StopTech versus Powerslot rotors

MotoSook · 10-19-2009, 01:32 PM

Are they the same quality?

One company advertises the Stoptech Sportstops as different from the Power Slot.

The Sportstops are suppose to be the premium Centric rotors with slots, while the Power Slot rotors appear to be the regular Centric rotors with slots.

Anyone know the differences?

pmajka · 10-20-2009, 08:59 AM

bump.

KTL · 10-20-2009, 09:13 AM

Powerslots used to be the original manufacturer blank and then slotted + beautified by Powerslot. So you were basically getting the same rotor manufacturer and plating + slots cost you twice the price of the regular rotor. Powerslot has since been bought out now?

However I understand that the Stoptechs are indeed the Centric rotors. I've used the Centric rotors on a few applications and they are a nice alternative to the OEM rotors. The black e-coating is a nice feature to keep the non-contact surfaces from going into instant rust mode, which should help in the long term with respect to cooling. Typically vented rotors can suffer from massive rustification within the vanes and I suspect that hurts cooling quite a bit?

Dave Zeckhausen is the guy to ask. He's the big seller of Centric and Stoptech stuff.

LWJ · 10-20-2009, 09:56 AM

Not a brake expert by any means but I have worked in manufacturing in the past. I know what e-coating is and I will tell you. It is typically a dip into the cheapest black paint availible. Not a quality finish. It does protect against rust.

However, I would question as to whether reduction of rust is of any benefit on a rotor. It will look better if you care however. A rattle can of BBQ black may have the same benefit.

Just saying.
Larry

KTL · 10-20-2009, 10:09 AM

I'm no brake expert either. Just making statements based on my observations of doing brake jobs on my cars over the last 15 yrs. or so. When a brake rotor is rife with rust flakes and crud inside the vanes, it seems like cooling could suffer? Dunno. In terms of street use, it doesn't matter a bit.

I'll agree 100% that the e-coating is not critical to the function of the rotor. I'm just pleased to see someone make a reasonable cost rotor with a feature that keeps the rotor looking nice for a while. Some other manfacturer's paints come right off when you shoot the rotor with brake cleaner. Seems kinda stupid to use a paint that's solvent in BRAKE cleaner? So don't go using that BBQ black on rotors. I know for certain the Ace Hardware brand paint is solvent in brake cleaner........

MotoSook · 02:34 PM

New information:

StopTech and PowerSlots are now part of the Centric brand. I'm told both the PowerSlot and StopTech use the premium Centric rotors, but for now they have different coatings. StopTech is black (and available in sloted or slotted+drilled) and PowerSlots are silver (available in slotted only). I'm told that the silver coating will be phased out.

As for the coating...I just installed some silver coated PowerSlots on a vehicle, and after bedding in, I expected a little more bite (using StopTech street performance brake pads). I really can't tell as the vehicle isn't my 911, but a vacuum boosted luxo barge so the pedal feel is a little numb. I haven't tried threshold braking since I parked the barge last night after bedding in the pads. I am wondering if it'll take a couple days for the coating to work off the pads (since the silver coating was all over the rotor)! On one of the rear rotors (the one I happened to notice this afternoon) the coating is bubbling off from the heat...I can see bubbles on the edge of the rotor.

I'll give the brake rotors and pads another day or two of driving before I make any conclusions. I've also been driving my Carrera the last couple of weeks which is running 951 front brakes and PF97's all-around. So the difference between the PF97's on a 2500 lbs 911 and the StopTech performance street pads on a 3600 lbs BMW may unfairly bias my initial impression.

As for rust impeding cooling...I agree with Kevin on this. The rust scales found on the inside of the rotors make pretty good insulators with the layers and pockets of air or space between the layers. Not good for cooling. This is not likely to be a big deal on a track dedicated car, but on a street car that sees all-weather use, sure it's a problem...just go look at your rotors on the daily driver if you are not fortunate enough to live in a warm dry state. But the same street car will not likely see the temperatures experienced on the track by the track car so it's not a problem for most drivers.

KTL · 10-20-2009, 02:11 PM

Well I installed the Centrics on my M5 because I just couldn't stomach the cost of OEM rotors. So far the fancy black paint is hanging on after a couple months and the paint endured the one real heat episode when I bedded-in the new Axxis Deluxe street pads.

So far i'm happy with them. I'll likely get some track pads to see what the M5 is capable of next year at a lapping day. I suspect the blingy black paint will get some serious heat testing from the fat cow M5 rocket!

MotoSook · 10-20-2009, 02:35 PM

Can I get co-pilot seating in the M5 at the track?

KTL · 10-21-2009, 06:25 AM

To avoid vaporizing the front brakes, you'll have to ride in the trunk because we need to keep as much weight as possible off the front!

The brakes on the M5 feel kinda crappy, despite new pads, rotors, fluid and new front rubber slider bushings. I suspect the bronze caliper bushings would help with the feel, but i'd only do that on a track-only car & not on my daily driver.

MotoSook · 10-21-2009, 07:04 AM

I'll be sure to eat a big lunch before I crawl in the trunk.

175K911 · 10-21-2009, 07:08 AM

Is Kevin going to install a harness in the trunk for you??

KTL · 10-21-2009, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 175K911

Is Kevin going to install a harness in the trunk for you??

There's already a cargo net back there and some blankets. He'll be fine........