Isn't there anyone out there who makes just slotted rotors for later A bodies? All I can find are slotted and cross drilled, or just cross drilled, and I do NOT want cross drilled rotors. I love the benefits of slotted though, and want to put slotted rotors on my Duster if I can find a pair.

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'74 Duster w/ HEI ignition, beat to snot suspension, A904, 8.25" 3.55 SG rear, still being tuned up and gets 17 MPG

Know how they always build a better idiot? That's me

If you just gotta have slotted rotors or you'll die, Centric Parts might have them for you (Google it). But you don't need 'em. Just put two 45° slots in each brake pad, oriented in each pad such that the slot runs from the rear-inboard to the front-outboard, and you've got all the benefits with none of the drawbacks and a great deal less time and hassle. If you make your slots with a hacksaw as I do, wear dust protection for your lungs and eyes.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

dan, thats a really good idea! I might try that myself.

Drilling and slotting (I am told by people who sell slotted disks for mitsu 300gtvr4) is to get rid of the vaporized pad gas and dust (mostly gas at high temps) because the brake fade at high temps is due to the layer of gas between the disk and the pad (spongy pedal is the fluid vaporizing) Slotting the pad should be just as effective at gas release as slotting the rotor and a lot cheaper. Its exacltly like having tires with tread for contacting through water, you are making an escape passage for the gas like you do for water.

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63 valient 4 speed over drive, holly 390, dutra duals, power steering, ac, hydraulic roof, KH 4 piston disks, kyb gas adjust all round, sway bars front and rear, 8 3/4 rear axcel and the ugliest green you ever saw

Yup, that's exactly what slots are for. When I do this, I place the two slots so as to divide the pad evenly into three, and I don't cut the slot all the way down to the metal pad plate.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

However, most modern brake pads don't outgas very much, either. Nowadays the only real reason for drilling rotors is to save weight. Which is a good thing on a motorcycle, where the rotors are often larger than heat requirements call for, but not so helpful on street cars where the weight absorbs heat.

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"Mad Scientist" Matt Cramer
'66 Dart - turbocharged 225
My blog - Mad Scientist Matt's Lair

So, if slotted rotors (or pads) are an effort to reduce brake fade; what would keep one from doing the same to the shoes on ye-'ol drum brakes, which by nature are more susceptible to fade?

Not a thing. I've never done it, but I think I'd employ the same diagonal hacksaw technique with the shoes gripped firmly in a bench vise (and all the same breathing protections!). I'd probably slant the slots so that they ran from aft-outboard to forward-inboard on each shoe as installed, so as to channel the gas to the shortest path of escape.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

I used to do that but not to control fade but rather to control brake squeal. The mechanism of fade is different for drum brakes as opposed to discs. In drum brakes fade happens because the heat causes the drum to expand away from the shoes, requiring more pedal travel to exert the needed braking force. Moisture and dirt can contribute to poor brake performance but thermal expansion of the drum is the primary culprit.

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David Kight
'62 Valiant Signet, White
'98 Dodge Dakota
'06 Jeep Liberty

Growing older is unavoidable but growing up is strictly optional.

I once saw some old pictures of the brakes on a early Corvette that was road race prepped. The lining on the shoes was segmented at about 2" intervals. I think they were metallic linings, so maybe this was not for the same intended purpose, but rather to deal with expansion of the lining.

Drum brakes fade for two main reasons: they cannot shed as much heat as a disc setup can and the lining that has to be used cannot function at higher temps as well as disc pad linings can.

One of the problems I see with most drilled or slotted rotors is that they often start out with the lowest quality rotor they can get and turn it into a "high performance part". They start out as junk and cutting and drilling does not help. With good ones it does not seem to hurt, I've yet to see a good one crack. I tend to believe they stop better when they are wet.

I just try to get the best quality stock type rotors I can find. Most late model cars have some form of slots in the pads, even if it is only one slot.

I talked with a guy at a Mopar show once that swore on the old drum brake cop cars that some had holes drilled in the drums. This was just before discs were used.

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'72 Duster 198 stock cam, 3:23's Hookers on jack stands for 8 years in the driveway
'79 Maxivan 360 Offy Qjet Comp RV cam/rusting in the driveway.
93 D350 160HP Cummins Auto Dually Clubcab needs a injector pump
2005 Golden Couch Buick

Yeah, they installed drilled drums on cop cars with the 383 max wedge hemi. People "remember" all kinds of stuff that never existed. It's possible someone drilled holes in brake drums, but they didn't come that way ex-factory.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

I remember seeing drums with holes through the face of them, but not through the braking surface. I figured somebody had hole sawed them. Also figured they'd whistle like an old top.

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

The holes (x5) are there so you can mount them over the studs.

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67Cuda,FAST EZEFI,340cu,CR=10.25,RollerCam&Rocker (XR268HR,#20-810-9)(#1622-16)(EddyRPM#60779,#7576), (MSD6AL,#6425) A904, GearVendorsOD, 8 1/4,3.55:1, ClassicAir

Yer killin' me here Bren.

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

[quote="sla

I remember seeing drums with holes through the face of them, but not through the braking surface. I figured somebody had hole sawed them. Also figured they'd whistle like an old top. [/quote]

VW had them so you could adjust the brakes. Just one hole.

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'72 Duster 198 stock cam, 3:23's Hookers on jack stands for 8 years in the driveway
'79 Maxivan 360 Offy Qjet Comp RV cam/rusting in the driveway.
93 D350 160HP Cummins Auto Dually Clubcab needs a injector pump
2005 Golden Couch Buick