3.3TT Are High Carbon rotors better than OEM for track use?

[ElChanclo]

After scorching my OEM rotors I'm looking to upgrade them for track day use.

Between all the vented, slotted, dimpled and cross drilled options... The OEMs are already vented, and cross drilling looks to be detrimental for track use. Slots and dimples seem to be mostly aesthetic too.

Some say High Carbon are an improvement, but but others claim it's just another marketing gimmick. They're also expensive and hard to source in Canada.

Looking at the "DYNAMIC FRICTION 90021038 (High Carbon) Hi-Carbon Alloy FRONT" and "CENTRIC 12550041 (High Carbon) High Carbon Alloy REAR" specifically.

Any input would be appreciated

 

[NS_Stinger]

If you're serious about the track I'd consider the Girodisc 2pc rotor upgrade they have for our cars. They offer a front and back kit for our platform but it's not cheap.

 

[ElChanclo]

If you're serious about the track I'd consider the Girodisc 2pc rotor upgrade they have for our cars. They offer a front and back kit for our platform but it's not cheap.

Have you tried them on the track, are they any better besides being lighter? My understanding was the ring is made of the same stuff as the OEM rotors, just the center hat is aluminum so there's less un-sprung weight.

They do look spiffy AF but it's a $2600 CAD upgrade, and I only plan on tracking a handful of times in the summer.

 

[NS_Stinger]

I have not personally tried them but I know heat is always the enemy at the track and a 2pc rotor should be much more efficient any OEM style vented rotor. Yeah definitely expensive, so maybe not worth it for you if you're not at the track that often.

 

[Volfy]

As I detailed in your other thread, you problem was not the rotors. If you have money and just want to splurge on a set of expensive rotors, by all means feel free to indulge.

For my money and my car, a good set of solid vented rotors, paired with track-specific pad compound is what I run.

Racing style rotors look sexy, but for the purpose of a running an occasional track day, you will unlikely to see any benefit. 2-piece rotor saves weight, but it is only in the center portion near the hub, where the rotational inertia is minimum. Any weight savings there mostly improves unsprung weight as part of the suspension. Still valuable, no doubt, but doesn't really do much for improved braking at the track. Floating rotors also have their benefits too, but unless you are a high-caliber driver looking for - and need - that 0.5% competitive edge, it's a waste of money.

High carbon content gives the brake rotor slightly better thermal properties and improved vibration dampening, but does sacrifice strength slightly. A lot of performance-oriented cars already come with OEM rotors that are HC. That said, the typical G3000 iron is an excellent all-around performer and should work well running the occasional track day.

 

[oddball]

Pads will have much more impact than rotors. Much, much more impact.
Every rotor for the stinger will be vented. There are actually solid rotors, but they're uncommon now. Some cars use solid rotors in the rear because they're cheaper to manufacture. Slots/dimples help clear debris. Drilled cool a bit better. Both are minor improvements and mostly cosmetic. Cooling ducts would be much more useful than either.

Just get a quality set of rotors and enjoy. There also aren't all that many foundries for these things. Centric is one of the few. Other companies may do some modifications or extra QC, but it's likely a Centric casting in the end. All the parts stores house brands are just Centric.

 

[turboAWD]

I believe OEM rotors are already G3500 casting (high carbon).

DFC is questionable - they are somehow connected to R1, and R1 claims "high carbon", but they ship standard re-branded DFC rotors - there's been a few threads about it. R1 is just fine for daily driving, but I had to have the set I bought turned after 1 track day. That may have been too much heat (G-Loc R16 pads at Laguna), or, someone suggested due to the stability control. I had disabled TRACTION control, but I'm still a newbie (7 track days) and I'm a little scared to turn off stability control and send it.

I would stick with OEM, if you can get them for a decent price. They're Brembo rotors, which are generally considered pretty good. It's your pads that need upgrading, IMHO. And probably just the front, although you don't want to go TOO different in terms of friction ratings.

 

[ElChanclo]

High carbon content gives the brake rotor slightly better thermal properties and improved vibration dampening, but does sacrifice strength slightly. A lot of performance-oriented cars already come with OEM rotors that are HC. That said, the typical G3000 iron is an excellent all-around performer and should work well running the occasional track day.

I believe OEM rotors are already G3500 casting (high carbon).

DFC is questionable

Interesting point, is there any way to tell if the OEM and DFC rotors are high carbon? Short of using a mass spectrometer...

Also DFC was the only brand I could find that made/had stock of high carbon fronts for the Stinger. Guess I'll find out how good they on the track next summer.

 

[turboAWD]

https://www.tirerack.com/brakes/brakes.jsp?make=Brembo&model=Premium+OE+Rotor&group=Premium+OE+Rotor&partNum=B09D02711&autoMake=Kia&autoModel=Stinger+GT+AWD&autoYear=2019&autoModClar=

Says high carbon right there in the description. That's OEM. If you look it up on Brembo's website, I think that it also says High Carbon.

Several people reported that R1 says "carbon" but not high carbon or something, and then ships ordinary DFC rotors, not the DFC high carbon. As well, centric and DFC high carbon seem to be out of stock

OEM are $120 each on tirerack.

 

[ElChanclo]

https://www.tirerack.com/brakes/brakes.jsp?make=Brembo&model=Premium+OE+Rotor&group=Premium+OE+Rotor&partNum=B09D02711&autoMake=Kia&autoModel=Stinger+GT+AWD&autoYear=2019&autoModClar=

Says high carbon right there in the description. That's OEM. If you look it up on Brembo's website, I think that it also says High Carbon.

Several people reported that R1 says "carbon" but not high carbon or something, and then ships ordinary DFC rotors, not the DFC high carbon. As well, centric and DFC high carbon seem to be out of stock

OEM are $120 each on tirerack.

What's weird is that the description says "Brembo Premium OE Rotors are part of Brembo's High Carbon range, offering a premium alternative to the OEM rotor with several added benefits.", suggesting that they're different from the stock factory rotors, which would explain the unique part# they use to differentiate them.

I've got the DFC 900-21038 (90021038) front's on now but won't be tracking them till next summer. Oddly I couldn't find any balancing cuts on the DFC rotors. The stock rotors and Centrics all had them, but couldn't see any sign of balancing on the DFCs.

My understanding is the 900 series rotors are supposed to be the "Hi-Carbon" line, but DFC sometimes ship you a different part # for whatever reason. The fact that its spelled "Hi-Carbon" and not "High-Carbon" also reeks of the tricky terminology sometimes used to legally deceive customers .

 

[turboAWD]

I think that Brembo is saying their "Premium OEM line" is better than stuff most OEMs ship by default, just like our "OEM Premium Brembo calipers" are better than "OEM calipers" from Kia on the 2.0, etc..

 

[D.J.]

After scorching my OEM rotors I'm looking to upgrade them for track day use.

Between all the vented, slotted, dimpled and cross drilled options... The OEMs are already vented, and cross drilling looks to be detrimental for track use. Slots and dimples seem to be mostly aesthetic too.

Some say High Carbon are an improvement, but but others claim it's just another marketing gimmick. They're also expensive and hard to source in Canada.

Looking at the "DYNAMIC FRICTION 90021038 (High Carbon) Hi-Carbon Alloy FRONT" and "CENTRIC 12550041 (High Carbon) High Carbon Alloy REAR" specifically.

Any input would be appreciated

Your OEM Brembo rotors are - HIGH CARBON.
And your OEM rotors have the additional benefit of PVT ventilation - not just vented like the dynamic friction or centric.

I suspect (not confirmed) - strongly suspect, that the dynamic friction & Centric rotors you are looking at will be only up to as good, but not better, than your OEM Brembos.

I also suspect your previous "scorching my OEM rotors " didn't scorch anything other than your pads. The pads weren't up to the task. <-- my opinion.