation". So it looks to me like Federal Mogul acquired Wagner from Cooper Insustries and then sold out to cheaper materials and labor by sourcing the production to China.

[rbryant]

Not that I could find anywhere on the boxes for the front rotors, although boxes were slightly yellowed and the Wagner logo looked like an older design. The boxes for the rears were bright white new and have a tag on them that says "copyright 2003 Federal Mogul Corporation". So it looks to me like Federal Mogul acquired Wagner from Cooper Insustries and then sold out to cheaper materials and labor by sourcing the production to China.

I only really worry about the quality of the fronts. The rears will never matter unless it is a full racecar (especially with the vented ones).

-Rich